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Cross Country Runner McClain Stoneburner Featured in Local Paper.
Stoneburner Sets Sight on Third-Straight Berth to Regionals
By Matt Thornicroft
Sports Editor
The Press (Avon)
Reprinted with permission.
 McClain Stoneburner
Battling through knee pain caused by a soccer injury, the junior has quietly gone about his business putting up solid times for the Patriots’ cross country team. Averaging times of around 18 minutes, Stoneburner ran a time of 17:33 at the John Speer Rider Invitational at Western Reserve.
“McClain is a tough runner who always gives his best performance on every course,” head coach Steve Wallace said. “He often runs with knee pain because he injured it at a soccer game a couple of years ago, but he seldom allows it to affect his performances. McClain has been a consistent leader for the team over the last three years. He has been a regional qualifier since his freshman year.”
Stoneburner will compete for a third-straight trip to regionals as well as help his team advance this Saturday at the Division III district meet at Edgewater Park. A veteran runner, Stoneburner says the key to getting out is staying focused.
“You have to make sure you don’t go out too fast and get too excited,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll get too excited before and take off too fast at the beginning and don’t have enough energy at the end. You also want to stay in front, or you won’t catch up to everybody else.”
Stoneburner, who is taking a year off soccer, got into running after getting to know one of his dad Mark’s best friends. The friend, a native of Ghana who could run a two-hour marathon, helped out McClain and his dad.
“He inspired me to run,” Stoneburner said. “He had leukemia and passed away. He really helped my dad get started in running and he started me in running. I dedicate my running to him. I think about that sometimes and how God definitely helps me out. I think about how much he has blessed me with the gift to run.” |
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