Girls cross country: Wilson's next challenge? At South Carolina
Prospect senior running standout Brooke Wilson has never been one to back down from a challenge.
Wilson was facing a pretty big one at the Class 3A state meet in early November. The senior was approaching the final mile on the 3-mile state course at Detweiller Park in Peoria and seemed to be in good position for a big finish.
But a bit of self-doubt popped up at the wrong time and started to put a drag on her final surge.
It proved to be a fleeting moment, as Wilson found a second wind and a new gear, powering to a fifth-place finish in Class 3A.
"That is where I got fifth place," said Wilson of her decision to surge at the beginning of the final mile. "If I settled back, I may not even have made the top 10. I knew I had to make a move. At that point the end was near."
Wilson is set to make another move next year. On Nov. 14, she signed a scholarship to run cross country and track at South Carolina.
Wilson has not decided on a major, but is considering exercise science and biology. She also took official visits to Cornell and Northwestern before settling on South Carolina.
"It's definitely a weight off my shoulders to be done with that," said Wilson. "Now I can just sail through the rest of my senior year."
The Knights senior has definitely made a mark at Prospect. She has earned three all-state medals in cross country, including consecutive top-five finishes. She also has three state track medals.
Wilson also has run the fastest time on the state course (16:34) at Detweiller Park for a Prospect runner and has the fastest time on Prospect's home course (17:40). In addition, she holds the school's indoor record for the 3,200 (10:50.7).
"She is a unique kid," said Prospect coach Pete Wintermute of his senior star who will leave as one of the all-time best Prospect girl runners. "And any environment she goes to she will be successful - she is the complete package."
Wilson is also driven in the classroom, where she has 5.34 weighted GPA and scored a 36 on her ACT test.
Wilson also is member of the National Honors Society, Knights Way, KLC tutor, Leading Incoming Knights Leader and Principal Advisory.
"What you see in her drive for running, is the same drive you see in everything else she does," said Wintermute.
Wilson is quick to give credit to her coaches and teammates for aiding her on her journey, especially her unique connection with Wintermute.
"I guess he has rubbed off on me and definitely made it easy to be an athlete under him," said Wilson of Wintermute's guidance.
Now Wilson is set to take that same drive to Columbia, S.C. where she anxious to join the Gamecocks squad.
After all that she has accomplished it may have been easy to let up a bit in that final mile at the Class 3A state meet, but that hasn't been Wilson's style since she entered Prospect.
"That moment of self-doubt is natural and happens to the best of athletes," said Wintermute, "but her tenacity and willpower to get back moving when things aren't clicking - that's who she is."