Vera Root has been coaching New Lothrop cross country for 16 years and she has never had a freshman perform as well as Clara Krupp
She came to that conclusion after watching Krupp in her first six races.
“She’s outstanding,” Root said. “In 16 years of coaching, we have not had any girl runner start her freshman season as she has. Her first race, she ran 50:53 and by her sixth race, she ran 19:54, which is just four records off our all-time fastest second place girl for our school.
“She isn’t afraid to run in the offseason. We not have many runners who are willing to put in the extra work.”
This season, Krupp won the Carrollton Invitational and Genesse Invitational. She was second at the MMAC jamboree No. 1 and the 34th annual Chesaning Cross County Invitational.
“She isn’t afraid to run in the offseason,” Root said. “We do not have many runners who are willing to put in the extra work. She was a middle school runner last year, but she did end as our No. 2 fastest middle school runner of all time, running two miles in 12:24.
“She is a very pleasant young lady with great determination,” Root said. “We believe she will reach low 19s or better.”