AUBURN, MI – The runner within Brooklyn Werner has been aching to bust loose.
It’s safe to say this is her breakout year.
The Bay City Western cross country runner has found a new gear as a senior, dropping times and making crucial contributions to the team along the way.
“Every year I say to the team ‘Who’s going to be the one who makes everybody say ‘Where did that kid come from?’ We seem to have one every year,” Western coach Mike Nesbitt said. “Last year it was Savana Monville. This year it’s Brooklyn. All of sudden, she’s a difference maker.”
Just a few races into the campaign, Werner has reached new heights with her new speed. And that helped her earn MLive Bay City Athlete of the Week. She garnered 53.9 percent of the 5,628 ballots cast in the online poll, edging runner-up Robert Raushi of the Essexville Garber boys soccer team.
That’s all part of the new pace Werner is setting this season.
Werner came out strong when she joined the Western cross country team as a freshman, setting a personal record of 20:43. That would stand as her top time for nearly three years.
Nesbitt said Werner was struggling with sluggishness and fatigue during competitions before discovering in June that she had an iron deficiency.
“Running was becoming just a labor instead of a labor of love,” he said. “Part of the sport is having fun. And when you’re doing well, that adds to the fun.
“That’s why it’s so neat seeing her rebound.”
An iron supplement seemed to be the answer for Werner as it is for numerous runners, Nesbitt said.
“It has made a world of difference in her performance,” he said. “Before, she would finish races looking like she was literally on her last legs. Now she’s coming in strong and finishing races way better. The second half of the race is better than the first half, and that’s a total change.”
Werner showed her new burst at the Northwood Invitational, crossing the finish in 20:37 to finally establish a new personal record and help the Warriors best defending Division 2 state champion Goodrich.
On Saturday, she finished in 12th place at the Al Kayner Invitational at Delta College in a time of 12:39, a full 2:42 faster than last season in the same event.
“You see the positivity in her and it’s contagious,” Nesbitt said.
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