Three years ago, Natalie Wilson’s goal was simply to finish the race. Now, the White County senior leads the Warriorettes as captain, carrying the discipline, determination and faith that helped transform her into one of the team’s top runners.
Wilson transformed from one of the slowest runners on the cross country team into the program’s captain and one of its top competitors through a rigorous off-season training regimen.
Wilson said she balances her high school athletic career with her work as a professional CrossFit athlete to build the endurance necessary for competitive racing.
“I’ve improved a lot over the last three years, especially this off-season,” Wilson said. “I went from being one of the slowest runners to now the captain and one of the fastest on the team.”
Wilson said her mental approach to the sport evolved as she gained experience on the course. Wilson said she relied on personal discipline to transition from a runner who simply wanted to finish a race to a competitor focused on setting personal records.
“When I first started running, my goal was only to finish the race and now it’s to try and PR and get better every meet,” Wilson said. “Just discipline and push harder every race.”
Wilson said she uses her position as a senior leader to help younger runners navigate the physical and mental challenges of the sport. Wilson said she wants her teammates to understand they are capable of pushing through the pain inherent in long-distance running.
“I want to make an impact on all the runners, just let them know that, like, it’s able to push through the pain,” Wilson said. “I like to lead the prayer before every race and just let everyone know that, you’re gonna do good.”
Wilson said her daily responsibilities as captain include organizing the team’s warm-up routines and providing motivation to the Warriorettes. Wilson said she is grateful for the opportunity to represent White County High School in a leadership capacity during her final season.
“I’d rather be remembered more that I’m doing it for the glory of God rather than being a good runner,” Wilson said. “I’m very grateful that I’ve gotten to have this experience and that I’ve gotten to be the captain this year.”