Westbrook Running

My high school alma mater, Trion High School, had it’s CROSS-COUNTRY AWARDS NIGHT on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. The above were the recipients of program’s first “THE RUNNER” AWARDS. The awards are explained by the following inscription:

“IN RECOGNITION OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNERS WHO HAVE DISPLAYED A LOVE OF THE RUN, DEDICATION TO THE SPORT, CAMARADERIE WITH TEAMMATES, AND HAVE GONE THE EXTRA MILE AND MORE TO MAKE THEMSELVES A BETTER RUNNER, AND IN SO DOING, WILL BECOME PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY…A BETTER VERSION OF THEMSELVES.“

The award winners were (left to right): Eli Hutchins, freshman; Briana Lathem, sophomore.

Congratulations to Briana and Eli on being awarded the program’s first “THE RUNNER” AWARD!

***A note on the awards: I was able to attend just a few of the school’s cross-country meets. When at the meets, I usually position myself out on the course somewhere in the middle of the race distance. The runners are usually out-of-sight of coaches and parents in that “middle.” As I did in my 44 years of cross-country coaching, I can see what runners are giving their best while away from the crowd. I can observe which runners have that drive to keep pushing themselves to move up in the order or to defend their present position. A lot of runners will just “maintain” or “survive” that middle mile until they get back into view of the coaches and crowd and closer to the finish. “The Runner” will be better than that.

I had two names in mind for these awards from observing those few meets. But, I left the choice to the coaches since they knew their runners better than I. I didn’t want to sponsor an award and then choose two non-deserving runners as recipients because of my lack of observing most of the racing season.

But, the coaches picked the runners that I had in mind from my minimal meet attendance. The two runners obviously kept their determined running throughout the season. That makes for two runners with a good future with only themselves limiting their improvement.

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“For when I run, I am the hunter, and the prey is my self, my own truth.”

Dr. George Sheehan: Running and Being

Granddaughter, Braylee Westbrook, age 7, met her first challenge at 25-miles. Today, on her 7th birthday, she met her second challenge at 50-miles running to 50.47 miles. Happy Birthday, Braylee!!

Knees scarred but finished her 50-Mile Challenge!

Running home!