By Ken Hansard
A love of running and a penchant for competition come quite naturally to Wichita Southeast’s Emma McCormick. McCormick, a junior cross-country runner for the Buffs, needed every bit of that passion to help her train for this season. Many teams get together during the summer to run together. Having someone there to encourage them and push them is one of the top things that athletes attribute to success. But McCormick spent most of the summer pushing herself to excellence, “I tried hard to improve my running form and endurance over the summer. I practiced most days on my own.”
Although just a junior, Emma considers herself to be someone that the team can count on to lead them to that same desire to make progress, “I love running, so I hope I help others on my team to love it, too. I also hope I can encourage others to reach their own personal running goals.”
As for her own personal goals, Emma states, “My goals are to improve my PR times and hopefully make it to State.” Improving upon her personal best time would mean that McCormick would also improve upon the school record, which she currently owns outright.
Emma finished last season 15th at the GWAL City League meet, but despite setting her new P.R. and re-setting the Buffs’ program record by running a 21:18 at a loaded regional meet, she still narrowly missed the qualifier for state. This year, she plans to finish her season at Rim Rock. However, to do that, Emma says that she will first have to overcome some running injuries that she has been battling. With McCormick’s drive and love of the sport, that obstacle seems imminently surmountable.
When she is not running cross country, Emma is extremely active in other extra-curricular activities, both for the Buffaloes and outside of school. She lettered in track last spring for the Buffs and has played basketball for them, as well. She has also participated in band, AVID, and the Girl Scouts. With college a full two years off, Emma has not yet committed to any big decisions about her future.
