Fox Chapel’s Urban training to improve times

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, July 7, 2018 | 12:39 AM

Annika Urban, a rising senior at Fox Chapel, had a strong junior Season for the girls cross country team as she helped the Foxes win their first PIAA championship.

Individually, she finished sixth at the WPIAL championships, then followed up by finishing 28th at the PIAA meet.

“She had a great season as our No. 2 runner,” coach Tom Moul said. “She is also a strong team leader.”

“It was just an amazing season,” Urban said. “It was a great feeling for the entire team winning the state title. We worked so hard for it.”

Urban feels the team has a good shot at repeating this fall.

“We only lost one senior, so most of us are back, and we want to win it again,” she said. “Our mindset is that we will do whatever it takes to repeat. We've started our summer run program with a goal of winning the WPIAL and PIAA championships. We know it's going to take a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Urban and the team are running 30 miles a week and will be up to 50 a week by the time the season starts.

Last year, Urban set a personal best time of 19 minutes, 1 second at the Red, White and Blue Classic at Schenley Park. One of her goals this season will be to top that mark.

“I've set my sights on getting under 19 minutes, and I'll work hard to do it,” she said. “It's a challenge.”

She hasn't settled on a college but hopes to continue running.

“I'm looking at some schools and don't know yet if I'll be going to a D-I, D-II or D-III school,” she said. “Academics will play an important part in my decision. I plan to major in either something health-related or electrical engineering. I also plan to keep running cross country wherever I go.”

Marty Stewart is a freelance writer.

Tags: Fox Chapel