Myers Park cross-country star Mary Bonner Dalton is in the zone, and has been for awhile
The sun is shining on an early fall evening in Charlotte, where a cross-country meet takes place at Myers Park High School.
A red head of pure muscle awaits her heat, blasting “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson through her AirPods behind the starting line.
Looking down on the paved white track lines of Myers Park’s Gus Purcell Stadium, Mary Bonner Dalton listens intently to Clarkson’s anthem as she remembers the hundreds of laps in the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, the countless strength workouts she sweated through, and the hundreds of miles counted in the days leading up to this moment.
She tells herself, “I’m fit, I’m confident, (and) I know that I can do it.” She is fully in the zone.
Actually, she’s been in it for some time.
Bonner Dalton is the Mecklenburg County record-holder for the indoor mile, two-mile, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and 5K.
She’s the outdoor Mecklenburg County record-holder for the mile, two-mile, 1,600 and 3,200.
And there’s more.
She’s the Mecklenburg County record-holder in cross-country for the 5K. She’s a Champion Sports indoor and New Balance Outdoor All-American.
The Myers Park senior also excels in the classroom. At the end of her junior year, Dalton had the highest cumulative GPA in one of the state’s largest high schools, placing her first in a school of 3,539 students.
“She’s a once-in-a-lifetime athlete for a coach (and) I’ve been here (at Myers Park) for 23 years,” Mustangs coach Lamont Hayes said.
Bonner Dalton plans to run for the University of Notre Dame following graduation. The decision was no easy feat.
It wasn’t until her last official visit when Bonner Dalton stepped onto the campus in South Bend, Indiana, that this feeling came rushing to her.
“This place feels right. This feels comfortable,” she said, reflecting back on her thoughts while at Notre Dame. “Then, I started meeting the girls on the team and they (were) just the nicest people. It really seemed like the team was a big family.”
Other top area prep runners
GIRLS
Charlotte Bell, Cuthbertson, Sr.
Morgan Boonshaft, Providence Day, Sr.
Grace Hanson, Weddington, Sr.
Stella Kermes, Cuthbertson, Sr.
Justine Preisano, Cuthbertson, Sr.
Abby Kerrins, Charlotte Country Day, Jr.
Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian, Jr.
Alivia Cleveland, Fort Mill, So.
Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman, So.
Caitlin Kasten, Covenant Day, Fr.
BOYS
Cameron Brown, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.
Garrett Brown, Rock Hill South Pointe, Sr.
Rhaghav Gopalakrishnan, Ardrey Kell, Sr.
Nicholas Grace, Ardrey Kell, Sr.
Charlie Schihl, Cuthbertson, Sr.
Colden Welsh, Covenant Day, Sr.
Thomas Wlazlowski, Cuthbertson, Sr.
Isaac Campbell, Fort Mill, Jr.
Blake Nicholson, Christ the King, Jr.
David Rivlin, Marvin Ridge, Jr.
