My name is Jessica Molloy from Mountain Brook High School. I moved from Phoenix, Arizona this Fall. I was second at state and have a PR of 17:27.
Let's back it up to last year December. I was too excited to sleep, I was going to nike nationals the next day with my team from Phoenix! We had worked all season just have this nervous/excited/beyond happy feeling. There had been no possible way I would be on that plane to Portland if my team hadnt been there. I placed 56th in the Southwest Regional qualify with an exciting new pr of 19:03 as one of my last races of the season. All I wanted was to break 19, that's all I ever had my eye on. But some things don't go as you planned by the end of the season, I was just happy to have the chance to go to Nike nationals. I honestly did not know how I made it there after waving trough junior varsity and varsity all season. It was a blessings and all I knew was I wanted to go back, the next year and the next year and the next. No matter what it took.
When I moved, I was extremely nervous about everything. I just didn't know what to expect out of Alabama. When I entered the program, Coach Echols told me that if I just worked hard, compete, and most importantly had fun then I could do some great things. So I did what I could do best and just had fun the entire season with just running as my escape. I don't think I have ever had so fun in 4 short months. After my first race, i was completely shocked at my time and had know idea what to do with it. But Coach Echols told me to just continue to work hard, have fun and compete and that's what I did. My teammates pushed for state, and with a big pr at state I was real excited for Nike Regionals. We had decided to run as a team! They helped take my mind off the race and we had a real shot to make as a team to Portland. With the race about halfway I thought to myself while I was in 2nd place just how far I've come. I couldn't believe it, and just the thought of Nike nationals gave me goosebumps during the race. I wanted to go back to Portland so bad. When I crossed the finish line, a camera could have captured my smiling from ear to ear. I honestly could not believe it, from 56th at Southwest to 3rd at Southeast in just one years time. That race was just pure fun for me because it was the definition of what I love to do, race. It would have been even sweeter to have my team make it as well but they tried their very best and that's all you can ask for. Everything was so surreal and I was going to Nike Cross Nationals as an individual. Now here I am 4:45 am on my way to the airport to fly off to Portland, Oregon to represent the great state of Alabama.