A patient approach has Butler’s Brendan Eicher primed for WPIAL, PIAA cross country championships
BUTLER TWP — “The Tortoise and the Hare” is a good fable, but in reality, slower runners don’t win the race.
In a sense, Butler senior Brendan Eicher has been like the tortoise most of this cross country season — and he’s hoping that tactic pays off in big wins at the biggest races down the road.
“He’s scaled back some this year, not over-racing,” Butler head coach Mike Seybert said. “Brendan is keeping his legs fresh.”
Eicher finished third at the WPIAL Class 3A Boys Cross Country Championship meet last year, then medaled by placing 15th at the PIAA Cross Country Championships. His best time last year was 15:35 at the TSTCA meet. That competition was held at White Oak Park, Allegheny County, the same site as the WPIAL meet.
Eicher’s fastest time so far this season is 16:08. The hope is by taking it slow during the regular season he’ll be able to put up fast times when the races count the most.
“I think he’s good,” Seybert said of Eicher’s conditioning and progress right now. “He had to weather the flu for a few days earlier this season, and that set him back. But he’s back on pace.
“Last year, Brendan was second in the state in the indoor mile. He had a strong spring, as well, but seemed to get worn out over the last two or three weeks of that season. We’re guarding against that happening again.”
Eicher ran the mile in 4:30 this spring in the PIAA Track and Field Championships.
“That was 14 seconds slower than my personal best,” he said. “That’s what I’m talking about. I’m guarding against something like that happening again.”
Eicher sat out a couple of races this season. He participated in the Virginia XC Showcase over the weekend in Mechanicsville, Va., where his goal was to run under 15:30.
“It’s a fast course and a lot of the top runners in this part of the country will be there,” Eicher said in the week leading up to the race. “I’m gonna see where I stand. This has the chance to be a big confidence booster for me.”
Last year’s Butler Eagle Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year said he’s not happy with his races thus far this season but plans to finish with a flourish.
“My fitness is there and I’m feeling great,” he said. “Cross country is a long season, and I just want to make sure my body peaks at the right time. I don’t think I’ve done that in the past.
“I want to win the WPIAL, then win at states … at least place among the top five there. That’s what all this is geared toward.”
The TSTCA meet is slated for Thursday, Oct. 22, at White Oak Park. The WPIAL championships are Oct. 29 on the same course, followed by the state championship meet Nov. 2 at Big Spring High School, Cumberland County.
“His conditioning, his strength, his speed — all in a good place right now,” Seybert said. “Believe me, Brendan is very, very focused.”
Eicher said he plans to run distance in college but is undecided on the school.
“I’m definitely looking at Division I,” he said. “I want to challenge myself.”
