Winner: Braden Burns 

School: Dublin Coffman 

Quote: “My goal for this season was to continuously improve… I have always had upperclassmen runners who have provided great role models, and I hope to be one of those as well.” 

Highlight: 

Entering the year, Dublin Coffman junior Braden Burns had not broken the 17-minute barrier, but now he has his sights set on the 16-minute mark. Following significant improvement throughout the season, his most recent breakthrough of 16:19 at the Les Eisenhart Invite has earned him this week's Runner of the Week award. Burns opened his season with a 17:19 but has since taken a full minute off that time with multiple PRs. 

This past weekend, Burns finished 7th at the OCC championships, earning him First Team All-OCC honors. This massive improvement is no fluke. “We have all been working hard this season to improve our times,” Burns said. Burns has begun to take over as a leader for Dublin Coffman, and understanding his strengths has been key to showcasing his leadership. “I am a very quiet person. My coaches say that I can lead by example, and I strive to follow my coaches’ guidance,” he said. Burns will be a key piece for Coffman—not just on the course, but as a leader—if they are going to rebuild into a regional power following a down year. 

With Burns at the helm, they are headed in the right direction with a young and hungry squad. “It was exciting for our varsity boys team to place second at the Les Eisenhart invitational,” he noted. While it most likely won’t be another trip to the state meet for Coffman this fall, look for Burns and the Shamrocks to be right in the mix again next year.