Parsons Searching For Raleigh Relays Magic
3/24/2016 9:23:00 AM | Track
RALEIGH – For most NC State track and field upperclassmen, Raleigh Relays marks the start of another outdoor season. For redshirt junior Sam Parsons, the home meet will be his first time racing in uniform on an outdoor track.
Parsons has been a star for the Pack in cross country, leading the men's team in each of his last two seasons. In 2014 he qualified as an individual for the NCAA Championships and in 2015 he returned to the NCAA Championships with a full squad. Each of the past two seasons, Parsons earned All-ACC and All-NCAA Southeast accolades.
Despite the success in cross country, Parsons was sidelined the previous two track seasons due to injuries.
His last time racing on an outdoor track was in 2013 when he ran unattached and attempted to pace distance standout Andrew Colley to a sub four-minute mile.
"It was freshman year and I was getting back into shape," said Parsons. "It didn't go as planned and with my immaturity on the track I didn't know what pace I was going. I totally wrecked that opportunity."
Both the 2014 and 2015 track seasons brought up more challenges for the Newark, Del., native, as he recovered from injuries and was forced to miss each outdoor track season.
After the injuries, setbacks and difficult races, Parsons is ready for a positive season. This year has already started better for the distance runner, as he recently completed the indoor season and logged PRs in both the indoor 3k and 5k.
"It's a phenomenal feeling to know I am at this point now and I have fitness to suit up," said Parsons. "I've watched year after year of teammates totally rock with Raleigh Relays magic. I hope I'll catch some of that Friday night."
Parsons will line up in the highly competitive first heat of the 10,000m. The race features the NAIA's 10k national champion, seven 2015 All-Americans and 15 NCAA Regional qualifiers. The quality of the heat has the potential to produce one of the most defining 10,000m races of the regular season.
Parsons is aiming to use the competition along with the understanding of his home venue to earn an early season conference and regional mark.
"We want to protect our home track, and I think a lot of the guys take pride in it," said Parsons. "It's also the familiarity we have when we race on this track. When we hit the back stretch and see the sign "Home of the Wolfpack" and we have all the fans cheering for us, it's electric and there is no better feeling."
"It's going to be perfect conditions and competition is through the roof in the 10k. Head Coach [Rollie] Geiger sat me down and he thinks this is the time to do a 10k. I've never run a 10k on the track before, but 10,000m races are usually my bread and butter in cross country, so it will be exciting to catch a rhythm on the track and go against some of the best guys in the country."
The starting gun for Parsons' race will go off at 9:55 p.m. Friday night and will be held on the Paul Derr Track. Admission is free to the event or fans can watch online through FloTrack or WatchESPN.
Parsons has been a star for the Pack in cross country, leading the men's team in each of his last two seasons. In 2014 he qualified as an individual for the NCAA Championships and in 2015 he returned to the NCAA Championships with a full squad. Each of the past two seasons, Parsons earned All-ACC and All-NCAA Southeast accolades.
Despite the success in cross country, Parsons was sidelined the previous two track seasons due to injuries.
His last time racing on an outdoor track was in 2013 when he ran unattached and attempted to pace distance standout Andrew Colley to a sub four-minute mile.
"It was freshman year and I was getting back into shape," said Parsons. "It didn't go as planned and with my immaturity on the track I didn't know what pace I was going. I totally wrecked that opportunity."
Both the 2014 and 2015 track seasons brought up more challenges for the Newark, Del., native, as he recovered from injuries and was forced to miss each outdoor track season.
After the injuries, setbacks and difficult races, Parsons is ready for a positive season. This year has already started better for the distance runner, as he recently completed the indoor season and logged PRs in both the indoor 3k and 5k.
"It's a phenomenal feeling to know I am at this point now and I have fitness to suit up," said Parsons. "I've watched year after year of teammates totally rock with Raleigh Relays magic. I hope I'll catch some of that Friday night."
Parsons will line up in the highly competitive first heat of the 10,000m. The race features the NAIA's 10k national champion, seven 2015 All-Americans and 15 NCAA Regional qualifiers. The quality of the heat has the potential to produce one of the most defining 10,000m races of the regular season.
Parsons is aiming to use the competition along with the understanding of his home venue to earn an early season conference and regional mark.
"We want to protect our home track, and I think a lot of the guys take pride in it," said Parsons. "It's also the familiarity we have when we race on this track. When we hit the back stretch and see the sign "Home of the Wolfpack" and we have all the fans cheering for us, it's electric and there is no better feeling."
"It's going to be perfect conditions and competition is through the roof in the 10k. Head Coach [Rollie] Geiger sat me down and he thinks this is the time to do a 10k. I've never run a 10k on the track before, but 10,000m races are usually my bread and butter in cross country, so it will be exciting to catch a rhythm on the track and go against some of the best guys in the country."
The starting gun for Parsons' race will go off at 9:55 p.m. Friday night and will be held on the Paul Derr Track. Admission is free to the event or fans can watch online through FloTrack or WatchESPN.
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