Jackson cross country pair grabs perfect addition to dance outfits

~ Dickerson and PARRY both earned all-state recognition

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Jackson cross country runners Taylor Dickerson and Tori Parry found the perfect pieces of jewelry to compliment their dresses for a school dance Saturday night.

Standing behind the award podium at the sun-splashed Oak Hill Golf Center, the pair admired their newly acquired all-state medals and planned to wear them at the Silver Arrow school dance that evening.

"I just thought how cool would it be if our necklaces for the night were big and chunky and said 'All-State,'" Dickerson said.

Dickerson, a junior, finished in 13th place with a time of 19 minutes, 6.05 seconds, and Parry, a senior, finished 16th place in 19:22.89 at the Class 4 state cross country meet Saturday.

Tori Parry

"It's like a Disney World commercial," Dickerson said. "It's like dreams coming true, after the Super Bowl kind of stuff."

Jackson's third runner in the race, junior Lindsey Seabaugh, finished 115th (20:55.39).

The all-state recognition was the first for Dickerson and Parry, although they came close last season. Both clocked in at 20:35, a mere 9 thousandths of a seconds from the 25th-place finisher. The race was especially difficult for Dickerson, who was fighting a strep throat infection.

Jackson coach Andrea Talley knew the pair was poised to make a breakthrough this season.

"We knew ability-wise they should easily be in the top 25," Talley said. "We've been saying that all season."

Talley said the two were especially loose Friday night at their hotel, playing around and cracking jokes.

"That was a good sign," Talley said. "I told them if being relaxed is any indication, you're going to run well."

For Parry, making all-state was the culmination of a season's worth of hard work.

"It's been my goal all season to be all-state," Parry said. "It makes all the hard workouts we had all season finally worth it."

After receiving their medals, the girls posed for pictures and received congratulations from well-wishers. Soon the pair had to prepare for the second part of their busy day -- the Silver Arrow dance.

Talley said the state meet and the Silver Arrow dance have fallen on the same date many times in recent years. The timing of the Class 4 race sometimes meant a frantic race home to get ready for the night out, but this time the girls had some extra time because the race was run earlier than usual.

Dickerson and Parry, whose dates are also cross country runners, had time to enjoy the moment before heading back home. The extra time, and the new additions to their trophy cases, erased any would-be stress.

"With an all-state medal around their necks, they're going to be more relaxed." Talley said.

The two are friends away from school. Parry jokingly suggested plans for before the dance might have changed if both didn't place in the top 25.

"We were hoping we both would," Parry said. "If she got it and I didn't it, I would have been like, 'OK, we're not going to the same restaurant.'"

As it turned out, their plans stayed intact, and the pair was poised to make a rare fashion statement to cap their memorable day.