Proving she could: GlenOak runner Marissa Kromi makes her mark on cross country course

PLAIN TWP. — Marissa Krom is having the last laugh now.

The GlenOak High School sophomore finds distance running fun. She is also very good at it.

Others may not have anticipated this when Kromi started to run in seventh grade.

"There was this teacher, I don't know if he really believed I could do it," Kromi said. "I just wanted to prove that I could."

No other proof is necessary.

Kromi ran for the Golden Eagles at the 2023 cross country state meet as a freshman. She still would have been an individual Division I state qualifier if GlenOak didn't make it as a team.

Her good stretch carried into Saturday's season-opening GlenOak Invitational . Kromi came in ninth in 20:18.22.

"Honestly I felt better than normal," Kromi said. "I was surprised. It felt good."

Running was not Kromi's first love. She grew up playing soccer.

Instead of choosing between the two sports, Kromi elected to play in high school. She is also a center-midfielder on GlenOak's girls soccer team.

There are challenges to being a two-sport athlete in the fall.

"It's quite difficult," Kromi said. "I have to miss a lot for cross country, but I'm happy to be here."

Kromi usually joins the cross country team twice during the week. She will do a long run on Monday and her intervals on Thursday.

"She is just a phenomenal teammate," said Scott Ferrell, who began his final season as GlenOak's girls head coach Saturday. "She is a very good runner. If she chose to run at the next level, she would be highly recruited.

"She'll have some decisions to make when she moves forward. She is talented on the soccer field, and I know what she is in cross country."

GlenOak cross country enjoys top finishes in competitive field

GlenOak was the only area varsity team competing. In a meet that featured several state-ranked programs, the Golden Eagles held their own.

Kormi's top-10 finish helped the girls team place fourth overall. The boys team came in seventh.

"It's great to see some competition early in the season," GlenOak junior Canaan Sommers said. "The first meet gives you a baseline to where everyone is at.

Sommers led the Golden Eagles in the boys race. He finished 12th in 16:36.77.

"I'm happy with the race," Sommers said. "I executed it pretty good. I didn't feel 100 percent, but that's to be expected for the first race

"I'm happy making moves this year and stepping up my game."

Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.com

On X: @mpopovichREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Proving she could: GlenOak runner Marissa Kromi makes her mark on cross country course