By Angela Brunk
Rose Hill High School senior Rylee Wooten may be new to cross country, but she’s already making her presence known. In her first season competing with the girls’ varsity team, Wooten has set her sights high. She is aiming for a 22-minute 5K, and she wants to help her team qualify for state at Wamego.
“I’m looking forward to our league meet,” she shared with Vype Magazine. “We’re trying to get first place again this year, and I’m also looking forward to our regionals.” Her enthusiasm and commitment have been evident all season long, even before the school year started. Over the summer, Wooten prepared by attending running practices twice a week and traveling to a running camp in Iowa to sharpen her skills.
Though this is her first official year in cross country, Wooten isn’t new to competitive running. She’s a dedicated sprinter for the Rose Hill track team and competes in a track club at Wichita State University. Last spring, her 4×400-meter relay team earned second place at state, a testament to her speed, discipline, and team spirit.
Even with her roots in sprinting, Wooten is proud of how far she’s come in distance running. “I’m still proud of the times I’m running this year compared to the previous 5Ks I’ve run just for fun,” she said.
Looking ahead, Wooten plans to attend Emporia State University to pursue a degree in nursing and hopefully continue her track career at the collegiate level. Whether she’s sprinting on the track or tackling the hills of a cross country course, Rylee Wooten brings determination, versatility, and heart to everything she does.
