One of the WPIAL’s premier sprinters is seeking a special “double” this month.
Two of them, actually.
Tori Atkins is one of five girls in the running to be prom queen at Laurel High School, an honor that will be given out when the school holds its prom Friday evening.
“I’ve been homecoming queen, so to be both would be something,” Atkins said.
Atkins achieving the other double wouldn’t just be something, though.
It would be historic.
When the WPIAL Class 2A individual championships are held May 14 at Slippery Rock University, Atkins can become the first runner in any classification to win titles in both the 200- and 400-meter dashes four consecutive years since the WPIAL moved from yards to meters. A season ago, Atkins joined Farrell’s Jennifer Sims (1986-88) as the only athletes to double in those events three straight years.
So, there could soon be a quadruple-double on the horizon for a teen who was a standout basketball player before giving up that sport following her sophomore year.
“I definitely want to be able to accomplish that,” said Atkins, who was also a four-year starter on Laurel’s volleyball team. “There’s some pressure on me to do it, but hopefully with some hard work I’ll be able to do it.”
While Atkins is no lock to accomplish the feat, considering the vast success she’s already had this season, you have got to love her chances. Atkins owns the fastest times of any WPIAL runner in the 100, 200 and 400, and has lost an individual race just once all season.
“We always say to her, ‘You’re just taking names,’” first-year Laurel coach Heather McKissick said with a laugh. “It’s been amazing to watch her. Even when we think she’s hit her peak, she supersedes it every time. The humbleness that she has, she’s just so gracious when she wins awards and breaks records. She then just figures out another record to break.”
Atkins, a Youngstown State recruit, was spectacular at the Midwestern Athletic Conference championships April 23 at Shenango, winning four titles (100, 200, 400, 1,600 relay) while setting two meet records in the process. Atkins ran the 200 in 24.48 seconds and the 400 in 54.95, which weren’t just meet and school records, but also placed her among the top 10 in WPIAL history in those events, according to historian Jim Faiella. Only nine runners have gone faster in the 200 and only three in the 400. Atkins won the 100 in 12.24 and the 1,600 relay team finished in 4:05.51, which was a school record. The team also included sophomores Kara Young and Alexis Sherry and freshman Kylie Ruperto.
“I usually PR later in the season, usually at WPIAL’s, so to do it this early is exciting,” said Atkins, who shattered the previous meet record in the 400 by more than two seconds.
Atkins also PR’d in the 100 earlier this season, as her time of 12.04 won her the title at the Slippery Rock Invitational. Atkins’ only loss in any race this season came in the 100 at the West Middlesex Invitational when she was edged out by Hickory junior Josslyn Hancock, the two-time defending District 10 Class 3A champion. Atkins, though, still left with titles in the 200 and 400.
In addition to her six WPIAL gold medals, Atkins also has a PIAA title to her name. That came last season when she captured the Class 2A title in the 400, topping the rest of the field by more than 1½ seconds. She would finish sixth in the 200 and eighth in the 100. As a sophomore Atkins placed second in the 400 and fifth in the 200 at the state meet, this after finishing third and fifth in those events her freshman season.
Atkins has now put herself in position for her best postseason yet. She said she’s spent a lot of extra time in the weight room and has also focused on improving her block starts. That has led to some big PR’s, times she hopes will continue to plummet.
“My goal coming in was 54 [in the 400]. But now that I’ve hit that, 53, I guess,” she said. “And I want to get into the 23’s in the 200. I’m going to keep working on that.”
McKissick said she continues to be amazed at Atkins, whom she said would likely excel no matter the event.
“We always joke, there’s what Tori does and there’s what Tori can do,” McKissick said. “You could probably put her anywhere on the track, and she could adapt and run. We always say we’re speechless.”
Atkins, one of only three seniors on the team, has also served as a great mentor to the younger girls, McKissick added. It’s been an outstanding season overall for Laurel, which won a section title for the first time since 1985 and on Wednesday locked up a spot in next week’s WPIAL Class 2A team championship.
Atkins comes from an athletic family. Her two older sisters have been college athletes, only in sports other than track. Brooke played softball at Westminster and Regan plays basketball at Slippery Rock. Tori, who has a 4.0 GPA, said she strongly considered Slippery Rock, Akron and Duquesne before choosing Youngstown State. Their father, Todd, is a Laurel grad who was a starting defensive end on Penn State’s 1994 football team that went undefeated and finished No. 2 in the country. Dad also competed in track at Laurel, sprinting and throwing the javelin. Meanwhile, mom Theresa was a volleyball standout at Laurel who went on to play at Edinboro.
Being the youngest of three children, Tori has had to fight for everything she’s gotten over the years, but said her sisters have played a big role in her development.
“I’ve seen them be successful, so I’ve definitely looked up to them. I’ve seen how hard they work. That’s influenced me to get where I’m at,” she said.
Where she’s at is on the brink of making some major history while also likely racking up more titles and records. A quadruple-double might be coming soon for Atkins, who could also add prom queen to her list of accomplishments, too.
“It truly gives me chills,” McKissick said. “Especially when you look at the girl that she is, she’s an exceptional young lady inside and out. I think that’s what we appreciate with her. She’s such a stellar athlete, and she’s humble about it. She mentors the younger girls and is so respected by everyone around here. She’s so amazing to be able to coach.”
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.