Malaika Sparks Athletic Profile

Malaika Sparks

Cross Country & Track

My love for running began my sophomore year at Phillipsburg High School.

My Start to Running

That was when I decided to join my school’s Track & Field team. I really wanted to be a sprinter, but the 100m and 200m races were not for me. So I tried the 400m race and really enjoyed it. That became my primary event where I ran my career best of 1:03. That same year I received my first varsity letter for track.

The distance coach for my track team saw my potential to run longer, and wanted me to stay in shape during my off season, so he encouraged me to join the cross country team.

I gave it a try fall of my junior year. A couple weeks in, I really saw how much natural talent I had for distance

running. My season best time that year was at the NJSIAA Sectionals race where I ran 20:46.

I also received a varsity letter in cross country.

Cross Country 2012

2012 SEASON

During my junior year of spring track I decided to run the 800m. I began to like it more than the 400m. It became my primary event. The first half of the season was great, I was placing in many meets. My high school has a huge 100+ year old rivalry with Easton High School, so

the annual meet in May was an important meet. I ran my season best of 2:32. I got a season ending hip injury after Easton race. I was very upset

considering it was the middle/end of the season. My coaches had me doing workouts on a stationary bike, and running a

mile every day as I recovered and prepared for cross country pre-season.

Spring Track 2013

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This past cross country season has been my most successful. I became a captain which was great to gain some more leadership skills.

My teams first dual meet was against a high ranking team named Ridge on a very hot day on September 11th. We beat them because of a pack of 7 girls that I overtook in the last 400 meters. I was 6th out of 75. My time was 21:54.

My first PR of the season was on September 17th, 2013 with a time of 20:42. I PRed in almost every single meet after that.

I broke 20 minutes on October 2nd with a time of 19:45. The following Wednesday was the big Easton vs. P’burg meet. With all the adrenaline and desire to want to beat Easton, I ran a season best of 19:07, coming in second place behind my teammate who ran 19:02 (course 1st & 2nd record times).

Unfortunately we didn’t beat them, even with our strong 1-2 finish.

Cross Country 2013

Championships & Invitationals:. The first meet of the season was the Under the Lights Invitational in

Randolph. I was 33 out of 85 with a time of 21:15. The next one was the Bernie Magee Class Meet in Warinanco Park which

is a 3.25 mile course. I placed 10th out of 133, receiving a medal for the Senior Girls race. My time was 21:09.

September 28th was my next invitational which was at Six Flags Great Adventure. It was the Safari Run Invitational where I placed 45th out of 169 on a sandy course. My time was 20:47.

On October 5th I ran on one of the hardest courses in the state of NJ in Holmdel. It is known as the “bowl” because of the deep decline, and long steep incline. I placed 21st out of 149 and ran 21:04.

The Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Championship meet was held on October 18th where I placed 16th out of 123 and ran 20:07.

The next championship was the Skyland Conference Championship meet where I placed 25th with a time of 20:07.

Cross Country 2013

My last race of the season was the NJSIAA Sectionals meet on November 9th. My team placed sixth in our section, missing the chance to qualify for States by 16 points. The meet was held at Warinanco Park, which is the slightly longer course that is 3.25 miles. My time improved significantly from my 21:09 performance at the September 21st Bernie Magee Class meet. My time was 20:13, and I placed 17th out of 103. It was a bittersweet high school career ending meet.

Cross Country 2013

September 11th 2013: Ridge & Watchung Hills Dual Meet

September 17th, 2013 Hunterdon Central & Bridgewater Dual Meet

September 21st, 2013 Bernie Magee Class Meet

September 25, 2013 North Hunterdon & Franklin Dual Meet

September 28th,2013 Six Flags Invitational

October 2nd Hillsborough & Montgomery Dual Meet

FamilyOne sister missing from

picture.

BROKE 20 MINUTES

October 5th Shore Coaches Invitational

October 9th EASTON

PR!19:07

!

Post Easton MeetFront Page!

October 17th Hunterdon Warren Sussex (HWS) Championship

October 24th Skyland Conference

November 9th NJSIAA Sectionals North 2 Group 4

Extras

Banquet

SENIORS

BGR – Co-lead local weekly group runs and hosted a stretching clinic.

LVRR – Volunteered to support local road races.

XC TEAM -- Team hosted 1st Annual Run for Hope Color Run on our home course.

Volunteering

I plan on running winter track and spring track this year, and going to move up to the mile

run.

Future Plans

I have had so much success in my running career thus far, and I

really want to continue on the collegiate level!Thanks for taking the

time to watch!~ Malaika Sparks