Olden makes school history for WCS in cross-country

WARRENSBURG | A Warrensburg High School runner has made history for his school district. Brody Olden, a sophomore, came in first place Oct. 28 in the Adirondack League cross-country championships meet — which landed him an MVP title — and he earned a berth in the state tournament by running the 3.1-mile course in 17 minutes flat Nov. 5 in the Section II tourney, placing 5th overall. Having a cross-county runner qualifying for the state tournament or achieving an Adirondack League title are both firsts for the school district. The achievements are particularly notable because Brody is a first-year member of the Burghers' cross-country team. He joined after two years playing football, during which he broke a leg during each of those two seasons. Warrensburg cross-country coach Chris Brown said that Brody advanced fast this year. "In Brody's first race at Corinth, he placed third, but since then he finished first in every race," Brown said a few days before Brody was given a celebratory send-off to the state tourney by Warrensburg High School staff and students. Brown said that Brody finished a 3.1-mile course in 18:04 a few weeks ago, that he told Brody that he had to cut his time to 17 minutes to qualify for states, and Brody took it to heart. "He shaved off a full minute in three weeks," Brown said with a grin. Brody's older brothers have blazed the trail for him. Warrensburg senior Braydon Olden, a cross-country runner for the Burghers since 7th grade, is an Adirondack League First-Team All-Star and team leader, Brown said. Brandon Olden, a junior Siena College and a North Warren graduate, qualified for the NCAA Division 1 cross country meet last March and has served as Siena's team captain. Also, their father is Bob Olden, proprietor of a fitness studio in Warrensburg, who last summer ran 1,000 miles and bicycled 10,000 miles, Brown said. The coach said that Brody, like others on the Burghers' cross-country team, is self-motivated and very coachable. "Brody is very humble and modest, and he comes into these races very focused," Brown said, noting that he also is a high honor student. "Brody puts in the effort that he needs to for both athletics and academics, and he achieves outstanding results," he said. Warrensburg Central Athletic Director Scott Smith said he hoped Brody's achievements in his first year running — particularly after breaking his leg last spring — would encourage more students to join the cross-country team. "It's truly a remarkable story and speaks volumes to the hard work, determination, and dedication that Brody demonstrated," he said.

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Olden makes school history for WCS in cross-country

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