‘I know I’m insane:’ York County’s All-American runner racking up records – York Daily Record

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See the Herb Schmidt Relays in slow motion, with a little help from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Marlee Starliper is used to people being taken aback by her attitude toward running. 

After all, how many people speak longingly about a 10-mile progression run and describe it “so fun”? How many people can train and compete all year against top competition, and not just embrace it, but smile through everything? 

That’s just how Starliper is. And she knows it might make her seem like an oddball. 

“I’m know I’m insane,” she said between laughs after winning another gold medal at the District 3 track and field championships last week. “I don’t know why I do this either. But I like it.” 

If you follow track and field locally, chances are you’re familiar with the Northern York High School junior. Heck, you’ve probably heard of her if you follow the sport nationally. 

After all, the distance runner isn’t finished with her third year of high school, and she’s already racked up a list of accolades and records that is stunning and difficult to keep track of. 

Here’s a sampling (you might want to take a deep breath):

• Eight District 3 titles (two in cross country, six in track) 
• Three PIAA titles (two in cross country, one in track)
• A gold medal in the mile at the 2018 Penn Relays 
• Pennsylvania indoor record in the 3000-meter run (9:20.91) — currently second in the country and the ninth-fastest ever by a high school runner 
• Pennsylvania record in the 3200-meter run (9:54.75) — the eighth-fastest time in U.S. history 
• A two-time All-American at the Foot Locker Cross Country Girls’ National Championships. 

Again, this is a sampling. 

She has the opportunity to add to that resume this weekend at the 2019 PIAA track and field championships. She’s the top seed in the Class 3A 1600-meter run, an event she has yet to win a state title in. The second-seeded runner, Greencastle-Antrim’s Taryn Parks, has fostered a strong rivalry with Starliper over the years. 

Rivalries at the high school level are rare for Starliper, who has often beaten Division I college runners when competing at invitationals. Though she usually finishes way ahead of the pack at high school meets, she’s not someone who brags about her success. 

After winning the District 3 Class 3A title in the 3200-meter run last Friday, she took time to congratulate the other runners. 

“She’s really down to earth about her abilities,” Northern York track head coach Dave Ramsey said. “She’s intense about competition, but she definitely always has that personality. Just upbeat and encouraging everybody.”

Added Starliper: “I just hope I can make them smile. You get varied reactions because after a race people are hurting and tired. But running is an awesome sport and everybody can have fun with it.

“I truly love it for all that it is.”

‘Doing something awesome’

It was only natural that Starliper would get into distance running.

Her parents met while competing for the cross country team at Messiah College. Her older sister, Morgan, also ran at Northern York and now competes at Messiah. 

And Marlee always loved running as an activity. But when she started doing it competitively in eighth grade, she considered it a casual sport. 

Her outlook changed in fall of her freshman year, when she finished second in Class 2A at the PIAA cross country championships. 

“That sparked it,” Starliper said. “I realized I could do a lot more and be a lot better. I knew I was capable of pushing my limits and doing something awesome.”

Since then, Starliper has competed and trained year round. She’s competed in major meets in California, New York and Philadelphia among other places. 

While running is one of her favorite things to do, Starliper still has to be smart about how she trains. 

Her typical “long run” is about nine miles. She trains six days a week and also focuses on core and upper-body strength. She also “loves” doing yoga to stretch and recover. 

And though she’s big on nutrition, Starliper admits that all that exercise has helped her metabolism. 

“I eat like a horse,” she said. “I try to focus on eating whole foods as much as possible.”

More: Unified track gives students with disabilities the chance to compete with classmates

More: ‘She’s got everything’: Why West York’s 3-sport track star keeps adding to her workload

One thing Starliper has altered is how she rests in between seasons. After previously taking two weeks off completely, she changed her routine after this indoor season and ran three to four miles every few days the two weeks after competition ended. The goal was to keep her body sharp for when meets started back up. 

That’s the area her coaches have had to work with her the most on: Knowing how hard to push herself. 

“If we didn’t put a plan out there she would probably go and run harder than she needs to,” Northern York distance coach Abram Albert said. “I’m just trying to hold her back and get her to the next level.

“She’s gotten a lot smarter with racing. She’s able to sit back and wait until the final 400 or 800 meters, instead of trying to take the lead sooner when she doesn’t need to. 

Reaching her goals 

Being so committed to running has limited Starliper’s free time, but she does have other passions.

She loves to cook, spend time outdoors and play music ranging from gospel to hard rock. 

She admitted the biggest downside to her running career is that it’s limited her time spent on her other favorite activity — playing guitar.

Her favorite band to cover? Van Halen. 

“I used to be able to play Eruption,” she said of Eddie Van Halen’s famous 100-second guitar solo. “But I also love to play Panama.” 

Starliper will obviously compete at the NCAA Division I level, and she’s narrowed her choices down to three or four schools. She declined to say which colleges she’s looking at. 

Her goals go well beyond the collegiate level. Starliper wants to be an Olympian, and if she can make it there, she wants to medal. 

Wherever she ends up, Starliper is thankful to have discovered her passion for running, even if others think she’s crazy for loving it so much. 

“I’m the type of person who once they reach a goal, looks for the next one,” she said. “I’ve learned so much about myself along the way. I’m so thankful to God for all that I’ve experienced with him through running.”

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