Published: January 21, 2009 11:45 pm      

Taking it all in stride

Armentrout invited to compete in Australia

SHORT GAP, W.Va. — Much like any other high school senior in America, Brittany Armentrout has agonized over which college to attend this fall.

Her mother, Jodie Armentrout, isn’t worried.

“She’s been confused about what she wants, where she wants to go,” Jodie Armentrout said. “I told her, ‘it’ll come together.’”

Most everything does end well for Brittany Armentrout, the sixth-best runner in West Virginia Class AA-A state cross country this past fall. Before she hits a college campus this fall — to whichever school she ultimately chooses — Brittany’s success is taking her to Australia this July to run in the Down Under Sports International Games.

The trip is an 11-day multi-cultural experience that likely will be quite the eye-opener. To date, the furthest distance the 17-year-old from Carpendale has traveled is to Cabell Midland High School in Ona, site of the state cross country championships.

Armentrout and teammate Rebekah McBride both were nominated by area coaches who work with the Down Under sports program. Frankfort cross country coach Amanda Moreland said McBride, a junior, has opted not to participate in this year’s opportunity.

“She’s determined to go,” said Jodie Armentrout of her daughter, confident the $4,500 required to pay for the trip can be raised.

Said Moreland: “I think she’s going to do whatever it takes to get there.”

Armentrout, an aspiring neonatal registered nurse who is deciding between attending West Virginia University and University of Pittsburgh for the next four years, said she plans on hosting spaghetti dinners, selling candles and baked goods, coordinating yard sales and possibly organizing a road racing event.

Asked why go through all the effort, Armentrout said it’s for an “awesome experience” to “represent the tri-state.”

“I just want to run there,” said Armentrout, who would train for about a week and represent West Virginia in an All-American 5K (3.1-mile) competition and an international 6K race.

The recognition of talent and potential come after an inspirational season for Armentrout. She overcame a flare-up of endometriosis, an incurable disease that causes recurring significant pelvic and lower back discomfort, on Oct. 23 before the region championship meet at Keyser.

“I didn’t think she should run,” said Jodie Armentrout. “She was in so much pain.”

Brittany Armentrout said her coach asked her to put aside that pain “for 20-something minutes.” At stake, after all, was her final chance to represent her team and school in the state title meet. Armentrout finished ninth overall in 21 minutes, 54 seconds on the 3-mile course.

“Brittany runs with all heart,” Moreland said. “There was no doubt she was going to make it to states if the team didn’t make it. If she had it in her mind on the start line she was going to get in the top 10, she was going to do it. She’s amazing.”

Her performance despite the circumstances set her up for the state meet a week later. By then, there was little that couldn’t be conquered on the college-bound senior.

“To tell you the truth, I felt so relaxed,” Armentrout said. “There was no pressure.”

Armentrout said Moreland told her No. 2 runner a top-10 finish was a reasonable goal. Armentrout had never run sub-21 minutes, a barrier she knew she’d have to break to meet her coach’s expectations. She thought Moreland was joking. And in the first mile, that thought appeared well-founded as she was 23rd in the 73-runner field.

Then she picked off five runners in a single turn. Over the last 1.5 miles, Armentrout said she picked off about a dozen more. With 300 meters to go, nothing was certain.

“I just knew I was in the top 10,” Armentrout said. “I really wanted to get in the top 10. So I just ran.”

McBride won the state title in 19:31.45. Armentrout was a surprising sixth in 20:31.65 — more than 82 seconds faster than the time she ran on the same course in September. The next four runners all crossed the finish line within the next four seconds. Her place in Frankfort cross country history didn’t really hit home until the awards ceremony.

“I just couldn’t believe it at all,” Armentrout said.

Jodie Armentrout has waged a personal battle with multiple sclerosis in recent years but missed just one of her daughter’s meets during the fall season. She said she hadn’t been in a hospital for over a year — not a small success, and one accomplished only through a willingness to fight through pain and adversity. Just like her daughter.

“I guess all that stubbornness paid off,” Jodie Armentrout said.

For both of them.

A donor will receive a “thank-you ticket” for every $2 donated to Armentrout’s trip. That ticket can be mailed in for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Australia and Hawaii with Armentrout. Those interested in making a donation should make a check payable to Down Under Sports and mail to: Brittany Armentrout Sports Fund in c/o Mountain Maryland Marathon Club, P.O. Box 227, Ellerslie, MD 21529-0227.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.