Tri State
McBride to take running, academics to the next level
Frankfort senior becomes newest recruit at Alderson-Broaddus
By Kevin Spradlin
SHORT GAP, W.Va. — On a recent weekday afternoon, Frankfort High School senior Rebekah McBride led her team through the pre-track workout stretching.
Frankfort senior becomes newest recruit at Alderson-Broaddus
By Kevin Spradlin
SHORT GAP, W.Va. — On a recent weekday afternoon, Frankfort High School senior Rebekah McBride led her team through the pre-track workout stretching.
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Push-ups, sit-ups and limbering up any tendons to be used for that day’s workout of more than 40 members of the Falcons outdoor track and field team. The session comprised for McBride the same movements of purpose, the same intense focus on ensuring she led by example and completed each exercise properly.
McBride looked like anything but a person who had recently been awarded a full academic scholarship to Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W.Va., where the standout cross country runner will continue her athletic career as a Battler.
After a disappointing fall cross country campaign that ended in a bloody fall in the middle of the West Virginia Class A-AA Region II championship meet, McBride said she’s setting no goals for her first year of collegiate running.
“I don’t want to have expectations,”?she said.
She was expecting to wind the regional championship last fall. Frankfort coach Amanda Moreland maintains that McBride, who won the Class A-AA state cross country title in 2008 as a junior, will succeed in collegiate athletics as well.
McBride looked like anything but a person who had recently been awarded a full academic scholarship to Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W.Va., where the standout cross country runner will continue her athletic career as a Battler.
After a disappointing fall cross country campaign that ended in a bloody fall in the middle of the West Virginia Class A-AA Region II championship meet, McBride said she’s setting no goals for her first year of collegiate running.
“I don’t want to have expectations,”?she said.
She was expecting to wind the regional championship last fall. Frankfort coach Amanda Moreland maintains that McBride, who won the Class A-AA state cross country title in 2008 as a junior, will succeed in collegiate athletics as well.
“I think she’s definitely capable of all-conference, even as a freshman,”?Moreland said of McBride, who will run in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with older sister and fellow Battler Victoria McBride.
Until this past season when freshman Katie Jan arrived, McBride had no comparable female with which to train. So, she ran with the boys. Moreland said the experience has her ready to compete with those faster than her.
“She has the ability and the brains to go on and do well in the classroom and on the course,”?Moreland said of McBride, who boasted a 3.79 grade point average through last semester. McBride plans to study pharmacy, which could become a four-year program at the school in the near future.
She won’t be leaving her current teammates behind entirely. In fact, she’s taking Jan — at least for a short period of time. Jan will be McBride’s understudy at the A-B cross country squad’s annual summer running camp at Canaan Valley Resort. The two, who frequently hand off the baton to each other in the 3,200-meter relay, have grown together as runners and friends over the last several months.
“Me and Katie Jan, we work really good together,”?McBride said.
Until this past season when freshman Katie Jan arrived, McBride had no comparable female with which to train. So, she ran with the boys. Moreland said the experience has her ready to compete with those faster than her.
“She has the ability and the brains to go on and do well in the classroom and on the course,”?Moreland said of McBride, who boasted a 3.79 grade point average through last semester. McBride plans to study pharmacy, which could become a four-year program at the school in the near future.
She won’t be leaving her current teammates behind entirely. In fact, she’s taking Jan — at least for a short period of time. Jan will be McBride’s understudy at the A-B cross country squad’s annual summer running camp at Canaan Valley Resort. The two, who frequently hand off the baton to each other in the 3,200-meter relay, have grown together as runners and friends over the last several months.
“Me and Katie Jan, we work really good together,”?McBride said.