It’s not every day that you sit next to one of the best runners in the state of Michigan and even one of the best runners in the country.  But for many MHS students, this is the case if they have class with Senior Brian Kettle.

Kettle has won a total of six state championships, including two individual championships in cross-country. Kettle has also been a part of two cross country team championships and two relay championships in track and field.

Kettle started running when he was 11 years old. He said his older sister, Lauren, was a very good runner so he wanted to be like her. He has been running ever since then. Once he got into high school, he noticed how good he really was and how fun it is. Kettle said the best part of cross country is team bonding camp. Every year, some of the students on the cross country team go up to Upper Peninsula and run the trails up there and they always have a great time bonding with each other.

“It’s a great time to get to know your other teammates,” he said. Other than cross country, Kettle is a part of the track and field team, running everything from the 400 to the 3,200 meter races.

“Track allows you to find your element and do your best at it,” he said. Kettle prepares all year through an intense training regiment, but even the night before a race he is conditioning his body for success. He eats pasta for the carbohydrates and always gets a good night’s rest.  The day of the big race, he does a 2-mile warm up, stretches, and does other running drills and drinks a lot of water.   His teammates are impressed with not only Kettle’s talent, but demeanor as well.

“He is a great teammate and a great runner,” said Senior Michael Stando. “I love having him around; he is really nice and funny. He carries the team on his back sometimes.”

Cross country coach Brian Salyers had a lot to say about Kettle. Salyers knew Kettle before he came to Milford through his sister, Lauren.

“We knew when he was a freshman he was a strong runner, but we had no idea that he would be this good,” Salyers said.

“But he worked very hard to get to the point where he is right now.” Salyers believes that without a doubt he will be able to stay with the best college runners at the next level, though he will have to work even harder than he does now.

“He is so completive you can always see it in his face that he wants to be number one,” said Salyers.

Salyers said that Kettle will run in college it is narrowed down to five colleges; he just has to go out to them and visit them. Then he will make a decision where he wants to run.