WV Runners is proud to announce that juniors Jacob Burcham of Cabell Midland and Maggie Drazba of St. Marys are the male and female 2011 cross country athletes of the year.
If there were any doubts who are the best male and female runners in the state of West Virginia for 2011, Drazba and Burcham put that debate on the back burrner. Each runner now has 5 individual state championship titles. Each runner swept the 800m, 1600m and 3200m at the WV outdoor track and field championships. Drazba won the 2009 WV Cross Country State Championship and now the 2011 championship. Burcham has won 5 state championships in a row dating back to last year's cross country title until this year's cross country title. Drazba now holds the state meet course record at Cabell Midland in 18:25.40. To think about all of the great ones to have run on this course and to be the very best of all-time in conditions that were not ideal is mind boggling as to what kind of performance this junior posted in the record books. Burcham also holds the state meet course record and is currently ranked #7 of all high school runners in the nation. It is also staggering to grasp the magnitude of how great Burcham is, and what he is capable of doing. West Virginia is blessed to claim these two outstanding 2011 West Virginia Runners Cross Country Athletes of the Year.
According to reliable sources, Burcham and Drazba both plan to run in the Foot Locker South Regional to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina at McAlpine Park on Saturday November 26.