By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Niles' cross country runner Samantha Brawley has lofty goals heading into today's MHSAA Division 2 state finals.
Though it's a tall order, Brawley thinks she can do it, but said she'll have to push herself to her goal.
Finishing in the Top 50 in a field of hundreds will be tough, but the freshman Brawley has been full of surprises all season. Her success this year has come despite her youth and her favoring basketball over cross country.
Niles coach Dan VandenHeede said he knew Brawley had the talent to make state, but thought it would be hard because she was going up against so many old runners in her first year at the regional meet.
Brawley's performance is the first time in at least 10 years that a Niles' runner has qualified for the state meet, VandenHeede said. He was impressed with Brawley's feat, especially since she is a part-time cross country runner. Basketball is her main sport.
VandenHeede said while Brawley didn't run her best time at regionals, she was consistent throughout the meet. She was 10th at the mile-mark, half-way mark and finish of the race, qualifying her for today's championship meet.
Brawley's best time this season is 20:50. She said she'll most likely have to top that to do as well as she hopes today.
When she started the running season this summer, Brawley said she was intimidated by the older runners.
With nearly a whole season under her belt, she said she isn't nervous any more, just excited for the state finals.
Today's race is held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Brawley and her family spent the night in a hotel nearby tonight before heading to MIS this morning.
VandenHeede said that no matter where Brawley finishes in the field today, she has already done something big.