By Ken Hansard
Field Kindley senior cross country runner Hubert Webber has faced a lot of obstacles in his life, but because of a strong sense of direction, a little determination, and a whole lot of guidance from the role models in his life, he has finally settled in and found peace of mind.
Webber moved to Coffeyville in the seventh grade when his grandmother adopted him. He found a new home with his grandma, a new school and friends, a teacher and coach who made a huge impact, and a sport that gave him a shot of confidence, “Most of my life I’ve had a rough time at school and home and struggled to find a way through it. My love for sports came from Mrs. Woodward. She was my cross country coach last year and my track coach for two years. She taught me what it means to be a student athlete. She also taught how to love running and to love to hate it at the same time. My motivation began with her encouraging me every day to push myself to the limit. I have found that running is my getaway, my safe place. I joined the team for my school, my teammates, and my coach, but most importantly I joined for myself because running is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Not only did running help to bring balance to Webber’s life, but it turns out, he’s pretty good at it, too. Despite battling numerous health issues last year, Hubert was able to run a personal best time of 17:42. He was first team All-SEK, placing 5th at the league meet; he placed second at regionals, and he finished his season competing at state. He also ran a 4:53 mile in track last spring.
During the off-season, Webber concentrated on improving his stamina, the ability to recover more quickly, and his overall speed. He considers himself a team leader for the Tornado, and he has set some ambitious but very attainable goals, “I want to accomplish what others couldn’t and reach new heights I never thought I could. I want to qualify for state and make a name for myself again this year.”
When not running for the Golden Tornado, Webber is active in Field Kindley’s student life. He plays basketball. He has also participated in debate and FFA, where he has been to numerous tournaments for events like welding and entomology.
Hubert is still weighing his options for life after high school, but he does have some ideas. Because of the influence of Mrs. Woodward, he is leaning toward becoming a history teacher and coach; alternatively, because of his love of animals, he might also consider a career in Zoology.
