KC's Pennington heating up track
BUTLER TWP — Becca Pennington's teeth chattered as she began the 3,200-meter run late Friday night at the Butler Track and Field Invitational in plunging temperatures.
Pennington, a Karns City senior, is longing for the hot and humid days ahead.
She's a warm-blooded runner. The frigidness of this spring has hamstrung the standout distance runner.
“I hate the cold,” Pennington said, still shivering after placing eighth in the 3,200. “Any time it's cold, it just completely drains me. And as a distance runner, it really hurts, especially all the time we have to spend in (the cold).”
Pennington, though, shrugged off the chilly air and snapped a pair of Karns City school records in the process.
She finished the 3,200 with a time of 11 minutes, 32.01 seconds and the 1,600-meter run with a mark of 5:25.99 to set school standards.
“With the adrenalin, even with the cold, it helped,” Pennington said. “I kind of felt it (Friday night). I was really into it.”
The level of competition at the Butler Invitational heated Pennington up as well.
“It's a lot nicer being here, especially with the way the weather has been,” Pennington said. “We've only had a few meets and the meets we've had, some of the girls I'm going up against haven't really been into it.”
Pennington has always been into running.
She started in junior high with her father, Rob, who is an assistant coach for the Gremlins.
Distance races became second-nature to her.
“It kinda chose me,” Pennington said, smiling. “I ran cross country and I just kind of always enjoyed the long distance and the energy you put into it and the time it takes.”
Pennington is also a stellar cross country runner.
She's enjoyed a long KSAC winning streak, finishing ahead of many of the boys competitors.
She won the KSAC cross country title in the fall, placed second in the District 9 meet and was 19th at the PIAA meet.
Pennington has her sights set on the PIAA Track and Field Championships this season.
She advanced last year to Shippensburg in Karns City's 3,200-meter relay team.
Her showing at the Butler Invitational with two school records is a great start.
“She's just a phenomenal athlete,” said her father and distance coach, Rob Pennington. “She's our workhorse. She run the (3,200 relay), the 1,600 and the 3,200. She's hitting her personal bests and breaking records.”
Rob Pennington also sees the potential for big improvement from Becca as the weather warms.
“The sky's the limit this year for her,” he said. “She's going to have a great year.
“It's actually a great opportunity for all the kids here (at the Butler Invitational) to run against some of the best and athletes from bigger schools,” Rob added. “Their times are just so much better than the times we have up in the KSAC. This is a great step for her for the rest of the season.”
