Kerri Bricks laughs about it now, but, two years ago, she found herself frustrated with her daughter's competitive approach.

Then a freshman at Buchanan High, Macy Bricks suddenly was letting off the throttle after dominating as a cross country runner since fourth grade.

"She came in as a freshman and didn't think she was supposed to beat the seniors," the mother says. "I mean, she would almost literally stop and say, ‘I'm not supposed to beat them.' It was a development year; just maturity, I guess."

That would begin to change as a sophomore, when Bricks placed second in the Central Section Division I cross country meet, then first five months later in the section 1,600-meter race in track and field.

And, today, there's no question. The Bee's girls cross country Runner of the Year has established herself as the section's premier long distance runner after she blew away the section cross country meet D-I field in 17 minutes and 35 seconds.

That was 17 seconds faster than 2008 Bee cross country Runner of the Year Saylah Barserian of Clovis and 36 seconds quicker to the line than any other runner in five divisions combined.

Above all, it was a minute faster than her best time as a sophomore.

"Once she realized, ‘It's me,' it kind of clicked," Kerri Bricks says. "And, now, it's, ‘I'm not going to let them beat me.' "

It's a sense of belonging and, like mom says, that wasn't always there.

"I was told as a freshman I could be so much better, but I didn't know," Bricks says. "I didn't think I was that good. In big races, I was a no one."

She can hide no more.

The 17:35 at Woodward Park is tied with Lauren Saylor (now at Washington) as best in Buchanan history. Bricks followed that two weeks later on the same course by placing sixth in the CIF State Championships in 17:49 on the same course.

"Somehow, she finally believed she's that good," now-retired Bears coach Marty Simpson says. "Macy's workouts are the best we've ever had for a girl. She had a fantastic season, and we knew it was coming after what she did in track last year."