ON PACE: Mary Sutton competes in a race this fall in her freshman season with the Loyola University women’s cross country team. Former Princeton High star Sutton is making an immediate impact for Loyola, emerging as a top runner for the squad. This Saturday, Sutton will enjoy a homecoming as she competes in the Princeton Invitational. (Photo Courtesy of Loyola’s Office of Athletic Communications)
During her Princeton High running career, Mary Sutton honed her speed at the West Windsor Fields course.
“In high school, we do our 1,000 meter repeats on that course so we run that course at least once a week, if not more,” said Sutton, 2015 PHS grad who starred in cross country and track for the Little Tigers.
This Saturday, Sutton will be competing on the course at the Princeton Invitational as a freshman standout for the Loyola University women’s cross country team.
“I am so excited, coming back home is wonderful,” said Sutton. “I told all of my high school teammates that they better be there to cheer me on. I feel like I am prepared for it.”
Sutton was excited to join the Loyola program, making a connection with head coach Amy Horst.
“I really liked Amy and the relationship she has with her athletes, I thought it was a good fit,” said Sutton.
“She seemed really happy for me to be on the team and I felt like we would have a good relationship with each other.”
The increased workload that comes with running in college has been a good fit for Sutton. As she trained this summer, Sutton gradually increased her mileage from 20-25 a week to more than 30.
“We got to Loyola and we started hitting 35, 40, 45 miles a week,” said Sutton, noting that she was likely to hit 50 miles this week as she preps for the Princeton event.
“I like the higher mileage. I think as a runner I thrive off of doing more work and putting in more mileage. I feel like it prepares me more for our meets. In high school, we ran 5ks. In college, we run 6ks so our training should be more than high school.”
In Sutton’s first college meet, the Mount St. Mary’s Duals, she placed 41st in a time of 21:04.4 in the 5-kilometer race on September 4 as the fourth finisher for the Greyhounds.
“I was nervous but I think I was more excited to run my first college race,” said Sutton.
“The day was not good for anybody, the conditions were not the best, it was really hot outside. I thought I was hydrated but things happen.”
Good things have been happening for Sutton as she has secured a place in the lead pack for the Greyhounds.
“Right now we have four girls, Sarah (Askine), Christina (Daniels), Erica (Canas) and me; in the first meet we were not close to each other but this past weekend we finished within 16 seconds of each other,” said Sutton.
“That is what you want from your teammates. You want to run with them; it is a pack. We call it the core four, we are looking for a fifth person. In my senior year of high school, we had a pack of five runners and our position switched every meet and that was awesome. You push each other. It is really helpful that we are pushing each other right now.”
Pushing hard has helped Sutton make big strides in just a matter of weeks.
“My times for workouts are getting faster, my mileage is more,” said Sutton. “I am running with teammates through most of the race so I know that I have to push myself to push them and vice versa. From our Paul Short race compared to Navy, I PR’ed by 2:30 (going from 25:15 to 22:46) so I think the training is working out.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Sutton is aiming to establish herself as one of the fastest freshmen in the Patriot League.
“My goal for the season going into college was to be the Patriot League Rookie of the Year,” said Sutton.
“Looking at the other girls at the other schools, I know that goal might not be attainable. I think if I finish among the top five or ten freshmen at the Patriot League championships, that would be an honor. That would be awesome because the girls in this league are tough girls from other high schools and other areas.”