Peters Township’s Kroboth gutting out record victories
Brett Kroboth sprints to the finish line and sets another record. During a tri-meet with South Fayette and Bethel Park, the Peters Township senior shattered the course record at Peterswood Park. He won the varsity race in 16:42.
Eleanor Bailey/ The Almanac
Kroboth
Brett Kroboth
Brett Kroboth of Peters Township knows all too well that one has to crawl before he can run.
As a sophomore, he succumbed to cramps as well as dehydration and crawled on all fours to the finish line during the WPIAL Class 3A cross country championships. Kroboth placed 21st with a 16:54 time and failed to qualify for the state meet.
Two years later, on the same course in White Oak Park, Kroboth cruised to victory in the Red, White and Blue Classic. The meet is a precursor to the more prestigious autumn races including the district championships set for Oct. 27 at California University and the PIAA finals Nov. 5 in Hershey.
Kroboth led from the start and finished strong. His 15:31 time shattered the course record set by C.J. Singleton from Butler and the PT school mark held by Nick Wolk.
A Notre Dame freshman, Singleton was the 2021 WPIAL and PIAA champion. A Pitt graduate, Wolk won the 2015 WPIAL title. He was also a RWB champion and a fourth-place finisher in the state finals.
“Brett had a great race from start to finish,” said PT coach Tim Wu. “He had a race strategy – to start faster and see if he could hang on. Brett always plans and executes his strategy.”
Kroboth agreed. He said that the main thing that contributed to his success was having a plan that he devised with his coach and others.
“I was going to go out and set the tone of the race and hold on,” he said. “I had in my mind to win it and I felt good. I just had to finish it.”
Since that slip near the finish line in 2020 as a sophomore, Kroboth has been ending races on a high note. He’s been consistently submitting sub-16 minute runs, the result of improvements in training and nutrition habits.
“It felt good not to hit the ground,” Kroboth said with a laugh. “That was something I definitely wanted to fix and improve.
“Now, I do feel stronger. I don’t walk or cramp up and have to crawl over the finish line. I faced a lot of adversity my first two years of cross country but I’ve learned that it’s not how hard you fall, it’s your ability to bounce back and get up and persevere that matters.”
Since his stumble at the finish line two years ago, Kroboth has adjusted. He eats a granola bar and drinks plenty of fluids during practices – two regular bottles of water and another filled with dissolved electrolyte tablets – to hydrate. After workouts, he consumes a Fair Life chocolate protein shake.
After recovering from a hip flexor injury that led to knee problems in January, Kroboth embarked on his recovery and preparation for the 2022 cross country season.
He showed progress and promise during the spring track season, finishing fourth in the mile and 13th in the 800-meter run at the WPIAL Championships. Then he upped the mileage during the summer months. Though he put in a few 60-plus mile weeks, he typically averaged 55 miles during that span, taking only one day off every other week. In addition to hill work that featured pipeline and sprint repeats, he completed a few tempo runs to challenge himself mentally and to acquire that race feeling.
“It definitely wasn’t easy,” Kroboth said. “You have to say focused and it requires a lot of mental discipline.”
As a youth, Kroboth was devoted to anything but cross country. He played soccer and flag football. He was a leadoff hitter for his baseball teams that never lost a travel game or tournament. Kroboth also played basketball until his sophomore year in high school.
“I liked basketball more than baseball and I felt I had a better future in basketball because, at the time, I was a good shooter and passer, and I could play defense. But, I knew I would never play,” Kroboth said.
At the time, Kroboth played behind Connor Spratt. He transferred to Seton LaSalle and is considered one of the top prospects in the region.
Though he was a middle-distance runner in eighth grade, Kroboth was encouraged by his parents, Lorri and John, to sign up for cross country. Kroboth also knew some of the friends of his older brother, Kyle. They recruited him for the team.
Zack Marmol proved most convincing. The Temple sophomore was an all-state performer at Peters Township. He placed sixth in the WPIAL and eighth in the PIAA Championships.
“I didn’t care too much for the training. I was just there for the races,” Kroboth admitted of his initial indoctrination into the sport. “I continued though because I really liked the atmosphere of the team. Guys like Zack showed me how cool it would be to be good. He assured me that one day I would be there too.”
Today, Kroboth is right there, challenging for championships.
As the RWB Classic winner and Marty Uher Invitational runner-up to Butler’s Drew Griffith, Kroboth established himself as a frontrunner for the WPIAL and PIAA titles, not to mention other honors.
While he is currently embroiled in team competition, helping the Indians vie for a section title, Kroboth will participate in the 16th annual PIAA Foundation Meet on Sept. 24 on the state championship course in Hershey.
After the district and state finals, Kroboth will also race in the East Bay Northeast Regionals set for Nov. 24 in the Bronx, N.Y. with the hopes of qualifying for nationals to be held Dec. 11 in San Diego. Kroboth will also participate in the Garmin RunningLane Championships to be held Dec.3 in Huntsville, Ala.
“Brett is always about team first and a great teammate and captain,” Wu said. “He’s balancing team fun with his own training.
“Brett has the potential to win WPIALs or be in the top 3,” Wu continued. “The RWB is a preview of the competition to come for WPIALs and Brett’s win helps increase his confidence. It’s all about staying healthy and mentally strong tough. Winning is no guarantee. It’s a long season that goes by fast but it’s also a process. Never get too high on the highs or too low on the lows. What it comes down to is who wants the title more.”
Who is he: Peters Township High School senior who won the Red, White and Blue Classic and shattered the school record with a 15:31 time.
Age: 18
Birthday: July 11
Parents: Lorri and John
Siblings: Kyle
Sports: Cross country and track
Activities: National Honor Society, FBLA
GPA: 5.08
College choices: Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Duke
Major: Business
Career: Actuary science.
Food: Pasta
Color: Orange
Restaurant: Olive Garden
Movie: Blindside
Music: “I listen to a lot of different genres. All types of songs but no specific artists. But I do like Thomas Rhett.”
Athlete: Shaquon Barkley
Who would play you in a movie: Adam Sandler
Dream Destination: Hawaii. “I went there last year and it was absolutely beautiful.”
Guilty pleasure: “I really enjoy playing Fantasy Football and watching March Madness.
Person you would like to have dinner with: Roberto Clemente. “After seeing the things he did, how good a player and great humanitarian that he was, it would be great to hear from him.”
Lesson sports has taught you: It’s not how hard you fall, it’s your ability to bounce back and persevere that matters.
In 15 years, I will be: Married with a family and still running. I will run as long as I am healthy.