The headline could read …”One time soccer player becomes running phenomena, along with twin sister”.

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High School

It was probably when Kara won the 1996 Regional Cross Country meet as a sophomore at Beavercreek HS that she decided she was definitely a “runner” and not just a soccer player who happened to run. Kara and her twin sister, Tara, went to the Ohio HS State meet all three years they ran cross country (1996-1998). Kara also went to the State Track meet three times

(1996-1998) in the 1600m, and 3200m, and twice in the 4x800m (1996-1997).

 

Kara’s BHS highlights include: Cross Country … All-Western Ohio League and All-Academic selection (1996-1998), Division 1 OHSAA Regional Champion (1996), Division 1 OHSAA State meet (4th - 1996, 13th - 1997, 13th - 1998), member of the team representing Ohio in the prestigious Mid-East Meet of Champions (1998). Track … All-Ohio State (1996-1998) / All-Academic (1996-1998). Her All-Ohio State Track meet performances were: 1600m - 7th and 4x800 - 7th (1996), 1600m - 6th, 3200m - 8th, 4x800 - 8th (1997), 1600m - 4th, 3200m - 8th (1998).

 

Kara and her sister Tara were key in the team success at Beavercreek HS. In 1996, their CC team went undefeated, including winning the Division 1 State Cross Country Championship. Their team placed 8th in the CC State meet in 1997 and 3rd in 1998.

 

College

Some highlights for Kara as a student-athlete in her four years at the University of Dayton include earning magna cum laude honors in Chemical Engineering while also earning Atlantic

Conference (A-10) Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track All-Conference honors. A favorite memory is her junior year Outdoor Track Conference Championship meet in

Richmond, VA where it was a Storage family sweep. Kara was the A-10 Conference Champion in the 5K while her twin sister, Tara, was 2nd. The day before, Tara was the A-10 Conference Champion in the 10K while Kara crossed the line in 2nd place.

 

Other accomplishments for Kara at UD include: A-10 Student Athlete of the Year (2002), Runner-up in A-10 Cross Country Conference meet (2002), A-10 Outdoor Track 5000m record holder (2002), A-10 CC All-Conference and All-Academic teams (2000-2002), A-10

Indoor/Outdoor Track All-Conference (2001-2003) and All-Academic teams (2000-2003).

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Post College

Kara ran the USATF National Club CC Championship on the Run Ohio team. That team placed 1st in 2007 (Cincinnati) and 5th in 2008 (Spokane, WA). Kara was the top scorer for Ohio

and placed 7th overall at Spokane. The long list of outstanding performances Kara has produced are seemingly endless. She qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials 10K. She raced in the 2005 USA 10K Championship. In 2008, she raced in the USA 15K Championship. In 2009, she competed in both the USA Women’s Marathon National Championship and the USA

half-marathon Championship. Kara also ran the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials.

 

A highlight for Kara was winning the Air Force half-marathon in 2011 in 1:15:56 (still a AF record) beating out the World Class Athlete Program expected winner who flew in especially for the race.

 

 

During college, Kara and Tara applied for OHSAA and USATF officiating licenses. They are still

members to date and very much enjoy giving back to the sports that have given them lifelong friendships and memories.