Hard working Witzel nails down Class 3A honor

O’Fallon sophomore Brooke Witzel doesn’t especially like pressure. But as the Panthers No. 1 cross country runner the past two years, Witzel does appreciate what it does for an athlete.

After O’Fallon, the top Class 3A program outside of the Chicago suburban area, graduated several of its top runners from a team that placed 17th in the 2014 Class 3A state finals, it was the soft-spoken Witzel who was called upon to become one of the leaders of a young, but talented Panthers squad this fall.

Although not completely comfortable with the leadership role, it was one that Witzel accepted.

“Do I like pressure? Not really. But the one thing it does is push you to work hard and do your best every race,’’ Witzel said. “We graduated a lot of runners from last year but we also had some freshmen come in and some other girls who were already here really stepped up this year and performed well.

“We improved a lot as the season went on. While I wasn’t real happy with how the season started, I was pleased at how it finished.’’

Witzel should be pleased. After running a time of 17 minutes 52 seconds at the state finals a year ago, Witzel bettered that mark by 23 seconds on a cool November afternoon at Detweiller Park in Peoria — finishing with a time of 17:29 — and a metro-east area best 33rd place — as she led O’Fallon to a 21st place finish in the team competition.

For that accomplishment, Witzel has been selected as the News-Democrat Class 3A Runner of the Year for the second time.

Witzel won just two races this season — the Southwestern Conference Championship at Belleville West and the Class 3A Regional. Witzel also placed fourth at the IHSA sectional, which was won by eventual Class 3A champion Minooka.

While Witzel continued to blossom into one of the elite runners in the state, she also has started to become one of the Panthers leaders both on and off the course.

“Brooke has started to open up a little more this year and when I say that I don’t mean she’s become a vocal leader. Brooke leads more by example,’’ Panthers coach Neil James said. “She ran well each time out. She did well at Forest Park (Invitational) and at Wheaton she ran in the second flight and led the entire race until the end. She placed fourth, but I think the only girls who beat her ended up being all-state.

“Brooke had an outstanding season.’’

But at O’Fallon, success on the cross country courses around the state doesn’t come alone or overnight. For Witzel and her teammates, the season begins at the O’Fallon High School Summer Cross Country camp in June.

“We meet in O’Fallon City Park in the morning and run. At first its a very light workout, but by the end of it we’re almost at a full workout,’’ Witzel said. “We’re really like a family in this program and I think that really helps. In school we’re all in our different groups of friends but on the course we’re like one big family. We’re pushing each other in practice and at meets during races we’re helping each other and pulling for each other to be successful. I think it all helps.’’

What also helps Witzel is that she is a very goal-oriented athlete. Before the season, Witzel’s best time over a three mile course was 17 minutes and 52 seconds. Her goal this season was simply to do better than she had as a freshman, which she did by 23 seconds.

Next year the stakes will be a little higher.

“The goal I would like to get next year is to break 17 minutes. I think it’s realistic if I keep working hard and progressing like I have the first two years,’’ Witzel said. “Of course the ultimate would be to be in the top 25 next year and be an all-state runner. Its only eight places from where I finished this year and with the seniors who are graduating I feel like if I continue to work hard that I’ve got a chance to get there next year.’’

Witzel will soon begin training for the upcoming track and field season, where she should be among the top 3,200 meter runners in the St. Louis area.

Dean Criddle: 618-239-2661, @CriddleDeanwith

This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 6:42 PM with the headline "Hard working Witzel nails down Class 3A honor."