Running in her nature

BONNERS FERRY – Winter Song, Forest Sky, Meadow Joy and Melody Dawn.

Titles of a “Sounds of Nature” CD series? Nope, they’re the names of the running Bradens, the children of David and Alicia Braden.

A Bonners Ferry High senior, Melody figures she got the better end of the unique names.

“My parents are from the hippie generation,” Melody said. “My mom’s definitely still a hippie. I’m thankful they had run out of names by the time I came along.”

Actually, “yarrow” – an herb – and “sunflower” were a couple of other names Melody’s parents considered.

All of the names aside, Melody Braden is concluding a family tradition that started more than a decade ago. Winter finished 20th at state his senior year (the top 20 earn medals). The most-decorated Braden runner came along next when Forest took 10th as a freshman, second as a sophomore and concluded with back-to-back state titles before he went on to enjoy a successful career at Boise State University. Meadow followed next, finishing 15th as a freshman, 13th as a sophomore, third as a junior and ninth as a senior. Meadow handed the baton off to Melody, who was 13th as a freshman, 10th as a sophomore and fourth last year.

When asked if she wants to at least match her sister’s best state finish, Melody’s rapid-fire response – no – is a direct reflection of her intense competitive nature.

“I want to win state,” she said.

It doesn’t matter to Braden that the defending 3A state champ, Cydney Jacobsen of Bear Lake, is a two-time winner.

Braden and Jacobsen live in opposite corners of far-flung Idaho. They’ll meet a final time in two weeks in Idaho Falls.

“I don’t have anything to lose. She has a big target on her back and she knows it,” Braden said. “I’m pretty sure I’ve worked harder than any other girl in the state this summer.”

Braden ran between 60 to 65 miles per week last summer, finishing with more than 600. Meadow, a senior at BSU, would frequently go along for company, and occasionally Melody would find herself running away from her sister.

It’s during those times that Melody was often visualizing herself going head to head with Jacobsen.

“I’d picture myself racing (Jacobsen) and passing her,” Braden said.

Braden is ranked second in the state rankings behind Jacobsen. BF is ranked second behind Bear Lake, which has won four straight state titles. The Badgers finished second at state last year.

BL returned its top four runners and has added a handful of quality freshmen to the team. All seven of BL’s runners are rated in the top 10.

Two other Badgers are ranked. They are senior Sam Hiatt (14th) and her sister, Erin (17th), a sophomore. Mandy Sandaker, a junior who finished 16th at state last year, is unranked.

“She (Sandaker) will finish in the top 20 at state and I think Molly McClintock (junior) and Riley Boorman (junior) could both sneak into the top 20,” Braden said.

Seniors Camille Robertson and Rayanne McLeish are battling for spots in the top seven.

“We have a better team this year than last year,” Braden said. “No one expects us to win state. They (Bear Lake) think they have it. If we run good races, nobody should rule us out. All of the pressure is on Bear Lake. We’ve been talking about state since last year.”

If it isn’t obvious by now, Braden has gravitated into the Badgers’ leader.

“She hasn’t just been content being our front-runner. She’s taken on the leadership, too,” BF coach Paul Bonnell said.

Braden figures the harder she pushes, the more it will bring her team along.

“I think I’m mentally and physically tougher than Jacobsen,” Braden said. “If I win that will be the key.”

If Melody wins, she’ll make a name for herself among the siblings with distinctive names.