Starliper: 'It Almost Feels Like A Break From Life'

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Marlee Starliper was looking to end things on a high note. Heading into the week of the New Balance Nationals Indoor, and ranked US#1 in the mile (4:37.76) and 3,000 meters (9:07.14), Starliper was tapering, resting and feeling good. She was ready for a big moment.

"I joked with my parents that I just get so heartbroken from New Balance Nationals every year," she said with a laugh. "Freshman year I was sick that week. Sophomore year, I really died in the last 100 meters of the mile, when I probably could have come away with the title. Last year, a bit of an altercation in the mile at the finish. I joked I was excited to have an outcome I was happy with this time."

Instead, on March 11, the meet in New York City was canceled due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Like the rest of the world, and so many high school student-athletes, Starliper’s indoor season ended abruptly. No chance at redemption. No happiness.

"I could not believe that it was canceled. I honestly didn't know what to think," Starliper said. "It was tough."  

Since that day, the Northern High PA senior has experienced plenty of disappointments. On April 9, all schools in Pennsylvania closed, shifting to new models of learning. Following that, all spring sports were canceled. That meant no outdoor track season. 

But amidst a global pandemic, Starliper has been able to reconcile with what could have been and piece together time that is meaningful.

"Obviously it's tough thinking about what you're missing out on, but I'm just really thankful because during this I feel like I've been really grounded in the sense of taking it day-by-day. I'm trying to find the joy in the little things," she said. "After a rough couple days, I felt accepting and positive. I’m thankful that I'm healthy, my family is healthy and I'm getting time with them."

The indoor season saw Starliper put together arguably her best effort to date and one of the best in prep history for a distance runner. She won the NYRR Millrose Games Girls New Balance Mile for the second straight year, crossing the line in a meet record 4:37.76. Her performance was the fourth-fastest in high school history.

Less than a week later at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center, she ran a personal record in the 3,000 meters, clocking 9:07.14. Her time was the fourth-fastest in prep history and a senior class record.

She finished off the indoor season winning state titles in the mile and 3K. 

“I think honestly, I really wouldn't change anything,” she said of her indoor season. “Looking back on it, I was so beyond thankful I just performed as well as I did at Millrose and at Boston in the 3K. Both of those races were so special to me; I was just super happy with my time, and I felt really satisfied, which made it easier for me. The state meet, if I’d known that was my last race, I would have gone harder, I would have laid it all out.”

Following some time off after indoors, she went running with her mom, Jill, and their dog on a rough trail and ended up tweaking her leg near the ankle. Since then, she’s taken time off from running to heal the minor injury, focused on her health, reconnected with her passions, played the guitar, and used this unthinkable period of time to reset.

“It almost feels like a break from life,” she said. “I’ve been really enjoying spending more time with God, reading my Bible, I can't even believe how much I’ve written in my journal; it's been really nice. I’m trying to focus on really resting and relaxing, and overall really letting myself reset because it is a rare opportunity. It’s crazy because you see a lot of people still training just as hard, but it’s just a blessing in the sense that this time has given me time to rest. With every new challenge I'm so quick to turn to God with issues I’m having, and I’ve already grown from this.”

Starliper said a typical day now for her is still trying to get up at a decent time and get her school work done, but if she wants to sleep in, she does.

“That’s a pretty fun liberty now,” she said.

She trains now in the late morning and afternoon and finds creative ways to get in cross training and strength workouts. She recalled borrowing a wetsuit from a family friend in March and went to a lake at a local state park to do some aqua jogging and swimming.   

“I actually ended up getting kicked out, so now I’ve been in my friend’s pool,” she said with a laugh. “It’s been kind of fun and challenging to do what I can with the current situation.” 

The down time has also presented a rare chance to bond with her future North Carolina State University teammates. Starliper is part of an historic 2020 distance class that includes Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland High in New York), Claire Walters of Fayetteville-Manlius NY, Jenna Schulz of Liverpool NY, Riverview FL's Alyssa Hendrix and Gionna Quarzo of Brownsville PA.

“Honestly, it’s been so fun keeping in contact,” Starliper said. “I feel they are handling it so well and positive, and it helps you feel reassured. Me and the five other distance girls will FaceTime each other, and it's just so much fun keeping each other company in this time. I already feel like the dynamic between us is unique and I feel like we’re such great friends already. It’s actually been one of the highlights of quarantine.” 

While the future of any competition is yet to be decided, there may be an opportunity for Starliper and other preps to race. This month tentative dates were announced by the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) for New Balance Nationals Outdoors, July 16-19 in Greensboro, N.C.

All is dependent on the status of the pandemic and local guidelines.  

“I would love to do it if they are still able to do it,” Starliper said of racing. “I feel like if the opportunity is there to have one last high school race, I would love to do that because it's like, when do you get that again?”