After six years of running competitively, Holy Trinity junior Julie Wollrath has decided to take a break from the sport. Wollrath started competing as a 6th grader for Covenant Christian where she was 57th at the 1A Cross Country Finals in 2008. As a 7th grader she started attending Holy Trinity, where she has racked up five individual state titles in track and field and cross country and helped the Tigers to numerous team championships. Rather than tying up her running shoes, Wollrath will be tying the laces on her lacrosse stick. She says she decided to play the sport this spring over track because she felt like running was no longer a joy and starting to feel more like a job.
"Since I've been going to 1A schools I've been able to train and compete for a high school program since I was 11 years old. It was fun to win races in 7th and 8th grade especially when there were no great expectations for me. However, that early success leads to greater expectations that you will consistently improve and set new PRs each season. Personally my times haven't improved since 9th grade. The reality is that you need to be able to find the inner motivation and willingness to do everything necessary to reach the next level whether that be weight training, core workouts, or getting enough sleep. Over the past few years I gradually lost that desire."
Despite going to practice and competing at meets, Wollrath felt as if she were going through the motions. After five years of running with her Holy Trinity teammates, she knew it was time to take a step back from running and try new things. That new sport was lacrosse; a sport she played briefly when she lived in Vermont. She says she loved the sport then and it's the same thing now.
"I am having a great time being on the Holy Trinity lacrosse team. I'm definitely motivated to get better and look forward to practice each day. I'm working on my stick handling and getting used to the different type of running the sport requires. There's a lot of starting and stopping sprinting which tires me out in a different way than running the 1600. All in all I'm definitely happy that I'm playing lacrosse this spring."
Wollrath hopes the time away from competitive running will help her regain her love for racing and desire to become the best runner possible and has this advice for young runners.
Wollrath hopes the time away from competitive running will help her regain her love for racing and desire to become the best runner possible and has this advice for young runners.
"My advice to young runners is to keep an open mind to other sports. It's important to have fun and try new things. It's also important to not take things too seriously and run because you want to not because people expect you to."
As for a run at a fourth cross country title in the fall and a future in the sport at the next level, she says don't count her out.
"I'm definitely doing cross country next year. I still love running and I'm excited to see what the future holds for me next season. Running at the college level has been a dream of mine since I first started. I am excited to run on a team where I'll start at the bottom and work my way up. I believe that I'll become a better runner by following the example of my teammates who are stronger and faster than I am."
Career Highlights
"I'm definitely doing cross country next year. I still love running and I'm excited to see what the future holds for me next season. Running at the college level has been a dream of mine since I first started. I am excited to run on a team where I'll start at the bottom and work my way up. I believe that I'll become a better runner by following the example of my teammates who are stronger and faster than I am."
Career Highlights
Cross Country
2008 (6th grade) - Covenant Christian - 57th at 1A Cross Country Finals
2009 - Transferred to Holy Trinity - 10th at 1A Cross Country Finals, Team Champions
2010 - 3rd at 1A Cross Country Finals, Team Champions
2010 - 3rd at 1A Cross Country Finals, Team Champions
2011 - 1A Cross Country Champion, Team - Third Place
2012 - 1A Cross Country Champion,Team Runner-Up
2012 - 1A Cross Country Champion,Team Runner-Up
2013 - 1A Cross Country champion - Team Champions
Track
2010 - 5th in 3200, Team Runner-Up
2011 - 2nd in 4x800, 1st in 1600 (4:58.24), Team Champions
2012 - 3200m Champion, Team Runner-Up
2013 - 2nd in 1600, 2nd in 3200, Team Runner-Up
2010 - 5th in 3200, Team Runner-Up
2011 - 2nd in 4x800, 1st in 1600 (4:58.24), Team Champions
2012 - 3200m Champion, Team Runner-Up
2013 - 2nd in 1600, 2nd in 3200, Team Runner-Up
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