Nicholas County Class AA individual regional champions Johnny Walkup and Adrienne Truman have a love-hate relationship with the sport of cross country.
Walkup loves the sport, but Truman makes no bones about it, she hates it.
“I feel good right now, but I hate this sport,” Truman said, laughing after the AA Region 3 meet last Thursday. “I hate running with a passion.”
Although the rigors and grind of cross country are basically a means to an end for her, the multi-sport standout was extremely grateful to win the regional title.
“I never imagined I would be a regional champion. To be honest, I am a little shocked,” Truman said. “I am really happy and grateful for that. I got eighth here last year, so I didn’t think I could improve that much. I am really happy that I did.”
Making the regional win even more impressive for Truman is the amount of time she has spent on the trails during high school.
“I do this to get in shape for basketball, but it definitely helps me a lot,” Truman said. “Last year was my first year running in high school. This is only my second high school season.”
While the win may have come as a surprise to the Nicholas County senior, it did not surprise her coach, Chris Winebrenner.
“That one I can say that I expected. We have been believing that for the last four or five weeks where she has been getting better,” Winebrenner said. “She has that mentality where she hates to lose. I have seen it in practice. She just doesn’t know how to quit.”
Truman roared off of the starting line, but midway through the race she was in third place. A burst up the hill to open the last half of the race put her back in contention. Running second and approaching the finish line, Truman had the burst needed to bring home the title.
“I am a sprinter. I am not a long distance runner. My goal is to stay with the girl from PikeView (Carli Spade) and the girl from Shady (Bre Crouse). I try to pace myself with them,” Truman said. “I got gapped a little bit, but made it up going up the hill. I don’t know if it is because my legs are long, but that is my strong point. I tried to sprint downhill too and that helped me catch up. I saw (Spade) slowing down at the end, so I thought there was a chance. I just went for it.”
The drive to become a champion, even in a sport she really doesn’t care for, is also evident on the basketball court and the track.
On the hardwood, Truman averaged roughly 17 points, seven rebounds and just over four steals per game. Her best high school accomplishments, however, have been at the state track meet in Charleston.
Last year on the biggest stage she grabbed the AA state title in the high jump and earned all-state honors in the long jump with a third place finish. Those accomplishments came after finishing runner-up in the high jump and fifth in the long jump as a sophomore.
For Walkup, the win really came as no surprise because he entered the race not only as the defending champion, he was also ranked as one of the top-10 runners in the Mountain State.
On what looked to be more of a light jog than a brutal 5K race, Walkup cruised home with his second straight regional title, one week after winning his second straight Coalfield Conference title at Twin Falls State Park.
“I am definitely super excited about that,” Walkup said after the race. “Ethan Dowdy (from Shady Spring) led there for the first mile, but I knew the spot to win the race was up that hill. That second mile is really the toughest part of the course. I tried to create some space there. I think that is where I got a gap on him. It definitely feels really great to have it in back-to-back year.”
As it is for many, especially in Nicholas County, running is a family sport which helps lead to their success.
“Nicholas County has a good program for running,” Walkup said. “I think we are known as a running school. We have a good community for it and we have some coaches that really care about the kids. I kind of grew up around it. My older sister Katie (Walkup) was a regional champion in 2020 and my older brother ran.”
“Ever since I was in elementary school I have been going to high school cross country meets,” Walkup went on to say. “I think it takes an enjoyment for running. Not only wanting to compete, but also wanting to enjoy the run. We run year round. You know if you are running all the time that you are going to get better and preform well. I love it.”
The two-time champion also admitted that he might have to remind his sister about who owns the family bragging rights.
“I may have to hold that over her head just a little bit,” Walkup said, playfully.
The regional champion has also benefited from a friend and teammate which has aided in his successful run. Fellow senior Luke Barr ran fourth at this year’s regional run and was third a year ago.
“Him and Luke train year round. They were like 70 miles a week this year. They did it on their own. They have great families. All of our parents are great. It’s hard work and it’s all them. I would love to take credit, but it’s all them. I am going to miss them next year. They are so much fun to be around.
Last year Walkup had an impressive run at the state meet among a field of 79 runners. This year he is looking for a top-10 finish to earn all-state honors.
“I finished 12th last year and missed all-state by two spots,” Walkup said. “I am really going to give it everything that I have and do whatever it takes to get on that podium.”
Both athletes have aspirations to compete at the next level after graduation.
Truman has been receiving attention from several schools for basketball and track, as well as cross country. She has even drawn attention from Marshall University for track. The choice will likely come down to her best offer in either track or basketball.
Walkup is also weighing his options, but he has his eyes set on Athens at the moment, and for good reason.
“I am really leaning towards Concord University,” Walkup said. “They have a really good program there and (head) coach (Mike) Cox is awesome. That is where Katie is right now and she loves it.”
Class AA will open the state meet Saturday with the girls race starting at 9 a.m. The boys race will follow at 9:45 a.m.
