Lindbergh Cross Country

Although quite a few runners on our team had very strong races at the League meet(such as Bailey Bangerter, Sharaya Bradley, Kalen Hardwick, Stephen Root, and several others), the two people who have excelled the most recently based on their workouts and their races are Kenneth Yuen and Andy Dean.  They are this weeks Runners of the Week.  Here is why.

Kenneth is a first year runner. He has worked hard all season and had a great attitude. He is always quick to smile and have something funny to say. He has fit in very well with the team this year and has been a great addition in many ways. It gave me great joy to see him run an outstanding race on Saturday. He placed higher on our team than he ever has, and he PRed by about 1:30. Throughout the race, Kenneth attacked the runners ahead of him and kept moving up in the pack. He even finished the race with a strong kick. Because of his hard work and great attitude all season, and especially because of his incredible race at League, Kenneth has earned a Runner of the Week Award.

Andy Dean has been a member of the team for four years. He has been a varsity runner on two teams that have been undefeated. He has run at the state meet on a team that finished in the top ten. He has made a tremendous contribution to Lindbergh Cross Country over the past four years. His biggest contribution, however, has been the many small things that he has done this season to provide leadership and service to his teammates. I have seen Andy many times seeking out the new people or the people who are not as fast as the rest and make a point to jog with them in warm-ups or sit with them in team meetings. I have seen him pull people to the side and talk with them about race strategy or the importance of staying positive and believing in yourself. He has planned team events that focused on builing team unity. He has helped to create a fun, inclusive atmosphere on the team while at the same time creating a sense of focus and purpose. It is not a stretch to say that Andy has been one of the best leaders ever to serve as captain in the Linbergh cross country program. This past Saturday, Andy added a nice feather in his cap by finishing in the top ten at the League meet and earning a First Team All-League award. For his leadership, his positive attitude, his coachability, and his great running, Andy Dean earned a well-deserved Runner of the Week award.