News at St. Catherine's
Times-Dispatch: Ballowe leads Saints’ long-distance charge
St. Catherine’s Hannah Ballowe ran the 1,000 in 2:57.22 at the St. Christopher’s Invitational. That time ranks as the fourth-best in Virginia.
BY DYLAN GARNER
Richmond Times-Dispatch
It took all of 5 seconds for St. Catherine’s Hannah Ballowe to take the lead in the girls 1,000 at the St. Christopher’s Invitational.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
It took all of 5 seconds for St. Catherine’s Hannah Ballowe to take the lead in the girls 1,000 at the St. Christopher’s Invitational.
As each of the five laps went by, her lead grew larger and larger. Ballowe, a sophomore, raised her arms in victory by the time she crossed the finish line, clocking in at 2:57.22. It’s her third win (in three tries) in the 1,000 in the St. Christopher’s field house this season, and it ranks as the fourth-best time in Virginia.
“It was a goal she had worked so hard for,” said Judith Isbell, the distance coach for St. Catherine’s. “She was relieved, and she was proud she was able to achieve it.”
Ballowe broke out during indoor season last year, when she won a thrilling 1,000 race at the indoor LIS meet over two of the state’s best seniors, then finished third behind them in the 1,600.
While she does field hockey in the fall — as 2015 graduate Libby Parrish did for three years — she dedicated herself to working out with the cross country team during the summer and keeping up mileage on her own time through the fall.
Many of her best races in her freshman year revealed an aggressive nature that allowed her to stick around with more experienced runners. This year, she hasn’t held back at all, even while out in front.
“She wanted to break three minutes. … She knew what she needed to get, and nothing was going to stop her,” said Isbell.
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
