Dallas runner to continue athletic, academic career

By Tom Robinson

For Dallas Post

Dallas senior Ally Rome was recently named the 2015 Times Leader Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. Rome completed her high school cross country career with a perfect season running for the Mountaineers, claiming a second straight individual state title to go with the team state title she was part of as a sophomore. She recently announced she will continue her running and academic careers at Princeton University.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_AlyRome-MVP.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas senior Ally Rome was recently named the 2015 Times Leader Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. Rome completed her high school cross country career with a perfect season running for the Mountaineers, claiming a second straight individual state title to go with the team state title she was part of as a sophomore. She recently announced she will continue her running and academic careers at Princeton University.

DALLAS TWP. – When it came time to select a college, Ally Rome’s concentration was on Ivy League schools.

Rome believes she has found one that will fit just right as the place to continue her athletic and academic careers.

The Dallas senior and two-time Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AA girls cross country champion announced Dec. 16 that she will attend Princeton University.

Rome will continue her distance running as a member of the cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field teams. She likely will select a science-related major.

“Over the summer I had an unofficial visit,” said Rome, who will run for Peter Farrell, who is in 38th season is the only women’s varsity head coach the school has had. “I had a meeting with coach Farrell and we got along real well.

“He invited me back for an official visit.”

Rome took her recruiting visit in September, then went about completing another successful season while the Tigers did the same. Rome defended her District 2 and state titles and led the Dallas girls to a ninth-place finish in the state after just one regular-season loss.

Farrell was the unanimous choice as Ivy League Coach of the Year after Princeton won the Ivy League championship and finished 21st in the nation.

Rome also gave strong consideration to Yale and Cornell and had some discussions with William & Mary where her sister Regan just completed an All-American season as a sophomore by finishing 25th in the nation individually.

Princeton, however, felt like the best fit and she made her announcement the same day that she received notification of formal acceptance into the New Jersey school.

“I absolutely loved the team, the coach and the campus,” Rome said. “And, obviously, it has amazing academics.”

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