Bushland 2008 graduate Madyson Lane is now the cross country coach of the Falcons program. Lane’s boys and girls team won the District 1-3A title in the same season for the first time since the school opened. [Provided photo]
Who says you can’t go home again?
That saying couldn’t be more far fetched for Madyson Lane since she returned to Bushland to coach the boys and girls cross country teams.
In only her second season, Lane, a 2008 Bushland graduate that was a part of the 2008 state volleyball team, became the first cross country coach to lead the boy and girls to a District 1-3A championship in the same season.
Both the Falcons and Lady Falcons accomplished that feat in mid October.
“I didn’t know that both teams winning district had never been done until someone brought it up,” Lane said. “It was all the team the team though. They run hard and it was awesome to see them be rewarded.”
Lane and her teams is now focused on competing at the UIL Region I championship at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock at 11 a.m. Monday morning.
Lane has no other way to describe her job as more of a dream. She gets to work in her home community and school. But what Lane enjoys most, is working next to mentors that were coaching when she was in high school.
“This isn’t even a job to me,” said Lane, a 2010 West Texas A&M graduate. “I get to work with some of the best. I get to work with coaches that I know will push me and make me better. I’m very blessed.”
Bushland football assistants and track coaches Kyle Pearson and Ty Mayfield were on staff when Lane was in high school. Pearson says it’s been a joy to watch Lane grow in her craft.
“It’s awesome to see how far she’s come,” Pearson said “She has the Bushland black and gold rolling through her veins, and to see her come back and take everything in and learn is awesome.”
The Bushland boys and girls cross country teams celebrate after winning the District 1-3A title at
Thompson Park earlier in October. [Provided photo]
Pearson and Mayfield have coached and taught Lane. Former Bushland cross country coach, Kevin Ufford, who is now at Amarillo High is another mentor for Lane.
Lane goes and picks each of their brains, trying to take in all of the knowledge she can.
The Bushland boys and girls cross country teams celebrate after winning the District 1-3A title at
Thompson Park earlier in October. [Provided photo]
“The same things that made her successful as a student-athlete is what makes her successful as a coach now,” Ufford said. “She works hard and buys in. She has a personality that’s easy to get a long with, and it makes it easy for those athletes to want to run for her.”
Pearson echoed Ufford’s comments.
“I told Madyson, winning those district titles are validation,” Pearson said. “This shows all the decisions she‘s made were the right decisions. Madison winning the district title proves she know what she’s doing. Don’t ever doubt how good you are.”
UIL Region I cross country meet
When: Monday.
Where: Mae Simmons Park, Lubbock.
Note: Top four teams and top 10 individuals not on qualifying teams advance to the UIL state meet.
Class 1A
Race time: 9 a.m.
Amarillo-area qualifying teams
Boys teams: Booker, Darrouzett, Happy, Hedley, Miami, Nazareth, Shamrock.
Girls teams: Claude, Follett, Groom, Happy, Hartley, Nazareth, White Deer.
Class 2A
Race time 10 a.m.
Amarillo-area qualifying teams
Boys teams: Boys Ranch, Bovina, Panhandle.
Girls teams: Bovina, Boys Ranch, Clarendon, Farwell, Gruver, Panhandle, Sunray, Wellington.
Class 3A
Race time: 11 a.m.
Amarillo-area qualifying teams
Boys teams: Bushland, Canadian, Dimmitt.
Girls teams: Bushland, Tulia, Dimmitt.
Class 4A
Race time: Noon.
Amarillo-area qualifying teams
Boys teams: Canyon, Dumas, Dalhart, Hereford, Perryton.
Girls teams: Canyon, Dumas, Hereford, Pampa, Perryton.
Class 5A
Race time: 1 p.m.
Amarillo-area qualifying teams
Boys teams: Amarillo High.
Girls teams: Amarillo High, Randall.
Class 6A
Race time: 2 p.m.
Amarillo-area qualifying teams
Boys teams: Tascosa.
Girls teams: Tascosa.
