First Prairie Home runner races in state cross country

Sage Eichenburch, the first Prairie Home runner to qualify for state in cross country, ran a time of 19:40 and finished in 105th place out of 165 runners at the state meet Nov. 4, 2017. (Submitted photo)
Sage Eichenburch, the first Prairie Home runner to qualify for state in cross country, ran a time of 19:40 and finished in 105th place out of 165 runners at the state meet Nov. 4, 2017. (Submitted photo)

Prairie Home senior Sage Eichenburch was the first runner from the school to be competing in the state meet in cross country.

Eichenburch, who ran a time of 19:40 and finished 105th out of 165 runners at the state meet Nov. 4, said he was unaware that he was the first runner to make it to state from the school until awhile after his last race.

"I was really happy to know that I was going to state," Eichenburch said. "I've been working toward that for three years."

Eichenburch said that he didn't feel any pressure from the community to do well at state, but that he was the one putting pressure on himself to do well.

"I don't really know if there is going to be more pressure," Eichenburch said before the meet. "I feel like I may be putting more pressure on myself. The community has been really supportive that I just made it to state. They are not going to be disappointed, if I don't do well there. They are just proud to have somebody who made it."

Eichenburch started running in his sophomore year. The most enjoyable part of running cross country for Eichenburch is that it is a sport where the participant is competing with himself as much as the other racers. After he is done with high school, Eichenburch said he will continue to run, recreationally.

While he is in the middle of a race, Eichenburch said he has a mindset that focuses on pushing himself to go faster as the race is going on.

"Don't slow down here; you can always go a little bit faster," Eichenburch said. "Give yourself a landmark that you can go a little faster, so you get there. Then think (I am) going to catch that next kid in front of me and if I can catch him, I can catch the next kid."

Looking back on the season, Eichenburch said that only having one other teammate is a bit strange. But, it worked well, as both runners were able to get an equal amount of help from Head Coach Marie Pope. He also said having two runners led to them pushing themselves harder by competing with each other.

"Everything is a competition between the two of us," Eichenburch said

Eichenburch said he made a lot of improvements through the season, but there were times he could have run better. He enjoyed seeing his teammate, freshman Allen Haslag, grow and improve as a runner and Eichenburch was happy with his own improvements this season, as well.