Barbahen, Bradney overcome setbacks in record-chasing efforts

The Westville cross country team began the second half of their season this past Thursday as they took part in the Sunset Hill Farm County Park meet.

In addition to improving their times and standings, the Westville teams also had their sights set on new school records.

Both sophomore Abagail Barbahen and freshman Tobias Bradney appeared to be on record-setting paces throughout much of the race. However, unforeseen events would ultimately prevent them from reaching those goals.

Barbahen was running with a pack of other runners when they were mistakenly guided off the course. This mistake effectively ended Barbahen’s chances of breaking the school record. Nevertheless, Barbahen completed the race in 25 minutes and 3 seconds, which was 14th overall.

Bradney experienced a different type of difficulty. Bradney recently set a new school record. He was once again on track to break another school record when he began experiencing severe calf cramping because of the uneven, hilly terrain at Sunset Hill. Despite the pain, Bradney pushed through and eventually crossed the finish line in 20 minutes and 3 seconds, placing 20th overall.

Although neither of Barbahen and Bradney’s two record attempts produced the desired outcome for Westville, both performances further showed the growth of Westville’s cross country program. Barbahen and Bradney did not merely try to achieve their own personal bests. Each runner placed themselves in a position to possibly break the school’s record for the fastest 5,000-meter time before their respective obstacles.

Following Bradney for the Westville boys, junior Jayden Couture placed 31st with a time of 21 minutes and 28 seconds. Senior Connor Keen placed 54th with a time of 24 minutes and 44 seconds. Freshman Anthony Ahnefeld placed 60th with a time of 26 minutes and 39 seconds.

On the girls’ side, junior Mica Gaskey joined Barbahen in representing Westville and placed 38th with a time of 36 minutes and 49 seconds.

Overall, Thursday was less about the times posted on the scoreboard and more about the potential emerging before unexpected difficulties hit both Barbahen and Bradney.

As Westville approaches the championship portion of its season, Barbahen and Bradney have shown that school-record paces are now within reach. On Thursday, Westville received a glimpse of that potential. The next opportunity will be about carrying that potential all the way through the finish line.