For junior cross country runner Kaylee Wilson, running has been part of her life for nearly a decade. What began as a simple mile with her dad turned into a passion that has pushed her to one of the biggest stages in high school cross country: the state meet.
Wilson first discovered her love for runnin
g when her father, who had recently started running himself, invited her to join him. “My dad started running about nine years ago. Almost a year later, he asked me if I wanted to go with him to run a mile,” Wilson said. “From the first day, I knew that it was something that I enjoyed doing, and I have continued running every day since then.”
Since then, her dedication and consistency have helped her grow into one of the team’s top runners. During the season, Wilson logs between 30 and 35 miles per week. Her training schedule typically includes three to four workouts, such as tempo runs, hill repeats, and a weekly long run, along with easier recovery runs where she focuses on running at a comfortable pace. Wilson credits much of her drive and determination to her parents. “They are both extremely hard workers in their work and running,” she said. “They have taught me never to give up when things get hard and always to stay determined.”
Her hard work paid off this season when she qualified for the state cross country meet and earned All-State honors. For Wilson, reaching that level of competition was a major milestone. “Qualifying for state meant so much to me,” she said. “I feel like it is a huge accomplishment for me, especially to run fast enough to achieve All-State honors.” Competing against the state’s best runners also gave her valuable experience. Wilson said it showed her just how intense the competition can be and reinforced the importance of staying mentally focuse
d and confident in her training.
Despite the pressure of the big race, Wilson walked away proud of her performance. With her family, coaches, and teammates there to support her, she ran even better than expected and set a personal record. “I wouldn’t do anything differently at my state race,” she said. “I did even better than I thought I would and even got a PR, so I am very happy with this performance.”
Like many athletes, Wilson has also faced challenges along the way. Last season, she suffered a stress fracture near the end of the cross country season, which forced her to slow down and focus on recovery. “It was very hard for me not to be able to run to my fullest while seeing everyone else having fun and feeling good doing what I love,” Wilson said. The experience taught her an important lesson about appreciating the ability to compete while healthy.
Looking ahead to her senior year, Wilson has set ambitious goals. She hopes to return to the state championships, achieve another personal record, and qualify for state as a team.
Beyo
nd high school, Wilson plans to continue both her academic and athletic success. She hopes to run cross country in college while pursuing a business major. In the classroom, she has already built an impressive record, earning high honors roll for her first four semesters of high school. With her strong work ethic, dedication to training, and support system behind her, Wilson’s running journey is far from finished. As she prepares for her senior season, she continues to push herself toward new goals both on the course and in the classroom.