Allen duo signs to run together two more years

Vicky Ibarra and Kristina Silvers arrived in Vince DeGrado’s cross county and track program two years ago as a couple of Kansas kids with very different backgrounds, but now after two seasons with the Red Devils, the duo that helped raise the women’s cross country program to new heights plans to run together at university.
“Those two come from different backgrounds, different places and different schools,” DeGrado said. “But their experience running at Allen together has formed a bond that won’t just last for another two years, but it will last forever. It just solidifies the family atmosphere that we have here.”
Ibarra, a Wichita native, and Silvers, a Leavenworth native, will be continuing their academic and athletic careers together at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth.
“She is my best friend,” Ibarra said of Silvers. “That is going to be good for us to go there together.”
The decision to join the Spires isn’t only a chance to continue to run together and for Silvers to return to her hometown, but it also allows them to run for a coach who was trained by DeGrado, just like they were.
“Their coach seems a lot like coach DeGrado and I like that,” Ibarra said. “I like that kind of environment and I like that kind of coaching.”
St. Mary coach Alstin Benton ran for DeGrado at Cowley Community College and was a part of its 2010 national championship team.
“This season was a difficult season for me, I suffered an injury, but the St. Mary coach stayed it constant contact with me and I’m looking forward to going there,” Silvers said.
DeGrado says he will miss both runners at Allen, who along with Kaitlyn Shoemaker — who has committed to Missouri Western State University — have done so much to elevate the program, but he is excited for them to have this new opportunity.
“They are the foundation of the program,” DeGrado said. “They laid the groundwork and foundation that they will always be able to look back at our program and say, ‘I helped create that.’ … They can look back and know that they made our program better than before they got here… I’ll miss them, but they all grow up and have to move on. Nothing is forever.”