Kooser

JACKSON TWP — Julia Kooser is hoping this spring proves to be one to remember.

She's off to a good start.

Seneca Valley's sophomore track standout broke the school record in the girls 3,200-meter run in a dual meet at North Allegheny April 1.

Her time of 11 minutes, 5.17 seconds toppled the previous standard of 11:15.83, set just last year by Angela Mignanelli.

“I wanted to break the record this year,” said Kooser. “I was running hard at NA, but I know I can go faster. I also compete in the 1,600 and 800, but the 3,200 is definitely my best event.”

Kooser, a Cranberry Township resident, had already achieved much this school year.

Last fall, she placed sixth overall at the WPIAL Class AAA Cross Country Championship Meet, helping the Raiders to a team title.

In March at Pennsylvania's indoor track state championships, she took ninth in the 3,000 run and ran a leg on SV's school-record setting distance medley relay team that placed eighth, joining Dani Matz, Isabelle Biase and Rachel Hensler.

“She had a great cross country season and took the appropriate time off in November,” said SV track coach Ray Peaco. “She was strong in indoor over the winter. Even with the bad weather we've had, she was ready to go this spring. I'm not surprised she is doing this well this early in the season.”

“I was pretty confident coming into the spring,” Kooser said. “I do a lot of cross training and even try to do yoga at least once a week. It helps me relax before a race and stay loose during it. ”

It was while she was running cross country as a freshman in the fall of 2013 that Kooser was urged to join the track team by Raiders' cross country coach Steve Strelick. She qualified for the WPIAL Championships in the 3,200 last spring, but added over 10 seconds to her seed time and placed 10th.

“I was disappointed I added a lot of time,” she said. “It has definitely served as motivation for me this season.”

With the school record in the 3,200 now bearing her name, Kooser is setting the bar high for the second half of the season.

“I know this sounds ambitious, but I want to medal at states,” she said. “My goal is to get my time below 10:50 by the end of the season.”

That type of effort would have placed Kooser fifth in the state last year.

Peaco knows Kooser has the mental and physical makeup to achieve her goals.

“I've been coaching at Seneca for 32 years and have seen a lot of great kids come through,” he said. “Julia is one of the most dedicated athletes we have had. She's very bright, is self-motivated and fits the mold of a strong distance runner.”