Senior Send-Off: Whitney O'Bryan, Daviess County

To be part of this years Senior Send-Off just answer the questions above and email them to Jonathan Grooms at kytrackxc@gmail.com.  

Whitney O'Bryan - Daviess County, Class of 2014. Owensboro, KY

What was your most memorable meet or race?
My most memorable meet was State Cross Country 2014 because the weather was perfect, the course had never looked more pristine in my opinion but then again maybe it was the outcome of the race that made it so wonderful. It was a humbling experience when I finished and looked up to see over 50 of my family members cheering for me in addition to my friends, cross country family, even school staff!
 

Out of all your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
Gatorade Runner of the Year and being inducted to my school's hall of fame are some of the more outstanding accomplishments. Although I am very thankful for each one of my accomplishments.

If you could do it all over again, is there anything you would change?
There's nothing in the world I would change. Coach Fortney has trained us so well and every mile I ran with DC was another memory made. He probably would have changed my stubborn attitude towards running sooner but that just took time. I wish high school could have fifth year seniors...


What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Being in a boot sophomore year was difficult mentally because your self esteem and confidence in your abilities drops so much when you're not training everyday when you know the competition is.
 

Another obstacle was transforming my eating and training habits. I ate terribly. Candy more than four times a week, no vegetables. Ever. I would drink fluids but not enough to rehydrate my body, and water wasn't something I drank regularly. So the transition to healthy and wholesome foods was difficult but Coach Fortney convinced me that if I followed his rules and training program for that year and I didn't win state as a result of it then I could go back to my old habits. But as we all know, old habits die hard. His crazy tricks and routines worked. I have to hand it to him, he knows what he's doing. :)
 

What will you miss the most?
Everything. I've been blessed to be a part of an amazing running program at the high school as well as the Owensboro running community. I'll miss  running with my young guns and hearing their funny stories and watching them grow up into wonderful God-fearing ladies. It's been nice to be so involved in their lives for the past few years, they've become some of my best friends and they feel like my second family. I'll miss my senior teammates (Amelia Reynolds, Kelly Boling, and Kate Duty) next year but I'm anxious to catch up with them and see how their running careers progress. It's going to be weird not having them as my training partners. But the one thing I'll miss the absolute most is cross country camp! It's possibly the funnest week of my life and I look forward to it every year, it's a bummer I can't go this year!! We make so many memories together, get in some quality miles, and there's always great food because our parents are some of the best cooks around.

Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Do what you love. Everyday. If you're happy with what you're doing, you'll never waste a day in your life. For me, that's running and praising God with all my heart for all that he's given me. You should train hard but enjoy the process! Don't get too consumed in the training schedule that you lose your childhood because you only have that once. Take time to be a kid but know when to focus on the important things (not solely pertaining to running).
"In all your ways acknowledge God and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:6
 

I've always found joy in running because it's one of the few sports where you can tell you're getting better everyday; it may be minimal but you know you are because somewhere along the way you PR big time and that doesn't happen overnight!! I love how pure this sport is: running through nature trails all over the country and admiring God's creations, just going out and physically exhausting yourself with a tempo run or long and winding road run.
 

It's all so crazy how the only thing you really need to run is your body. Former Head DCHS Boys XC and T&F Coach Tony Rowe quoted, "If God had one sport to make it would be running." So as you run in all different directions and down many paths be thankful for where you're at in your running process even if it's not where you want to be. Keep your head up and look/work to where you want to be. Be humbled that God blessed you with the ability to run and that he gave you two feet because some people don't have that luxury, don't take it for granted.

What are your college/career plans?
My plans are to attend the University of Kentucky in Lexington and major in Biology. After receiving my Biology degree I'd like to pursue Physician's Assisting and specialize in Pediatrics.
 

I also have been blessed to become a member of the UK track and cross country team. Go Cats!!

Who would you like to thank?
First I want to thank my mom (Valerie Jones) for everything she's done for me. She's been my chauffeur, #1 fan, running partner on Sunday's (she rides the bike), my green smoothie chef. She's worn a lot of hats just to help me succeed and chase my passion. I love her so much and am beyond thankful for her.

Thank you to Coach Fortney for all your crazy tricks to help fix the little things, your stories, your dedication to the team and to me, for devising a new way to communicate with me during races when I couldn't hear you, your faith, and for allowing me to become a part of your family. Words can't thank you enough for all that you do for me. I know I was a pain when you first started coaching me but I'm just stubborn... Thank you for having the patience not to kill me when you probably should've! You've helped shape me into not only the runner that I am, but the person I'm becoming. Having you as a Coach has been so fun and although I'm moving on it hasn't hit me that you won't be the one coaching me next year. You're the most committed coach out there, driving me to races and spending three hours plus everyday with us girls to help us get better. You're incredible and I wish you and the team the best of luck!!

To my family, thank you.

To the people who may not directly be considered family but have become a part of mine (Suzanne Holt, Former Coach Lil Brunson, Shelly &Dylan Hammons, Alese Ferrel, my teammates (former and present), and my teammates families) thank you for all the support and love you have given me over the years. The encouragement, the words of wisdom, the laughs, the all mean so much to me.

To KYTrackXC (Jonathan Grooms and Tyler Karnes especially): thanks for the coverage, interviews, race videos, heat sheets, meet info, races, athlete stats, etc. that you guys do!! Keep it up!

To everyone that I've encountered thus far, thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you all do.

To be part of this years Senior Send-Off just answer the questions above and email them to Jonathan Grooms at kytrackxc@gmail.com.