I'm a newly-minted Karrie Baloga fan

Agreed!

I tried to talk to Karrie on Friday but she already had on her "I'm ready to steamroll anyone who gets in my way" game face on.

And her entourage had on shirts that said "Karrie 3:16" on the front and "Cause Karrie said so" on the back. They came to win!

Karrie was very friendly after the race though.

Even Ellie Shea, who normally doesn't want to talk to anyone, was semi friendly after the race.

Immediately following her win, as interviewers were clamoring for her attention, Karrie Baloga did & said something that reminded me why I enjoy high school running events so much.

Having crossed the finish line without seeing her time, she asked the assembled media members if anyone knew her time. One told her: “16:49.”

Her eyes got big, and she gleefully blurted out, “Holy Moly!” It’s that type of moment that I think separates high school events from the pros (and even collegiate events at times). With top competitors such as Baloga, you can see a serious athlete, but without the ego or sense of entitlement that can mar the experience of watching older athletes at times.

That's what they call New York Grit!

lohud.com

With hours long, Baloga exits for family, fundraising

@lohud

Barry Baloga, who coached running at North Rockland High since 1997, left for family and a new sports-related venture.

Open link

Barry Baloga, Karrie's father left the North Rockland High School coaching gig in 2016 right before Katelyn Tuohy's freshman year. Kind of cool, the connection between 2 national champions.

ny.milesplit.com

Workout Wednesday: Karrie Baloga of Cornwall HS

Kyle Brazeil

We caught up with the fastest freshman in the State over the Summer, to see how her training was going.

Open link

mom was an olympic trials qualifier in 2000.

Mom was 10:37 st/9:47 flat, so decent but not really elite. Karrie made the World's junior final and has 10:27 already. On to CU with their successful steeple history.

Karrie's form is outstanding, powerful yet relaxed and well-balanced.

https://www.athlinks.com/event/44351/results/Event/214297/Results

Here's a fun race, where a ten year old Katelyn Tuohy defeated a six year old Karrie Baloga, but her mom got them both.

Fantastic find! And Katelyn's mom Denise beat Karrie by 12 seconds!

THIS is why I start these threads, thanks so much.

All of this is at both levels

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, this is a good interview that Footlocker / Champs did with Karrie Baloga about 10 days before she won. She seems very friendly.

Karrie might be the next Emma Coburn. She was in control of the race the entire time, even when other people momentarily took the lead. She has tremendous composure and a really good attitude. She was much lower mileage than Touhy so she'll continue to improve rapidly.

:).

She is going to do very well at UC. I do find it remarkable that Karrie's father was Katelyn's coach until the end of 8th grade. He would have been the one to see her at the community runs and would have tried to steal her away from the soccer coach. Of course her older brother was already running for North Rockland.

She is a rare bird: extroverted distance champion.