Meet the Athlete: GFH’s Parker Sanford
Parker Sanford is a sophomore on the Great Falls High track and field team. Sanford, also a varsity soccer player, is among the fastest sprinters on the squad and last year as a freshman ran a leg on the team’s third-place 400 relay squad at the state meet in Missoula.
Q: Have you always loved running?
A: Umm, pretty much. It kind of started off with soccer when I was little, and then it developed into just running and stuff.
Q: Have you always been pretty good at it?
A: I didn’t really know. I was always the fastest girl in elementary school and middle school. And then I was like, ‘Oh, I’m kind of decent at it,’ more in middle school. It kind of just developed from there.
Q: What is it that you like about it?
A: I love the way it makes you feel afterward. You feel energized, even though you went through something terrible. But you keep on doing it and it’s kind of an addiction. You want to keep doing it and doing it.
Q: So you like how it makes you feel at the conclusion? But a lot of people are puking and falling to the ground.
A: (Smiles) Well, after you puke and cool down, you’re just like, ‘Man, I could do that again.’ It’s kind of weird, but it just happens.
Q: You run the 100, the 200, the 400 relay and the 1600 relay. What’s your favorite event out of those four?
A: I really like the 400 relay because I’m the first leg, so I have to catch up to all the girls and try to get first. And I’m just running the corner, and I love running the corner because there’s a strategy to it and it’s just fun. I don’t know, I’ve just always like the corner.
Q: So you’re the first leg. Run me through the second, third and fourth?
A: And then it goes Danielle Devlin, then Madison Murphy and then Morgan Evans.
Q: That reminds me of last season, when you guys (Sanford, Gabby Fought, Evans and Hannah Collins) took third at state. What are your memories of that meet?
A: That I was really nervous. It was just a big meet, and I felt like there was a lot of pressure but there really wasn’t. It was just a lot of fun. I just ran my heart out, then screamed for my teammates, like ‘Oh my gosh!’ I was so happy.
Q: That’s obviously a team event. What about the two individual events? What do you like more, the 100 or the 200?
A: I like the 200 because of the corner and all, but I’m probably a little better at the 100 because it’s just shorter.
Q: What are your personal bests in the 100 and 200, do you know?
A: I know my 100 is like 13.02, but I don’t remember my 200. I know I should focus on my numbers, but I just always forget them (laughs).
Q: What are your goals for this season?
A: Right now, it’s just focusing on pre-qualifying in the 100 and the relays, and then slowly working on the 200. Just getting faster and more in shape.
Q: What’s the experience been like the last year-plus on the team?
A: It’s been pretty good. I came in as a freshman really nervous because I was like, ‘I’m a freshman! I’m on varsity! I really don’t know what’s going on!’ (smiles) But this year it’s been a lot of fun. I’m really relaxed, and it’s a great experience.
Q: Did you expect to be on the varsity team when you first came out?
A: I knew I had a strong chance. Throughout the year … I did RESULTS, working on my speed, and I came in thinking I probably had a strong chance. And then time trials happened, and I was on varsity. I was like, ‘What?!’ (laughs)
Q: What about this girls’ team? There are several good performers, names like Morgan Evans and Danielle Devlin.
A: I think it’s really good, and we have a lot more people out. That’s really awesome.
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
A: Yeah, my sister (Madeline) is a senior this year (at Great Falls High). She does a lot with the Special Olympics and the art department. My brother’s (John) a sophomore at MSU. He’s studying architecture. He actually ran track and did some pole vaulting and stuff like that.
Q: That’s awesome that your sister volunteers for that.
A: Yeah, she’s really good at it. She just loves the kids.
Q: What position do you play in soccer?
A: I play outside (midfielder), so it’s a lot of running and I think that’s where I kind of fell in love with the running.
Q: Do you want to pursue one of the two in college?
A: If I get offered a scholarship for track, I’d totally go for it. I just want to keep soccer as a hobby and not go collegiate.
Q: Thanks for the time.
A: All right, thank you.