Palmer Trinity School

In the two years that followed, Stark has pushed to new heights and well past what he thought was ever possible. As one of the few seniors on the Varsity Boys Cross Country team, Stark knew he would have to train and work alone for the majority of the season. "Once I adapted to the fact that I would just have to put my head down and work, I developed an all or nothing mentality that drove me to new heights." Stark's senior season saw a meteoric rise up the FHSAA rankings, regardless of classification. Stark was firmly on the map in the Cross Country world, and he planned to stay. In October, Stark broke Todd Snyder's 37-year- old school record with a new 5k time of 15:05.95. In November, Stark became the first Palmer Trinity runner to win a Cross Country State Championship and the first since Mike Reynolds and Snyder won back-to-back Championships as Palmer Pirates in the 1980's before the merger with Trinity School. Head Coach Tammy King, who won two State Championships as a student in Track & Field in the early 90's, is proud of Stark's growth both in the sport and mentally, noting the difference in his focus and determination this year. As Stark recalls the lead-up to the State Championship race, he knew he had to trust his training. It was a cautious balance of eating properly and continuing to train hard without tiring out his legs. When it came time for the race, Stark remembers being both nervous and tense. However, when the gun went off, the nerves were replaced by adrenaline and he coasted through the first half-mile before sitting back into the pace. "I raced as smart as I could by adapting to any surges or unknown contenders that would push the pace and always staying near the front of the pack," Stark recalls. As Stark came to "The Wall", which is a steep climb followed by small hills, he knew that he only had a mile left and was able to pick up the pace and didn't look back. Back on campus, Stark's classmates watched a livestream in the gymnasium and cheered as Stark approached the finish line without anyone else in sight. Stark was a State Champion. "It is an honor to be woven into Palmer Trinity's Athletic history," Stark says proudly, "it is a privilege to be written into the history books along with other notable athletes I have trained with and, most importantly, my Head Coach Tammy King." Stark is excited knowing he has what it takes to perform under the highest stakes and at the next level. He will continue his cross country and track career at Appalachian State University in the fall. HENRY IS NOT AFRAID TO TAKE A CHANCE, HE IS A GUTSY RUNNER, AND HE LOVES RUNNING FROM THE FRONT AND TAKING CHARGE." COACH TAMMY KING 10 PALMERTRINITY.ORG B I R D S ' S E Y E V I E W

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