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Britton-Hecla sophomore Kelsey Barrett won her second Class A cross country state championship in the past three years on Saturday at Rapid City.
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Britton-Hecla sophomore Kelsey Barrett conquered a flu bug, a defending state champion, and a field of 130 runners to claim her second Class A state cross country championship in three years on Saturday in Rapid City.
Usually a runner who likes to lead from the start, Barrett employed a different strategy on Saturday. She was in fourth place for most of the 4,000-meter race but unleashed her patented kick about 400 yards from the finish line and held on to nudge defending champion Lottie Grimshaw of Todd County by just 1.9 seconds.
Barrett was clocked in 15:32.9, followed by Grimshaw at 15.34.8, Lindsey Bohl of Garretson at 15:35.2, and Alena Leber of Parkston at 15:43.4. The winning time was also eight seconds faster than that of the unbeaten Class B champion Hilary Krein of Eureka-Bowdle, the only runner to defeat Barrett this season.
"She was in fourth for most of the race until she got to the finish line," said Britton-Hecla Coach Stephanie Brandt. "The runners were below a little hill as they came to the finish so we really couldn't see when Kelsey made her move, but all of a sudden, bam, she was right there."
"I was a little more tired than usual - being sick and not running for awhile does that to you - but one thing I always know is that I have a kick even when I had the flu."
Barrett battled a flu bug prior to the state meet, not running Friday through Tuesday prior to the event. The illness and some wind on race day contributed to her change in strategy.
"We talked strategy a little bit before the race," said Brandt. "When we first got to Rapid City it was windy, and when Kelsey lost to the girl from Eureka-
Bowdle at the Roe Granger in Aberdeen it was a very windy day. I mentioned something about not getting used as a wind aid."
"I had decided ahead of time that I didn't want to lead right off the bat and decided to play it safe more than anything," noted Barrett. "I didn't really expect to be in fourth, but it worked out."
Barret said that "playing it safe" meant that she would make her move when she felt confident she could win the race.
"I didn't have any real plan on when I would do that. At the end of the race there's just a point where you feel that you have to go. Lottie was way in front, Alena was kind of dropping back from Lottie, and Lindsey and I were quite a ways back and had quite a bit of distance to make up. I did cut it a little closer than I would have liked, and questioned myself if I would have enough left at the end."
"She was far enough back to make us nervous," admitted Brandt. "She trailed by 20-25 yards, and we didn't recall her being that far back in a race."
Knowing her competition helped. In her three-year career Barrett has run against the state's best, losing just three times in those three years.
"I think my experience helped and also knowing my competition. I had run against all those girls at least once or twice, and you get to know yourself a little more, too. When you're running on adrenalin things are way different."
A second place finish at the state meet a year ago was also a motivating factor.
"I remembered last year, and I remembered how bad it felt," recalled Barrett. "I didn't want it to turn out like that again."
Her coach points to the mental aspect of the sport as a real strong point for Britton-Hecla's two-time state champ.
"Kelsey is more of a mental preparer than a physical preparer," said Brandt, "and even though she was sick and missed two days of school, she seemed to be okay. Mentally, she just knows how she wants it to go, and she knows how to control the race. She's so confident in herself and comfortable just running the course and being around all the people there."
Michael Blegen was Britton-Hecla's other state qualifier, making his fourth straight trip to the state meet. Back spasms led to a disappointing 72nd place finish (19:03.1) for the six-year senior veteran.
"Michael had a pretty good season in his last year but he would have liked to have done better at state," said Brandt. "But his back spasmed up, and he had been fighting illness as well, and I think it got to him."
Redfield won the Class A boys' team title, while Garretson took the Class A girls' crown. Britton-Hecla did not qualify as a team for the state event.
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©Marshall County Journal 2010
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