LEXINGTON — Ashley Basham didn’t get much time to celebrate Lexington’s runner-up finish at the state cross country meet.
The junior was due in the pool the following week.
The Richland Bank Athlete of the Week, Basham helped Lady Lex reach the podium at the Division II state meet in early November. She finished in 19:42.01 at National Trail Raceway, good for 41st place at Lexington finished one point from a state cross country title. That was on Nov. 1.
“Six days later, she was practicing with us,” Lexington coach Brock Spurling said.
Both cross country and swimming require a fair amount of endurance, but that is where the similarities end.
“In cross country they are breathing all the time and it’s important that they focus on their breathing,” Spurling said. “In swimming we train to hold our breath.
“Being in shape is different for every sport. We talk to the kids who run cross country and swim about making the transition.”
Basham excels in both cross country and swimming. She was a member of Lexington’s state-qualifying 400 yard freestyle relay team last winter. Basham teamed up with senior standouts Hailee Sautter and Hannah Stevens and classmate Sammie Basinger to finish eighth.
“Ashley had a strong cross country season and it has carried right over into the pool,” Spurling said. “She picked up this year where she left off last year.”
Stevens, the two-time state meet MVP who is now starring as a freshman at the University of Missouri, was the undisputed leader of last year’s team. The role isn’t as well defined this winter.
“We have an unusual mix on this year’s team,” Spurling said. “We have two seniors and quite a few juniors. We don’t have any sophomores and then we have a good freshman class.”
Basham has taken on a more active role as a leader, Spurling said.
“We ask a lot of our juniors and seniors because we don’t have team captains,” Spurling said. “We challenge the upperclassmen to step up and lead by helping out those freshmen. Unlike most sports, freshmen get thrown into the gauntlet from Day 1.
“Not everyone is a vocal leader. Some kids lead by example. Everyone has their own way.”
So far, Basham and her fellow juniors have helped lead the way.
“The girls team doesn’t have the top end talent it had last year with Hannah, but we are deeper and more versatile,” Spurling said. “Ashley has turned in some of her best time in her events.
“She has been a leader in the pool and in the weight room.”
