Athlete of the Week: Sierra Broce
By Keegan Cook – Hesston Horizon Sports Editor
“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”-Paul Brandt
That’s how Sierra Broce says she lives her life.
“I am always trying to reach past the sky in everything I do, rather that is in running, interacting with people or school,” she said.
With a best personal time of 20:22, Broce may not be reaching past the sky, but she’s pretty close. Not only is she the number one runner on the cross country team, she is the third fast female in the Larks Cross Country history. Broce’s times show that she is a great runner, but there is much much more that draws people to her.
Ask anyone about Broce, a freshman from Goddard, and they’ll tell you she’s a very outgoing person. Friends say she is constantly laughing and an encouragement to those around her. It’s not unusual for Broce to have a smile on her face throughout an entire run.
Teammate Jonah Short-Miller calls Broce “an upbeat person.”
“She always seems to be laughing with friends and her laughter soon spreads to most everyone on the team. Which causes us all to have a great time with each other.”
Friends say there’s a lot to like about Broce, who’s majoring in early education and youth ministry. She has an authentic personality. She tends to go beyond her own needs to help and encourage others.
Freshman teammate Kyle Stucky says he’s experienced that encouragement firsthand. Broce has had a major impact in his running.
“Being a first-time cross country runner there are lots of times that I get down on myself for not knowing what I am suppose to do,” he said. “Sierra though has come to me several times, just being an encourager, and attempts to cheer me up by complementing how I have done so far. She also is one the loudest supports during the race, which is what keeps me going strong.”
Broce is engaged to freshman cross country runner Mason Kerr who she first met at their home church in Wichita as a middle-schooler.
The cross country team will run next at the Region VI meet in Hutchinson Kansas on Saturday.
