Final year stellar for Emmanuel Christian's Bragg

Lions senior won eight races this season, but missed repeating at state.

“I was happy with (the season),” Isaiah Bragg said. “I had a good record. I didn’t end up where I wanted to. I wanted to get the win at state, but I felt I ran a pretty good race.”  Staff photo by Bill Lackey

ENLARGE PHOTO

Bengals' Maualuga charged with assault
2/11/12
Raiders drop to 8th place in league with loss
2/11/12
UD women faces off against tough St. Bonaventure team
2/11/12
Dixie tops Carlisle to halt 4-game skid
2/11/12
Local Scoreboard for Feb. 11
2/10/12
> More sports headlines

By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 12:51 AM Friday, November 20, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — It’s tough to think second place just isn’t quite good enough.

That’s exactly how Emmanuel Christian Academy senior Isaiah Bragg felt after finishing as the runner-up in the Division III state cross country meet Nov. 7.

“Once you get first, you feel like nothing else is good enough,” Bragg said.

But there’s no denying what Bragg accomplished this season after the D-III state champion at Cincinnati Christian in 2008 moved to the area this summer when his dad, Daniel, became the school’s superintendent.

He won eight races, including the Metro Buckeye Conference title and a D-III district crown.

For his effort, Bragg was named the 2009 News-Sun All-Area Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

“I was happy with (the season),” Bragg said. “I had a good record. I didn’t end up where I wanted to. I wanted to get the win at state, but I felt I ran a pretty good race.”

The award is based on regular-season performance only.

He won several competitive races this season, including a D-III district title. But none was bigger than the big school race at the Centerville Stampede.

“It was a pretty big race,” Bragg said. “It was really muddy and I was able to win it.”

Bragg said it’s crazy to think his high school career is complete. He was a four-time state qualifier, and ran with his team at Cincinnati Christian in 2006, which included his older brother, Josiah, now a freshman runner at Cedarville University.

“I’ve improved every year and that makes it a lot of fun when you keep getting better,” Bragg said.

He said he plans on running at either the Air Force Academy or Cedarville, one of the top NAIA programs in the nation.

Despite being disappointed with his state finish, Bragg said he was still happy about having a great senior season, something you can’t always count on.

“God gave me a great year,” Bragg said. “Everything came together and I peaked at the right time.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365 or mcooper@coxohio.com.

Share this article