Woodlee A First In Warren Co History

Warren County freshman Emma Woodlee will be the first female runner in program history to represent Pioneer Cross Country at the state meet Friday afternoon at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville.

The 15-year-old set the school record four times this season. Assistant Coach Jeremy Willhelm said Woodlee’s natural talent is compounded when you add her work ethic and mentality.

“I just think she’s got so much of an upside of what she can do,” Willhelm said. “And I think she’s starting to figure out what she really can do. And I think she came in here thinking she probably do something, but she just didn’t know what. But, as a freshman she’s handling it and she is really mature for her age.”

While Woodlee was the only Pioneer runner to qualify for the state meet, she will not be the lone Pioneer heading to Hendersonville this week. Willhelm said Woodlee approached him and requested her teammates join her so she can have their support on site.

“Some things you can’t teach,” Willhelm said. “And for them to care about one another like they did, shows the personality and character that each one of our kids has. That’s what really makes it fun to coach.”

A pre-season goal for the Pioneer cross country team was for each runner to end the season with a better time than they started with. Willhelm said he is happy to say that each runner achieved that goal, but that on one did it quite like Woodlee.

In the regional meet, she shaved 1:47 off her record time and placed 5th with a time of 20:06. Willhelm said her progression as a runner these last few months have him excited for both the state meet and the years to come for Pioneer Cross Country.

“We’ve had more interest over the last month, than I’d say we had in the beginning,” Willhelm said. “People are just excited about the program and what could happen and the direction it is going. So we are glad it is going where it is going.”