Brotherly competition helps young Zalma cross country program make strides

When junior Alex Steinberg and his brother Jacob, a sophomore, started racing against each other it was a good-natured rivalry just for fun.

That friendly nature is still intact, but now they're running together for the Zalma cross country team and finding out just how good they are in a competitive setting.

"I've always run just for fun even as a little kid," Alex said. "My brother and I always liked to push each other, and we still push each other. That's what really helped us last year, when we pushed one another to be the best we saw a lot of success."

They pushed each other so much last year that they broke the school record five times and finished at the state meet.

Alex held the record at two different times and then-freshman Peyton Ford held it for a brief period before Jacob took the record away from Ford and lowered it again during the final regular-season meet.

"It was just back and forth, a tough fight between us three," Jacob said. "It feels pretty good to hold that, especially since I can rub it in my older brother's face. It really is friendly, though. We like to push each other."

Jacob brings a record time of 18 minutes, 2 seconds into the 2014 season.

While the Steinbergs are two of the best runners in the program's short history, cross country wasn't always a priority for them.

"When we got cross country I mainly did it just to get in shape for basketball," Alex said. "The first race came around and when I medaled then kept medaling on down the road, I realized I was actually good at it and could really make something of it."

Alex still plays basketball at Zalma, but his priority has changed.

"I enjoy playing basketball, but now it's just something to keep me busy when cross country season is over," Alex said. "Cross country is my focus -- that's what's going to take me places."

Fourth-year Zalma coach Faith Bailey said she has never seen such great leaders.

"The three of them are like my assistant coaches," Bailey said about the Steinbergs and Ford. "They watch out for the younger kids. They give them pointers and they really just lead well. But it's a lead-by-example kind of thing. They showed this school and program what it's like to have success last year, and we're going to try and get everyone onboard this year."

The Zalma program has struggled to find its feet since Duston Davis played an instrumental role in bringing the sport to Zalma in 2010 and departed after one season. Bailey said the program would not be around if someone had not stepped up to coach.

Alex (left) and Jacob Steinberg talk as they take a break between practice drills last week.

"I love the sport and that position was open so I thought it was the perfect fit," said Bailey, a science teacher at the school. "I didn't expect it to go so well this quickly. We're a small school and we don't really see that kind of success in athletics. I attribute a lot to our athletic director and the board who have supported us throughout the whole thing, but most of the success goes to the athletes."

Last year, the program experienced its most success.

The Bulldogs advanced to the state meet as a team for the first time by finishing finished second in the Class 1 District 1 meet. It was a bitter-sweet moment for the Bulldogs, who finished one point behind St. Vincent.

"The goal is to go back and beat them, and I think they're within our grasp," Alex said. "Yeah we made it to state, but we want to be the top team in the district and we want other schools to know that a small school like us aren't just there for fun -- we're here to win."

The Steinbergs posted a 1-2 finish at the district meet, Alex winning in 18:34 with Jacob a second behind. Ford rounded out the Bulldogs state qualifiers with a time of 18:41.

Ford finished first among the three -- 43rd overall -- at the state meet in Jefferson City, Missouri, in 18:23.

Zalma finished 13th among the 16 teams at the meet.

The Bulldogs' contingenet at state was rounded out by Wyatt Lemons, Luke Robertson and Charles Freeman.

Jacob said the success from last year has put Zalma on the map.

"Normally when we go to meets people are just like, 'Where's Zalma? I've never heard of that,'" Jacob said. "Now they know us because they've heard of our cross country team and are surprised because we're so small."

Zalma cross country coach Faith Bailey is beginning her fourth season with the Bulldogs. (GLENN LANDBERG)

Jacob and Alex are looking to improve their times.

Jacob said he hopes to get his best time under 16 minutes by his senior year.

Alex's goal is to set the school record and beat his rival and good friend Garret Reynolds, a senior at Woodland.

Alex has been working with Reynolds over the summer, terming his friend and rival the best runner he has ever faced and crediting the workouts with him for his increase in speed.

"I've got to work as hard as him," Alex said. "That's always been my problem -- he works harder than me. I actually got to know him over the summer and run with him and we're pretty good friends now. I'm just really hoping to get him this year in a race."

Bailey, who has eight boys and two girls on this year's squads, said this season could be even better for Zalma.

"We're in the toughest district in the state," Bailey said. "To have my team rank up near the top is awesome. But I think it's the other teams who have made us what we are. They push us and we push them. At the end of the day we have to be the better team and I see us being that this year."

Zalma opens its season at the Jackson Invitational on Sept. 6.