Kruger Breaks 30-Year Record At Track Meet

Spring track season continues impressive year for the junior runner

Ally+Kruger+runs+in+a+cross+country+race+in+the+fall+at+McNair+Park.+In+April%2C+Kruger+broke+a+30-year+record+at+a+track+meet+in+Jefferson+City+and+was+also+named+the+Gatorade+cross+country+runner+of+the+year+in+Missouri.+

Photo courtesy of AJ Serna

Ally Kruger runs in a cross country race in the fall at McNair Park. In April, Kruger broke a 30-year record at a track meet in Jefferson City and was also named the Gatorade cross country runner of the year in Missouri.

Dori Earle, Reporter

At the Licklider Invitational in Jefferson City on April 17, junior Ally Kruger set a new record for a pre-existing 30-year-old record for the 1,600 meter run with a time of 5.03.57 and a personal record (PR) in the 3,200 meter run with a time of 12.06.29.

April was an amazing month for Kruger, who also received the Gatorade Missouri Girls Cross Country Player of the Year.
Kruger is the only athlete in Liberty’s history to earn this award, as it is very hard to earn.

“The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Kruger as Missouri’s best high school girls cross country player,” according to an article published by MileSplit MO.

Kruger has had a phenomenal year with winning the state championship in cross country in the fall and ending it in the spring with an insanely fast and record breaking season, breaking the records she set the meet before almost every time she gets on the track.

“This is a very cool award for Ally to receive,” coach Glavin said. “Obviously she had a fantastic season by being recognized by Gatorade on that level is really neat. She has worked extremely hard and is such a great person I couldn’t be more happy for her.”

Kruger is a state champion in cross country and also 4×800 relay state champion in track not only physically but mentally, training during the off season, searching for ways to get better, and executing it in her race and trusting her training.