Skyline making strides

By Brian Eller -- beller@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL -- There's the one they call "Mudder," appropriately named for his knack of running through tough terrain. Then there's "All Madden," named after the top players from the annual mega-hit video game series, "Madden NFL." Not to be outdone, however, are teammates known as "Beast" and "The Missile."

It sounds like a superhero faction straight out of a comic book. But at Skyline High School, they're simply the nicknames of sophomore cross country runners Marshall Eckert, Thomas Madden, Clay Jones and Sean Park. In just its third year, the Hawks' boys cross country team is off to a fast start, including capturing the first cross country trophy in school history. And led by four speedy sophomores, this year's squad is proving that while it takes hard work and preparation to find success on the track, having a flashy nickname certainly doesn't hurt.

"The All Madden name came from coach [Jeremy] Burnworth from Warren County," Skyline coach Mike Tanner said. "I came up with [the others] when Madden, I thought, well I have to have something to call the other guys. We always call Marshall [Eckert] a mudder because that's the type of runner he is, a tough one. That's the kind of running he likes to do. The other two I came up with along the way."

The Hawks are coming off of their biggest win this year, taking first place at the EMU Invitational on Sept. 12. In that meet, the Hawks dominated the field, putting up 44 points in the 11-team race. Madden was the top finisher for Skyline, finishing in second place with a time of 17:30, followed closely by Eckert, Jones and Park who finished fourth, sixth and eighth, respectively.

"That was pretty awesome," Madden said. "It was the first time we won something. I had a good race, I thought, and it was supported by all of the guys behind me. That was pretty much the reason why we won."

Madden said he prefers to jump out to a good start in races, and that he's at his best when he's in front out of the gate. He also said the team's mentality of running as a "pack" gives each runner more strength, allowing them to run as a team and win as a team.

But while running as a pack has translated into results, Tanner said it's the work the group put in during the offseason, combined with the off-the-track bonds with the runners, that's the main reason behind the team's success this season. The four sophomores now have a year under their belts, and according to Tanner, that experience is serving its purpose.

"That class came out last year, that freshman class, and they were still young and developing," Tanner said. "Through track season they worked hard. There's no secret to it. They came out, they ran, they love doing what they're doing, and the hard work has paid off, in the offseason and during the spring and summer."

"Mudder," who said his nickname stems from his ability to run on hard courses with hills and mud, said the objective of the team is simple -- to move up. Right now the Hawks are focusing on winning districts, and from there will look to capture a win at regionals. It's a mentality both Tanner and Eckert say takes focus, particularly with such a young core of runners. But for now, the team is savoring the presence of their first cross country trophy in school history, which is now sitting in the trophy case outside the team's gymnasium.

And as for a nickname for Tanner?

"Not yet," Eckert said with a smile. "We'll come up with something in the end."