Font ResizeMolly Smith is pretty busy these days.
While slowly closing in on the end of her junior year at York Suburban, Smith is playing both soccer and running track this spring.
Friday shaped up as a busy day for Smith, who helped the Trojans' 3,200-meter relay team hold off Eastern York to win the race with a time of 10:02.25 at the Dallastown Track and Field Invitational.
But Smith wasn't done seeing the Golden Knights, as Suburban's soccer opponent on Friday night was Eastern, too.
"I'm glad I'm able to do both sports," Smith said. "But it's extremely tiring. I usually don't get home until after 8 every night."
Trailing both Dallastown and Eastern in the early going of the 3,200, Smith -- who was running the second leg of the race -- ran past the Wildcats and moved the Trojans into second place on the third lap.
"I was just trying to stay with Eastern," Smith said.
On the backstretch of her second lap, Smith cruised by Dallastown's runner, giving Suburban the lead at the halfway point.
Smith handed the baton off to Katie Johnescu, who managed to open up about a 20-foot lead on the competition. She passed the baton to anchor runner Michelle Roos.
Roos began lapping some runners on the backstretch of her first lap, but Eastern and Dallastown weren't going away quietly.
"We had a big lead, and I felt it was getting smaller," Roos said. "So I started sprinting because I didn't want to lose it for the team. I knew we could pull it off."
Indeed, the
Suburban currently is 4-1 in the division, while Eastern is unbeaten at 5-0.
While that overall meet should be very competitive,
there is no doubt the girls' 3,200 relay will once again be a battle.
"They're our last meet, and we know they're really good, so it was good to win today," Smith said.
Winning is something that the Trojans' 3,200-meter relay team has grown accustomed to ever since placing eighth at the PIAA Class AA championships last year.
"I think we're a humble team," Roos said. "We just go out there and run and see what happens."
The Trojans had to replace two seniors from last year's team and have done so with freshman Sara Wallace and Smith.
"I knew we had good runners on the team," Wallace said. "It's awesome for me to get to be able to run with this team."
Another change had Roos going from starter to anchor.
"It's more responsibility this year," Roos said. "I feel that it's up to me to win the race."
Johnescu is the lone senior on this year's relay team, once again running the third leg for the Trojans.
"We just keep improving," Johnescu said.
The four girls got to know each other and develop some chemistry during the cross country season that's coming into use now.
"Running together in cross country has made this an easier transition, because we all know what each other is capable of doing," Smith said.
