Krally aims to lead Fox Chapel cross country in title defense

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 | 10:27 AM

Brooke Krally, a junior on the Fox Chapel cross country team, knows she and her teammates will have a target on their backs this season.

She’s not concerned that the Foxes will be the hunted, not the hunter, as they prepare to defend their first state title.

“We know that we will be strong again,” she said. “We only lost one runner, Caelan Miller, from last year so we will have an experienced team. Coach (Tom) Moul has stressed to us that we need to stay focused, stay humble and stay confident, and we’re doing that.”

Defending their title won’t be easy, she said.

“We know that there are strong teams out there like Oakland Catholic and Manheim looking to knock us off our perch and claim the state championship. Overconfidence will not be an issue.”

Krally and her teammates had been running six days a week until three weeks ago when Sundays were thrown into the mix.

“We were running about 30 miles a week, but we’ve stepped that up as we get closer to the season,” she said. “Coach Moul also has us doing some weight training. It’s nothing too crazy, though. It will help us.”

Also a member of the indoor and outdoor track teams, Krally has begun considering colleges.

“I want to major in physical therapy, and right now, I’m strongly considering Pitt,” she said. “They have an excellent physical therapy program. I might also consider some colleges in New York. I want to stay relatively close to home.”

Krally plans to put her focus on her senior season and helping her team to WPIAL and PIAA titles.

“I’m confident that we will have another successful year,” she said. “With the experienced runners we have coming back, there is no doubt in my mind that we can make a strong run at the WPIAL and PIAA championships. We all know there will be a lot of hard work involved and we’re ready for the challenge.”

Marty Stewart is a freelance writer.

Tags: Fox Chapel