Carley Bramen
photo by GPS
Carley Braman is accustomed to being at the head of the pack, so it seems only fitting she continue her athletic career at the NCAA Division I level.
For the GPS cross country team, Braman has been the fastest runner for the past four years and finished second at the state meet earlier this month; her prior state finishes were seventh as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore, and third as a junior. It was at the state meet, the night before she ran, that an assistant track and field/cross country coach with Georgia Southern (Statesboro, Georgia), Franz Holmes, offered Braman a position on their team in person.
Of course she said yes.
“I had been to the school recently and spent a day with a coach and met the girls on the team,” Braman says. “When I walked on campus, I felt like that was where I was supposed to be. And the girls on the team were super sweet to me.” Braman had also been interested in and talking with representatives from Louisiana State University, Auburn University, and Berry College, her mother’s alma mater.
“Carley has had a tremendous high school cross country and track career to date,” says her GPS coach Jeff Gaither. “She has been our lead distance runner at GPS throughout her high school career. Her leadership role has evolved as she has gotten older, and her teammates hold her in the highest regard. She has represented her school and her family in the best possible way.”
Before she departs GPS, Braman still has more miles to run as the lead distance runner on the track and field team. She plans to add to her medal tally of six state meet medals to date. “I really want to break the GPS record for the mile,” she says.
“Carley has had such a remarkable career at GPS, capped off by her team's state championship effort this fall,” says Jay Watts, GPS Athletic Director. “Her leadership, dedication, and character will be greatly missed. We wish her all the best at Georgia Southern.”
Braman plans to study nursing in college, and she is even looking forward to being on a team where she’s not the fastest runner. “That will motivate me to be even better and gives me people to chase,” she says.
“Georgia Southern will benefit greatly having a team member with the ability and character that Carley has demonstrated,” adds Coach Gaither.