On Saturday, November 2, Briley competed in the Kansas State 6A Cross Country Championship at KU’s Rim Rock Farms, north of Lawrence. She’d raced this course earlier in the year at the Rim Rock Classic, clocking in at 19:06. Of all her courses, this is her least favorite—it’s incredibly beautiful, but also incredibly hilly, with steep inclines and declines that often cause runners to fall. Still, her recent training was tailored specifically for this race, and while she had the usual pre-race nerves, she felt ready.
Though Briley’s team didn’t qualify, they drove the 50 minutes to cheer her on, performing their traditional “Blue Wagon” cheer before the race. We were initially worried about rain, with a 60% chance in the forecast, but it stopped just as we arrived. Briley’s support crew included Grandma and Papa Early, the Bobziens, Allison and Ellie, the Brawners, Asa, Papa Sparks, Uncle Rick, and Baylor’s girlfriend Dorothy, who runs middle school cross-country at Barstow. Even Briley’s school principal came to cheer her on. With foghorns, cowbells, signs, and boundless spirit, our family and friends made sure she felt the love.
We arrived early so Briley had time for her warm-up and pre-race routine. She was excited but focused on her goal: maintaining her 7th state ranking and breaking 19 minutes—a huge achievement for this course. The weather was ideal, with temperatures in the upper 50s, and the course was wet but manageable.
After a slight delay, the race started at 11:15. Our family spread out along the course, cheering Briley on at every turn. Her strategy was to avoid starting too fast, knowing the competitive field would likely go out hard. By the one-mile mark, she was in 15th place but held her steady pace as others began to fall back. By mile two, she’d moved up to 7th. She climbed Cemetery Hill (a grueling climb named for the old cemetery at the top), passing one more runner to take 6th place.
The last stretch, known as “Skyline,” is a long, gradual downhill leading to the finish. Briley had a 5-second gap over 7th and was about 15 seconds behind 5th place. She sprinted down the hill with an incredible finish, crossing the line at 18:58—10 seconds ahead of 7th place, 10 seconds behind 5th, and 2 seconds under her goal.
At the finish, Briley was swarmed by teammates, coaches, and family. Exhausted but ecstatic, she was all smiles. She was thrilled with her performance, the support she received, and her official 6th place finish, earning her First Team All-State honors. Autumn and I couldn’t be prouder. Briley’s dedication over the years, getting up early every morning to train, has paid off in this remarkable achievement. As we celebrated, the rain began to fall—a heavy, steady rain that lasted through the awards ceremony. It felt like Autumn’s own tears of joy, watching over us…but then I remembered Autumn was not a cryer and that was a lot of tears 😂.
Despite the rain, Briley’s teammates, coaches, and my crew stayed until 2:30 for the awards ceremony. With a huge smile, Briley Mae received her 6th place medal. We then made the rain-soaked drive home, where we spent the rest of the day drying out and basking in the pride of her accomplishment.
Congratulations, Briley Mae—hard work pays off! Now she is working to get ready for the Garmin Cross Country Championships in Huntsville Alabama on December 7th. Wish her luck!
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