Marble Falls runners Brashers to compete at Junior Olympics

CAPTION: Josie (left) and brother Everett Brasher wear the medals from a meet while competing for the North Shore Stars. Courtesy photo

Siblings Everett and Josie Brasher are returning to the Amateur Athletic Union’s Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa from Aug. 1-8.

Both Marble Falls Independent School District students, who will make their fourth appearance at the meet, are members of the North Shore Stars track club under the direction of former University of Texas defensive back Cedrick Griffin.

Josie, an eighth-grader, will compete in the 800 and 1,500 meters in the 14-and-under girls division, while Everett, a freshman, will run in the 400-meter hurdles in the 15- and 16-year-old boys division.

“I like it because it gives me more time to catch the people in front of me and it gives me more time to track them down,” Josie said about why she runs those distances. “I like to stay in shape for other sports that I do, and it’s just fun to take up in the summer.”

Josie’s best time in the 800 meters is 2 minutes and 30 seconds and 5:12 in the 1,500 meters.

Her race strategy mirrors some of the other greats who have competed for the Marble Falls track program.

“I like to stay closer to the front in kind of in the middle,” she said. “I’ve been working a lot on my speed, and I’ve been really improving on my times. I’ve been doing a lot of buildups and working on a treadmill.”

With about 600 meters remaining is when she makes her move to the front and relies on her kick or closing speed to cross the finish line.

Josie called walking into Drake Stadium, home of the Blue Oval, at Drake University, which hosts the Junior Olympics “nerve-wrecking.”

“But once you start your race, it feels like you’re in the zone,” she said. “A lot of people are in the stands.”

Everett’s best time is 1:00.22.

“I do track because, honestly, I like to win and also because it can’t hurt my baseball ability,” he said of his primary sport. “(Track) gives me something to lean back on. So if I make a late reaction, not saying that I will, but if I do, I have something to lean back on to be able to get to a ball. I have that speed.”

The siblings have a close bond, and big brother explained how that translates during meets.

“It’s awesome because we can root for each other and help each other,” he said.

He began as a distance runner and as he’s gotten older, he made an important realization.

“I’ve slowly worked down because my speed picked up and I’ve always been pretty good at hurdles,” he said.

He summed up the feeling of his family in making their return to the Junior Olympics.

“I’m extremely excited, because even though it’s my fourth time, it’s still just a surreal experience,” he said. “I feel that the sacrifices that are made are worth it because of what we get to do – going to nationals. I’m just very grateful to be able to do it and be there.”