Eagles' runner treads new path

By: SCOTT BAIR - Staff Writer | Thursday, November 25, 2004 10:04 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Brooke Kerby spent most of her high school cross country career in the middle of the pack. The San Pasqual High girls team was extremely fast collectively, but Kerby was never at the front.

That job fell to Claire Rethmeier, current UCLA runner and former pace car for the San Pasqual racing team. She led the Eagles to four consecutive CIF Division II titles while at San Pasqual. The first came courtesy of Rethmeier, Lorin Scott, Erica Bender and Samantha From, but when Kerby came on the scene a year later, the Eagles where unbeatable.

Kerby was the third ace dealt to Eagles coach Pat King after getting Rethmeier and Scott the year before, and that hand was good enough to win the Division II state championship in 2001. The Eagles' dominance continued over the next two years, as they recorded top-10 finishes at state and were queens of the San Diego Section during that span. Rethmeier, Scott and Kerby sparked that winning tradition by finishing first, second and third, respectively, at CIF in both 2001 and 2002.

But last June, graduation decimated San Pasqual's cross country dynasty. Rethmeier, Scott and From took their diplomas and left, following Bender the year before.

Those departures left Kerby as only remaining member of the Eagles' golden era. It also changed her job title from pack runner to team leader.

"During my first three years here, Claire was the captain," said Kerby, now a senior. "She would lead us in training and give us encouragement before and after races. This year I've tried to use her as an example for how to lead a team. I've just tried to encourage my teammates when I can and set an example on the course."

King agrees that Kerby has assumed additional responsibility this season.

"Brooke's role on this team has changed," King said. "She followed two girls who were excellent role models (Rethmeier and Scott), and I think she learned a lot from them. From the first practice of the year, Brooke was the leader. The team was looking to her to keep the tradition alive."

Kerby did exactly that last week at the CIF section finals. She became the fourth individual San Pasqual runner to win the girls Division II race. She crossed the finish line in 16 minutes, 21 seconds, her fastest time in four section finals at Morley Field.

Kerby was thrilled with her performance and ecstatic about her CIF title, but also concerned for the rest of the team. She waited anxiously near the finish line as a parade of various uniforms went by in order of finish. She searched for the welcome sight of blue and gold, but as time passed without a teammate crossing, Kerby's mood turned melancholic.

Not only did the Eagles fail to qualify for state for the first time since 1999, but Kerby would be the team's only female qualifier.

The boys team qualified and will also compete in Saturday's state cross country championships at Woodward Park in Fresno. Kerby won't be all alone, but this year's trip to Fresno won't be the same as in the past.

"It's going to be a different experience, a totally different atmosphere this year," said Kerby, who wants to run cross country next year at Brigham Young. "I'm going to be doing a lot of things by myself this time around, which will be weird after having a team with me each of the last three years. I'm going to warm up on my own. I'm going to have my own hotel room. But regardless of all those things, I'll still be ready to race."

Woodward Park's course is 3.1 miles for both boys and girls. Kerby hasn't run that distance all year, but King isn't worried about the longer course.

"The extra distance is not going to be a problem for Brooke," King said. "She's in such great condition that she can run three miles without missing a beat."

As the lone female representative from San Pasqual, Kerby would like to put forth a good showing at the state meet.

"She's put a lot of pressure on herself to keep the program on top and to win every race," King said. "But in the few days following that CIF win, she's been smiling from ear to ear."

She has every right to after carrying on San Pasqual's cross country tradition in a way unlike any of her former teammates ---- all by herself.

CIF STATE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

WHERE: Woodward Park in Fresno

WHO: 97 North County qualifiers among the best high school runners from the state

WHEN: Saturday

RACE SCHEDULE: Boys Division II 8:30 a.m., Boys D-III 9 a.m., Girls D-II 9:30 a.m., Girls D-III 10:05 a.m., Boys D-IV 10:40 a.m., Girls D-V 11:10 a.m., Boys D-I 11:45 a.m., Girls D-IV 12:15 p.m., Boys D-V 12:50 p.m., Girls D-I 1:20 p.m.

Contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com.