It was just last fall when the Union County boys and girls cross country teams earned top finishes in the State Championships after dominating the region.
While months have passed since the success and graduating Madison White and other seniors, Head Coach Jeff Brosman said both he and his current athletes are determined to repeat those achievements, starting with their summer training.
With the intense base mileage during these summer months, both Brosman and assistant coach, Bob Yehling, decided to try water aerobics as a form of conditioning the athletes.
“It gives the kids a break from the heat and the monotony of running on a road,” Yehling said. “Gives their bodies a break from the pavement and it serves as such a morale booster.”
While the runners are averaging between 30 to 35 miles a week, once a week Krystal Scarberry of the Union County YMCA leads the team in a series of exercises in the pool at Morganfield’s City Park.
Exercises include everything from running forwards and backwards, treading water to swimming laps.
“What people don’t realize is water exercises will burn twice the calories as those you burn doing the same exercises on land,” Scarberry said.
Both coaches hope that this added conditioning will give their athletes the edge they need to beat the neighboring Webster County teams.
“We don’t want our athletes to have to go 0 to 60 all of a sudden,” Yehling said. “The water workouts, a good base mileage, stretching and core conditioning will help prevent injury and keep the team healthy.”
Brosman said both boys and girls teams are looking poised for another good season if they continue working hard throughout the season.
“Maddie was like an institution to this team and now that she’s gone to USI, it will be so different around here,” Brosman said.
“But we have a strong boys team returning and tough new girls out with three coming back. Two of the girls are capable of being the top two in the region.”
The two returning hopefuls are sophomore Morgan Belt and junior Anessa Brosman, who are coming off of fifth and eighth place finishes in the regional championship last season.
The duo helped lead the Lady Braves to a region championship and a seventh place finish at the State Championships at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington last November.
In addition to the talent returning on the girls' side, Brosman said the boys' team was also fortunate to not suffer from graduation.
The team will see the talent of senior Randy Minton, junior Sam Sheffer, junior Garrett Seay, junior Seth Burnette, sophomore Damian Cleek and other veteran runners as they return for another season.
The boys' team fell second to Webster County in the region, but earned their first trip to State since 2003.
Although Union County’s first race is expected to take place the last weekend in August, both coaches said it is definitely not too late for those interested in running to join the team.
“You’ll find that with cross-country, it is a work in progress until October,” Yehling said. “It is definitely not too late to add to the team.”
