As a second generation Athens cross country runner, Oconee County High School’s Phoebe Brodrick is carrying her family’s name in the sport beyond even the finish line.
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Sydney Kohne, VO: As one of the most promising high school cross country runners of Athens-Clarke County, Phoebe Brodrick has the love for the sport in her DNA. With a mother, father, aunt and uncle who all ran for Athens high schools, the junior literally follows in their footsteps every time she laces up her shoes. The familial influence to run cross country has proven to be vital to her success and growth within the sport at Oconee County High School.
Phoebe Brodrick: They just have a bunch of knowledge on the sport, so they kind of help me become better and they’re always giving me tips and stuff. But it can also be stressful at times because there’s always pressure and stuff but it’s always good, they help me a lot.
VO: Phoebe would run in various 5ks with her parents staring in elementary school, but didn’t fully embrace running as a sport until middle school. Her parents are her biggest pool of knowledge when it comes to being successful in her races.
PB: They’re both big runners and they definitely have a big influence on me, in a good way, of course.
VO: Her father, Brian, and uncle Kevin Brodrick both ran at Oconee County, while her mother ran at Athens Academy and her aunt competed at Clarke County. They all moved onto Berry College where they continued their athletic careers. Brian is thrilled to see Phoebe grow into the sport he loved.
Brian Brodrick: It’s just really wonderful that our children have chosen to follow in those footsteps a little bit and frankly, outrun all of us before it’s all said and done.
VO: Now, Phoebe excels in the 5k and 3200 meter races under the coaching of Lynne Ely, who has been with the cross country program at Oconee County since 1997. She’s seen how Phoebe’s family has influenced her growth as a runner.
Lynne Ely: I think she has so much talent. Between that and the interest that her family took in it, you know they would always go to those Allcomers races and she would see how much fun, and then she just loves it, but she had to kind of make it her own, and I think that was hard for her and now she has and she’s done so well.
VO: As juniors, Phoebe and her cousin Samantha Brodrick compete against each other. Samantha runs at Clarke Central like her mother did before her, and the two are best friends.
PB: Yeah, we do talk about it a lot and it’s super helpful having her there because she’s someone different than my teammates to talk about this with, especially since she’s my age its extremely helpful.
VO: Brian Broderick is excited to see the young generation of Brodricks continue to grow in their love of the sport.
BB: Kevin and I, as bothers, we found a lot of joy in just having that time together and that’s really what I want for Phoebe and all the kids running at Oconee now. My hope is even once their high school days are long done that maybe Phoebe and Samantha have the opportunity to get out there and have some running adventures the way my brother and I did.
VO: Phoebe’s younger brother and sister haven’t yet expressed a love for running, but as the leader of the second generation of great Brodrick runners, Phoebe continues to make her mark on the sport in Athens.
Sydney Kohne 
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