From the Cheap Seats: Beavers dedicate workout for #MilesForMollie

Members of the Wilton cross-country team dedicated their workout on Friday, August 24 to the #MilesforMollie movement sweeping the country. The idea is to honor the Brooklyn, Iowa native who was murdered last month. Tibbetts was a runner and was on a run when tragedy struck. Pictured are, front row: Linsey Ford, Emmy Drake, Cheyenne Rae, Hanna Rogers, Rachel Hunter, Lindsey Randolph, Ansley Boorn, Coach Patches Breed, Meghan Hook, Zoe Barrett, and Coach Amy Hurd. Back Row: Head Coach Nick Dohrmann, Ethan Drake, Noah Willis, Kaiden Maine, Gavin Freeman, Deacon Du e, Casen Reid, Connor Biermann, Gavin Reid, Zach Hein, Josh Hunter, Colby Brown, Isaac Hunter, Mason Baker, Jake Walton, Karl Brisker, Ethan Bailey, Buddy Darting, Jacob Imho , Charlotte Brown, Franc- esca Owens, and Michaela Breed. Not pictured: Abby Brown. Contributed Photo. 

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor

  Cross-Country runners are connected. Area teams and the Wilton cross-county team rarely see BGM (Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom) at a meet in any given year. However, they are connected, just like many high school cross-country runners statewide. Last week, the Beavers added to that connection, dedicating a workout for the #MilesforMollie movement sweeping the nation.

  The #MilesforMollie movement was started to honor Mollie Tibbetts, a 20-year old Brooklyn, Iowa native and University of Iowa student who was murdered last month while out on a routine run in the Poweshiek town of 1,500 residents. Runners across the country at all levels started the movement to send a collective message of support to not let fears of a similar situation happening, stop them from running. Runners are dedicating their runs to the 20-year old, sharing hopeful messages and encouragement on social media, tagged #MilesforMollie.

  “It was a teachable moment,” said Wilton head cross-country coach Nick Dohrmann.

  “First, she was a runner, and cross-country runners are a family, there is a connection there that it’s not just them. Second, we encourage our kids to do extra running and to be safe,” he said.

  Wilton ran 130 miles as a team last Friday, August 24. A majority of the work was 4-mile repeats where they run a mile, rest and run again, repeating the pattern until the workout is finished.

  Assistant coach Patches Breed had the idea and brought it to Dohrmann who got behind the idea quickly.

  “This is beyond our kids’ time with us at a practice. They are going to run on their own and hopefully, enjoy it to where they want to continue running after their time here at Wilton. Our message is always safe, be aware, be together,” he said.

  Breed, an avid runner who has 30 marathons to her running credit said that the workout last The #MilesforMollie hits home with Breed who while out on a run with a friend, ran into trouble. While on a routine run in a rural area, a car trailed her and her friend and sped off only to return and follow them again. The two runners were able to get to a farmhouse for help, but the incident left a mark on them. It can happen anywhere, and safety is something now that is at the forefront and something that is taken very seriously.

  The Beavers are preparing for their first meets of the season. Wilton was to run at the Louisa-Muscatine Invitational on Tuesday, August 28 before joining a lot of schools at a meet Thursday at in Iowa City. The Beavers are one of the last River Valley Conference teams to begin their season with a meet. Friday was probably their hardest one both mentally and physically.

  “Mentally and physically it (Friday) was our hardest one to date. Still, it was nothing compared to what Mollie’s family is going through, and has gone through,” said Breed.

  Tibbetts was a member of the BGM cross-country team and track team in high school.

  “It’s a movement to represent a young woman who went out for a run and didn’t get to finish. Every one is ‘putting the miles in for her. It’s a message of support for Mollie’s family and telling runners to continue doing what they love,” said Breed.

  Breed said that she and Dohrmann talked about what happened with Tibbetts. They also reinforced running safety.

  “Some of our kids didn’t even know what happened. They were saddened when we did. Kids have so much going on in their lives, that they don’t always know what is going on outside of their world,” said Breed.

  “We really hit the safety piece of this. Stuff like when heading out for a run or bike ride, let someone know how far you are planning to run and the route. Make sure to give them an estimated time when you will be back. This way if you are not back at that time they can come to look for you,” said Breed.