Columbus North’s Kyleigh Wolf approaches the finish of the Rick Weinheimer Cross Country Classic at Ceraland, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.
Paige Grider | For The Republic
Kyleigh Wolf felt the frustration of not being able to run last fall, but a couple of late-season performances led to some heightened confidence for this cross-country season.
After missing nearly all of last year with a stress fracture in her left tibia, Wolf ran in a post-high school-season Nike Cross Regional in Terre Haute. Her time of 19 minutes, 23 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) was a personal-best by 54 seconds.
Now a junior at Columbus North, Wolf has become the No. 1 runner for a Bull Dog girls program that lost seven of its top eight runners from last season to graduation. She broke 20 minutes for the second time on Saturday when she ran 19:49.4 to finish 14th in North’s Rick Weinheimer Classic at Ceraland.
“I think doing so well at Nike Twilight and then going to NXR and PR’ing by 54 seconds, I think that was really incredible, and that’s really something I’ve looked forward to this season because if I could do it last season, I believe that I could be close to there this season,” Wolf said.
Columbus North’s Kyleigh Wolf waits for the start of the Rick Weinheimer Cross Country Classic at Ceraland, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.
Paige Grider | For The Republic
Wolf ran mostly JV as a freshman on a team that won the state championship. She had hoped to compete for a spot in the varsity lineup last fall before the injury hit.
“I would say it was kind of tough,” Wolf said. “Mentally, I was like, ‘Oh, I wish I could be out there,’ because watching all the girls run all those great times and enjoying themselves during racing, after racing, all of that, I was really sad to miss out on, but I think they did a great job of including me no matter what. They would tell me about their workouts, and it made me feel as if I was there with them, even though I was on the sidelines.”
Wolf was able to compete in track this spring. She finished fourth in the Franklin Regional in the 1,600 meters, one spot away from qualifying for state. She also was the first alternate on the 4×800 relay team that won a state title.
“After her track season, we expected her to be very far up there (in cross-country),” North coach Rick Sluder said. “She had an excellent track season. Her and Carys (Glyn-Jones) are kind of the top two returners in that regard, so we expected them to run really well. We expected big things from her, and now, she’s starting to show it.”
Columbus North’s Kyleigh Wolf runs in the Rick Weinheimer Cross Country Classic at Ceraland, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.
Paige Grider | For The Republic
Sluder credited Wolf’s work ethic for her ability to bounce back from the injury to become the team’s top runner.
“Kyleigh’s work ethic is as strong as anybody on our team or stronger,” Sluder said. “She works really hard. She does everything that we ask for, and that speeds up her getting back into shape. She’s very goal driven, and I just can’t say enough about her work ethic and wanting to get back and wanting contribute to the team and wanting to be a part of it. It’s a cool driving force for her, and it’s a good example for the whole team, too.”
“My perspective changed a lot because last season, I was a little upset that I wasn’t racing at all,” Wolf said. “But this year, I took a different perspective on it. I was like, ‘I’m going to come back.’ So just keeping that positive mindset through that whole entire time off and coming back was something that was really good for me.”
Columbus North’s Kyleigh Wolf nears the finish of the Rick Weinheimer Cross Country Classic at Ceraland, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.
Paige Grider | For The Republic
The Bull Dogs, who are ranked No. 22 in this week’s coaches poll, run at Brown County’s Eagle Classic on Saturday, then host the Conference Indiana meet Sept. 16 at Ceraland. The postseason starts next month.
“I would like to run at the state meet,” Wolf said. “I would hope to qualify as a team. I believe that we can qualify as a team if we really put our minds to it, and so far, I think we’re on the right track.”
