What makes Butler boys a WPIAL cross country contender? Start with Brendan Eicher’s ‘confidence-booster’
Brendan Eicher is hoping the same venue brings with it the same result.
Butler cross country's junior placed first at Thursday's Tri-State Class 3A boys championship with a time of 15 minutes, 31.51 seconds. The event, which included 327 runners from 33 different schools, was held at White Oak Park, the same 5K course where Thursday's WPIAL Cross Country Championships will take place.
“It was definitely a big confidence-booster for me,” Eicher said of his recent victory. “I raced against a lot of runners I had not faced this year and there are only two or three teams that will be at WPIALs that weren't there last week.”
Eicher placed 11th at TSTCAs last year.
“My main goal is to run 15:30, but I just want to do whatever it takes to win WPIALs,” he said.
The Golden Tornado finished third as a team at Tri-State behind champion North Allegheny and Mt. Lebanon. Ethan Thomas was 10th overall and Logan Rogers 12th. The efforts came after Butler won all eight of its meets this season and the Section 3 crown, defeating North Allegheny in the process, 27-28 Sept. 30.
Butler coach Mike Seybert referred to NA as “a powerhouse, not just in the WPIAL, but the entire state.”
Eicher has emerged as the leader of a very strong group for Butler this fall.
“I came into this season with two years of varsity under my belt,” he said. “And I've become more consistent with my training. I've been running between 50 and 55 miles per week for the last couple of months.”
Seybert has seen success at Tri-State translate to success at districts many times.
“It's a huge gauge, one week out from WPIALs,” he said. “It's at the same course, so runners who did not do their best get a redo.
Rounding out Butler’s seven runners at the district meet will be Alex Motonis, Landon Slear, Camden Schaeffer and Bryson Myrlie. The top three teams in the WPIAL and top 15 individuals will advance to the state championship meet Nov. 1 in Hershey.
Slear has contributed a productive freshman campaign to help fuel Butler’s success.
“I had a really good season in eighth grade, finished high at several invitationals,” he said. “I thought I could be top five for the varsity team this year. I believe I can do well at WPIALs, but I'm most focused on place, whatever I need to do to help the team.”
