SLIPPERY ROCK — Jessica Bennett doesn't like to talk about last year.

In fact, she doesn't even like to think about it.

“It was terrible,” Bennett said.

Things unraveled quickly for Bennett, now a Slippery Rock High senior.

As a freshman, she was a terror on the cross-country course, advancing to the PIAA Cross-Country Championships where she finished 30th with a time of 20 minutes, 38 seconds.

As a sophomore, she returned to the state meet and placed 31st.

Every indication was that Bennett would crack the top 25 and medal at the championships as a junior.

But a hip injury slowed her down. Her mental approach stunted her growth even more.

“I had a little hip injury, but it wasn't anything serious,” Bennett said. “It was just junior year — it's tough for everybody. I think mentally, I got defeated. I just let my mind get to me.”

Bennett's times were slower and slower. The harder she pushed herself, the worse things became.

She hit rock bottom at the state meet where she finished 106th with a time of 21:36.

“I try to block that race out of my memory,” Bennett said. “The state meet was a big letdown because everyone wants to do well at the state meet, but my whole season I only had one good race and that was at the regional race.

“Every other race, I never came home happy,” Bennett added. “I was always upset. I was never satisfied.”

But the tribulations she endured last season have refocused Bennett for her senior year.

In the first meet of the season Tuesday, Bennett ran a time of 21:41 — her first sub-22-minute time on Slippery Rock's very difficult course.

“I think I learned a big lesson,” Bennett said. “You're not always going to have your best race. You need a little bit of failure so you can rebuild and pick yourself up.”

Bennett certainly has picked herself up.

When she crossed the finish line Tuesday and saw her time, she smiled.

She was back.

“I was just really happy for her,” said Slippery Rock girls cross-country coach Jessica Shoeffel. “I know since her freshman year, she's wanted to break that (22-minute) barrier. To see Jessica come out her senior year with a really strong performance, I hope that sets the tone for her. It was exciting.”

To Bennett, it was a bit of vindication — and a relief.

“On this course, whatever time you have it's like a minute or two faster on any other course,” Bennett said.

That would put Bennett on pace to run a sub-20-minute time. That would be good enough to get a medal around her neck at the state meet.

Bennett is her own worst critic and she isn't taking anything for granted.

“I definitely always have high expectations for myself,” Bennett said. “I always put a lot of pressure on myself. If I let myself down, it crushes me.

“This season is my last season to do something big,” she added.

Bennett, who plans on running both cross-country and track and field in college — preferably a Division II school — is the only senior on the girls cross-country team at Slippery Rock.

The team around her is very young and being a leader is something Bennett has embraced.

“I want to be a good role model,” Bennett said. “I want them to look up to me.”