Year: 2022
Award: Cross Country, High School
Location/Affiliation: Valor Christian High School
- Gatorade Colorado girls cross country Runner of the Year
- State Champion
- 2nd at Cross Country Nationals
Our honoree in high school cross country is Valor Christian’s Brooke Wilson… an elite national runner in a variety of distances.
But, in 2022, beyond competing, Brooke also overcame an unexpected physical setback.
She started the track season running an impressive personal best 2:14 in the 800 and 4:54 in the 1600. She finished second in the mile at the prestigious Nike Chandler Invitational. Everything was going great. Until it wasn’t.
Suddenly, an Achilles injury ended her season. And, as if that wasn’t enough, she learned that her high school track coach and mentor would be stepping down. So, how did she respond? With patience and determination. In the fall, midway through the cross country season, she was finally ready to race again. Oh, boy, was she ready!
From there, our high school cross country honoree dominated… winning the Sweepstakes Race in Mesa, Arizona and setting a new course record at the State High School Cross Country Championships.
And, this is how you complete a comeback… to wrap it all up, Brooke Wilson finished runner-up at the Nike National Cross Country Meet!
By Britney Simpson, Sportswomen of Colorado Board of Directors, U.S. Junior Pairs Figure Skating Champion, 3-Time SWOC Honoree
