Jessica Tonn
Jr., Xavier College Prep
Paradise Valley, AZ
Highlights: A two-time Foot Locker National qualifier, Tonn also placed fifth in the Two-Mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in 2008 … Tonn (AZtrackXC.com photo by Margot Kelly) has continued to fare very well against the nation’s best this fall with a sixth-place finish (18:17) against a stacked field at the Great American Cross Country Festival, and a fourth-place finish at Mt. SAC (17:05) … Also won the Doug Conley Invitational (18:36) for the second consecutive year, and raced to a course record 17:52 in winning the Scottsdale Running Company Invitational … Has won five individual state track titles, including a sweep of the 800, 1600 and 3200 as a sophomore
Coach (Jeff Messer) says: “Mentally dedicated, very consistent competitor, very goal oriented. It’s fair to say that she continues to improve progressively, at least she has during our time together, so we hope that trend will continue throughout her high school career. She wants to do exceptionally well, and she works constantly at becoming a better competitor in addition to becoming a fitter athlete. I think when you combine those two; a high level of fitness with a real innate, inherent or intrinsic competitiveness, you provide a foundation for some very impressive results. She appears to combine those two very nicely.”
Tonn says: “Great American was a really good experience, but I didn’t race as well as I really wanted to there. It was my first race of the season - my first big one - so I really didn’t have the feel for competitors as great as Ashley Brasovan and Kathy Kroeger. Mt. SAC is always a blast. I love that course, but I think I went out way too fast. Overall, I really like those big races. It’s a big confidence builder knowing I can run with these girls. I started running and I really didn’t know anything about it. Now I’ve learned how to come up with a great strategy and just never doubt myself, and build confidence as I go along.”
Summer mileage (max): 50-55
Weekly mileage: 45
Training shoes: Brooks
Superstitions: Chews gum while she runs
Hobbies: Soccer, hanging out with friends
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans