Keller, Canny making strides for Columbus

In the 1994 videogame, NBA Jam, if a player makes three baskets in a row, the announcer loudly proclaims, ?He?s on fire!?

On fire is an understatement for Columbus runner Josh Keller.

A senior for the Wildcats? cross-country team, Keller has cruised through the recent part of the season, winning the past three meets he?s competed in (at Keota, Fort Madison and Mt. Pleasant) and has his sights set on making his mark at this year?s state meet.

?I decided its my senior year, so I wanted to put in more miles and do as well as I could,? Keller said. ?I want to get in the top 10 (at state) and beat my brother, because he got 11th. He motivates me quite a bit. I just want to do better than he did in his senior year with his time and places.?

Keller?s athleticism has helped him be strong as a wrestler, where he took second at the state for the 106-pound weight class in Class 2A this past winter. While he has maintained a strong wrestling training regimen all year round with individual and club workouts, his head coach said that over the summer, Keller has dedicated himself to cross-country this fall which has paid off.

?His strength from all of his year-round lifting and conditioning is a big (improvement),? Columbus head coach Steve Riley said. ?He?s just another level up this year. I went into the season thinking a good goal was Top 10, which was beating his brother?s state performance, but after the second meet, running with the kid from Monticello, we put on the radar that he can compete for Top 5.?

Keller?s season-best time is 16:53 for the season (run at Keota), for 5,000-meters, and he is currently ranked 29th among Class 2A boys. He noted that the biggest strength of his racing is the ability to maintain a strong pace at the end of the race.

?Usually I feel like I?m getting tight, but I can stride it out a little more,? Keller said. ?If there are hills, its to my advantage because I can get up them quickly. That?s what drove me to (my win at) Keota. I felt really good that race. I feel like I can improve how I start my races and my first mile and then figure out my last two miles. I think I?ve been running well so far, but there?s room I can improve.?

Fellow Columbus senior, Ashley Canny has also seen great improvements this season for the Wildcats, running her best race of the season at Mt. Pleasant on Tuesday afternoon, posting a personal-best 23:16 at the meet.

As she looks at the rest of the season, she is eyeing a potential berth in the state meet as her ultimate goal.

?I want to keep improving my times and hopefully I can make it to state,? Canny said. ?I just want to keep getting better right now. I want my senior year to be my best year. It?s something I really would like to accomplish. If I do that, I?ll be happy with just that. Even if I don?t do well at state, I?d be happy with it.?

For Canny, the change from 4,000 meters to 5,000 meters seemed daunting at first, but she has embraced the change and said it feels just like normal now.

?It?s different, because of the longer distance, but I?ve been happy with how I?ve been improving,? Canny said. ?I thought it was going to be more difficult than it is, but now I don?t notice it as much.?

As far as her goal for a state meet berth at the end of the season, Riley said her hard work over the past few seasons has been fueled by her spirit and should put her in good position for the rest of the year.

?She is quiet and unassuming, but very consistent,? Riley said. ?There?s a competitive fire that burns down deep that you don?t really see. She and Josh are similar in that they are quiet and great, kind kids. Ashley, this is her only sport with track, and so you don?t see it as much, but it?s a competitive fire that burns deep with her.?

Keller, Canny and the rest of the Wildcats will next compete on Monday when they go to the University of Iowa cross-country course for a meet hosted by Clear Creek-Amana.