Senior Moment:
Graduating Senior Brandon Lemerande Takes Time to Reflect on What Sets Linfield Apart

The most memorable aspect of being a part of Linfield XC and Track has been the comradery that our program has had over the last four years. I have friends that run for a lot of other schools, at a lot of different levels and from what I have heard we have a unique chemistry here. I have friends that I would take bullets for. They are the kind of friendships that can only be developed through 6am workouts in fog and ice or fifteen mile long runs down gravel roads that only go by names we made up.  I will have great morning runs and workouts worth remembering after college, but I will never have a team like I had here… it is something truly worth remembering and undoubtedly what made the experience so incredible for me.

In addition to the team dynamic that I mentioned, I think what sets the Linfield apart from other programs out there is the coaching staff. They put our athletes in a position to be successful long term. This is not a “thin the heard and the strongest left standing will be champions” type program. These coaches aren’t going to take an athlete who comes in as a freshman and run him 100 miles a week to try and milk four good years out of him. They are still going to put that athlete in a position to become a great runner, but they are going to do it in a sustainable manner. Thanks to that I will have the opportunity to continue to run competitively for many, many years after college. I am not trying to make a sales pitch to anyone here, but I do hope young athletes realize how rare it is to find someone who will really look out for what is in your best interest long term.

Brandon Lemerande (2nd from right) hanging with his teammates at a recent meet.