There are just hours left in a national contest that could send a popular Land O’ Lakes cross-country coach to Seattle to become America’s most inspiring coach. But he needs all the votes he can muster to keep that lead.
Kris Keppel is competing for the Brooks Inspiring Coaches Award, offered by sports apparel and equipment manufacturer Brooks Sports Inc. Since last month, Keppel has received 10,744 votes on Facebook, and for the first time, has slipped past the previous leader through most of the contest, Stan Fryzczynski.
Yet, as of mid-day on Wednesday, a little more than 200 votes separated the two, and a lot can happen between now and when the contest ends on Thursday.
Voting for Keppel is taking place right here. Facebook users can vote once per day.
The Land O’ Lakes High School Gator cross-country team has already won $5,000 in running shoes, apparel and accessories from Brooks, as well as $500 in cash for team expenses. The winner of the national contest will win an additional $5,000 in Brooks apparel, plus $2,000 more in cash to the school’s athletic department.
Fryczynski is a New Jersey running coach who has spent more than 41 years on the job. Keppel, who last year was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was nominated by girls cross-country coach Karen DeHaas. Keppel told The Laker in June that he plans on making the trip with his wife to Seattle next month to find out officially who ends up as the top vote-getter.
Incoming senior Noah Thomas told The Laker in June that he’ll be voting every day.
“He’s just one of the strongest men I’ve ever met,” the 17-year-old said before a summer practice. “All throughout this, he’s still been there for us, and he’s still pushing us hard, and we push back for him.”
| 1. Kris Keppel | 10,744 | |
| 2. Stan Fryczynski | 10,522 | |
| 3. Ruqayya Gibson | 3,130 | |
| 4. Keith Olsen | 2,605 | |
| 5. Renee Williams-Smith | 2,123 | |
| 6. Bret Neylon | 1,704 | |
| 7. Dave Halliday | 1,601 | |
| 8. John Neff | 1,342 | |
| 9. Jason Capelli | 1,245 | |
| 10. Anthony Belber | 1,219 | |
| 11. Tracy Hawkins | 938 | |
| 12. Brian Lombardo | 854 | |
| 13. Nick Scott | 674 | |
| 14. Nick Accardo | 662 | |
| 15. Desmond Dunham | 651 | |
| 16. Dominic Newman | 502 | |
| 17. Gilberto Ruiz | 497 | |
| 18. Matthew Tompkins | 486 | |
| 19. David Culp | 477 | |
| 20. Jeremy Bartley | 454 | |
| 21. Davis Eidahl | 403 | |
| 22. Kelly Richards | 228 | |
| 23. Dan Reeks | 222 | |
| 24. Brandon Back | 124 | |
| 25. Garlynn Boyd | 79 |
– as of 7/30/14, 12:30 p.m.
