Kayla Braman represents the only state cross country runner from TJHS. photo by Jessica Popper
Kayla Braman, Thomas Jefferson’s very own cross country star and the only runner to attend state this year
This year, Thomas Jefferson’s very own freshman, Kayla Braman, made it to state for cross country. On November 2, following a phenomenal season filled with hard work, dedication and consistent improvement, Braman proved her running abilities and competed at the 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championship. Braman held her own against the top athletes from across the state, and after fierce determination, placed 51st overall, finishing with an incredible time of 20:17:57. Her achievement is a significant milestone, not just for her personally, but also for the TJ community, which has not seen a freshman attend state in years.
Braman’s running journey began before high school. Four years ago, when she was in 6th grade, Braman joined the Hamilton Middle School cross country team. Both of her parents also enjoy running, and this helped inspire her to take up the sport. Even though she was part of a team, Braman realized that much of her growth would come from training on her own time. She mentioned that her individual efforts were, “more significant than with the middle school team,” because that team only practiced a few times a week. Determined to improve, Braman dedicated herself to running, going above and beyond expectations.
Her consistent hard work and dedication quickly paid off as she pushed her limits, becoming faster, stronger, and more resilient. By the time high school started, Braman was ready to take on new challenges. This year, she chose to commit to high school cross country. With ambition and determination, Braman earned a spot on varsity, a very notable achievement for a freshman. Throughout the season, Braman continued to push herself, striving for improvement with every race and practice. During her first high school competition, the 2024 Washington Park Invitational, Braman ran an impressive 22:27 for the 5K race. This strong start to the season proved her potential, and gave the runner confidence to keep improving. Braman worked hard throughout the season, putting in lots of effort to achieve personal milestones and goals that she had set. After lots of work and dedication, the hard work paid off when she set a new personal record (PR) of 20:11 at the DPS league meet. Not only was this a PR, but Braman’s time demolished the Thomas Jefferson cross country school record. Furthermore, Braman placed 10th in this DPS league meet, securing her a spot on the Second Team All League for DPS, another remarkable procurement.
On October 24th, the Spartan cross country team performed at Regionals. In order to run at the State Championships, the competitors needed to place in the top 15, which Braman successfully achieved. She placed 9th overall, with the time of 20:18, qualifying her for state. The 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championship meet was held on Saturday, November 2, in Colorado Springs. “I was really excited to make it to state,” she shared. “I was not as nervous for state as I was for regionals because at regionals, state was at stake” At state, Kayla felt more relaxed than regionals, explaining that “there wasn’t a lot of pressure for state,” which helped make the race more exciting and less stressful. At state, Braman placed 51st out of 155 female varsity runners, finishing with a time of 20:17. This was an incredible finish at such a high level, especially for a freshman.
Throughout the season, the team’s coaches have played a huge role in pushing Braman towards success. The head coaches, Social Studies teacher Jessica Popper, Physical Education teacher Marianna Barclay, and School Health Professional Megan Miccio, are known for their dedication and skill when teaching young cross country athletes. Braman expressed lots of gratitude for their support, and said that the coaches consistently motivated and encouraged her throughout the season.
Popper, specifically, was incredibly proud of Braman’s accomplishments, sharing that she has never had an athlete qualify for state in all her years of coaching. With excitement and admiration, Popper expressed that “having a freshman go to state individually really sets an example for teammates that anything is possible.” This milestone, Popper added, has been a huge motivation for the entire team. “I think it’s really just inspiring the rest of the team to work hard.” Popper expressed her hopes that Braman’s hard work and commitment will drive the team to excel in the next few years. The coaches believe that Braman’s success could possibly inspire the other athletes on the team, and help lead the runners to qualify for state as a unified team. Braman’s achievements and dedication not only served as a personal victory, but as a spark of inspiration for the TJ cross country program.
While other runners may listen to music or talk with their peers to remain driven on runs, Braman has shared her own mindset is what really pushes her through any pain. One thought she repeats to herself while running is, “the faster you run, the sooner you’re done.” This may seem simple, but the biggest inspiration or setback during cross country is the mindset. Negative thoughts while running may make completing the run seem impossible, but by maintaining a positive outlook, the body can often push itself a lot farther. Braman’s words of encouragement and advice for other runners is to just “keep running!”The 2024 TJ cross country season has now come to an end, finishing with the annual team banquet. At the banquet, the whole team was honored for their hard work and exceptional successes. The coaches presented Braman with the MVP award, honoring her remarkable season. Reflecting on the season, Braman exuded a strong appreciation for her teammates, who she said “are really great people, and fun to be around.”
Braman’s freshman season has not only proved her commitment and perseverance, but exemplified that she has also been a role model for her peers on the cross country team. As she continues her high school career, there is zero doubt that her journey and talent will further motivate runners to push beyond their limits. Congratulations to Kayla Braman, who has proven her determination and drive throughout the 2024 cross country season.
