Faith Academy teammates follow the lead of runner Sierra Brinkley
Faith Academy runner Sierra Brinkley (left) and teammate Sophie McCannon ran in the Marble Falls High School relay meet to start the season. Brinkley represents the academy in volleyball, cross country, basketball and track and field. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — When the race changes from a physical battle to a mental war, Faith Academy cross-country and track runner Sierra Brinkley repeats the same thing to herself.
“I try to tell myself the faster I go, the faster it’s over,” she said. “I tell myself how much I have left and keep going.”
It is what drives her to finish. It’s also why she is the junior captain of the team, cross-country and track coach Steve McCannon said.
“She’s exactly what a captain is supposed to be,” he said. “You need someone on the kids’ level, from being able to talk and going out to performing. She’s a great athlete and a great competitor.”
Her leadership comes from her ability to get her teammates to give their best.
“I try to be a leader,” she said. “It’s not so much I love running; I love competing. I’m going to try my very best and always compete.”
She also plays volleyball and basketball.
The junior is the younger sister of former Faith standout Bailey Brinkley, a two-sport athlete known for her drives to the basket as a shooting guard on the basketball team and her speed on sprints and relays. Youngest sister Paris, who is part of a singing duo and is a talented athlete, too, rounds out the trio.
The Brinkleys are a tight-knit bunch, which was evident the last two years when Bailey and Sierra played Faith basketball for coach Jerry English, and Paris served as a water girl.
To send a message of playing shutdown defense, Sierra follows the example of the Duke men’s basketball team and will slap the floor.
Some believe that cross country helps with conditioning for other sports. But the junior knows most people don’t enjoy running just for the sake of running. She joined the cross-country and track teams because Bailey ran track and because of her loyalty to her school, which has a small enrollment.
While Sierra isn’t known for her vocalness, she credits McCannon for his ability to tell stories and metaphors that focus his athletes and make them want to give their very best.
“Having Coach McCannon encourage me helps me fire up,” she said. “I would not like running it if I ran for anyone else. He’s the best coach. He really helps me a lot.”
The cross-country team will compete at the Class 2A state meet of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools on Oct. 26. And Sierra believes the Lady Flames have a great chance of adding to the school’s trophy case.
“I’m very excited for this year,” she said. “I feel like we can do well. I want to get better and try to compete and do my best.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com