Jessica Palisca

Class:
Junior
Position:
Mid-distance
Height:
5-7
Hometown:
Salem, Va.
Prev School:
Cave Spring High School

TFRRS Profile

All-CUSA Honors (2)
2023 Cross Country – 19th
2024 Indoor Distance Medley - 1st

2024 Outdoor Track & Field (So.)

Placed fourth in the CUSA 800 final and fifth in the 4 x 400 relay
Achieved a personal-best 4:30.71 1,500 at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier
CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal winner
CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll member

2023-24 Indoor Track & Field (So.)

Ran the 800-meter leg for the Lady Flames’ CUSA champion DMR squad, which posted a program and facility-record time of 11:32.82. She also took fifth in the CUSA 800 final in a season-best 2:10.44.
Won the open section of the 1,000 at the Penn State National Open in 2:52.50 (No. 5 in program history)

2023 Cross Country (So.)

Third team All-CUSA performer thanks to a 19^th-place finish (No. 4 Lady Flame) at the CUSA Championship
Achieved personal best times during back-to-back races at UVA, including 18:01.3 for the Virginia Invitational 5K and 21:59.1 for the XC23 Pre-Nationals 6K

2023 Outdoor Track & Field (Fr.)

Came in 12^th in the ASUN 800 prelims
Ran a Liberty freshman-record 1,500 time of 4:28.39 (No. 8 in program history) during the Bryan Clay Invitational, one night after running a season-best 2:11.56 800
ASUN Academic Honor Roll member

2022-23 Indoor Track & Field (Fr.)

Placed fifth in the ASUN 800 and sixth in the mile
Set Liberty freshman records in back-to-back weeks, including the Liberty Open 800 (2:09.61) and the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational mile (4:49.71)
First collegiate track race (Liberty Kickoff 1,000) saw her place second overall (first collegiate finisher) in 2:56.44 (No. 8 in program history)

2022 Cross Country (Fr.)

Came in 13^th (No. 7 Liberty runner) in her first collegiate race, the Liberty Challenge
Fastest 5K (18:08.0 at Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational Open Race) and 6K (22:43.1 at Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational) times both produced 25^th-place finishes

Prep

Graduated from Cave Spring High School
Captured four Virginia 3A state titles as a senior, including the indoor 1,000 and 1,600 and the outdoor 800 and 1,600
Came in fourth at the Virginia 3A state cross country meet as a senior
Top times were 2:15.89 (800), 3:00.75 (1,000), 4:59.31 (1,600) and 11:28.64 (3,200)

Personal

Daughter of Nathan Palisca and Donna Wright
Mother ran for Penn State
Birthday is Nov. 12
Chemistry major

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
I loved that it was somewhere I knew I'd be pushed athletically, academically, and spiritually. Most girls that compete D1 are used to being at the top in high school so it was nice to go somewhere I knew I wouldn't be at the top, so I had people to push me.

Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I like to treat myself to sweets or a lemonade after a good race.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
Coach Heather inspires me! She is a great picture of elegance, grace, motherhood, and what a spiritual leader should look like (along with super duper fast and funny).

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
After a hard workout early into the season freshman year, Coach Mark walked up to me and said "Congratulations, you just made the travel team, you'll race at Notre Dame next week". I was so excited, it was what I had been working towards for so long, to see it accomplished was so sweet and rewarding.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
My mom ran cross country and the 10k/5k in track for Penn State!! She's my hero!!

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
I LOVE a steak salad with sliced almonds, dried cranberries, pine nuts, goat cheese (an essential) spinach, and a homemade herb vinaigrette.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
When I’m inside, I like to play the piano. When I’m outside, I play volleyball.

Do you have any current pets (name and type of animal)?
I have 3 cats, Sally, Simon and Jerry. Sally is an old lady and Simon and Jerry are about 2 years old and are best friends. Jerry is mine and we eat strawberries together.