For A Greater Purpose

They were talented, for sure. Naturals, you might say. In fact, they ran so smoothly, effortlessly, and with beyond-their-years grit and determination that they raced with the guys because that’s where they’d find their greatest challenge.

 

Back then, in the fall of 2021, Virginia ran for St. Mary’s School and Rosie for Collegiate. A year later, Virginia transferred to Collegiate, and so began a meaningful friendship, and the rest, you might say, is history.

 

My gosh, where to begin?

 

They’ve been part of three consecutive League of Independent Schools and VISAA championship teams and earned all-league and all-state honors each time.

 

They share both the indoor and outdoor school record in the 4x800 relay. This past winter, they, Nora Wallace, and Sadie Webb ran 9:52.28. This spring, they, Wallace, and Webb ran 9:31.75.

 

Rosie holds the outdoor mark in the 2-mile: 11:40.6. Virginia’s school records include the 1000 (2:57.91) indoors and the 800 (2:17.16), 1600 (5:01.06), and 3200 (10:58.78) outdoors. With two years to go, they already possess a slew of league and state championship medals and plaques.

 

Their performances, both individually and as members of the relays, are among the best not just in the Richmond area but among all high school runners representing both VISAA and VHSL signatories in the state.

 

There’s more to them, though, and the distance program as well, than fast times and places atop the Milestat.com rankings.

 

“Rosie and Virginia, above all, just enjoy their teammates,” said Matthew Richardson, Collegiate’s head cross country and distance track coach. “They bring that joy with them every day to practice. It can be a hard day or a lighter day, but no matter what kind of day it is, whether the weather’s on their side or not, they enjoy being out there.

 

“That joy and love for their teammates drives them. They’re always in the right mindset. They find joy in running, working hard, and being with each other. There’re others who have the same qualities because they’ve built it together as a team. It just exists in a very organic and authentic way.”

 

One day recently, with the championship phase of the season quickly approaching, Rosie and Virginia spoke of their shared journey and the meaning they find in being part of the motivated and cohesive distance contingent.

 

Virginia: There’s not much that we don’t do together. We have a lot of the same hobbies, a lot of the same values, and a lot of the same morals. We do things very similar to each other.

Rosie: There’s some competition, but mainly we’re happy for what each other has done. Yes, we want to run best for ourselves, but when Virginia has a good day, I feel like I have a good day. There’s something cool about being very happy for somebody else.

Virginia: We always have the other to push us. It’s really nice that we are a similar speed and have a similar work ethic. It’s more [evident] in a workout, for example, than in a race because, in a race, we’re racing for times, but in workouts, we’re pushing each other to be the best we can possibly be. At the end of the day, if we both have a good workout, it’s the best feeling because I want her to succeed just as much as I want me to succeed. She understands the sport. Obviously, we’re competitive, but we’re competitive in a way that we want ourselves to get better, but we also want each other to get better. I know that by me putting my best out on the track, it also pushes Rosie to put her absolute best out on the track. It helps motivate me. It’s not just for me. It’s for someone else.

Rosie: Having a strong relationship with one person helps you have strong relationships with other people. By pushing each other [to be better], we also have a bunch of other people who are pushing each other.

Virginia: While it’s about times, none of it could happen without everyone being there. What we do every day is not easy. Going out on the track and running as fast as you can for 30 minutes is not exactly easy to do. Training together strengthens those bonds and allows us to want the best for each other. I’m going to run my best when my teammates are there cheering me on. I want to be the best, but it’s for a greater purpose. It all goes back to being part of a team.

 

Virginia: It’s always really fun to have success as a team. Individual success is short fulfilling. When the team does well, that really sticks with you. It’s really nice, especially [in the state cross country meet] when you’re running at Panorama [Farms] and bringing home that championship plaque. I don’t really think there’s much that compares with that feeling of being out with a group of people you care about so much. It’s something that I hold really near and dear to my heart. Knowing that we’ve worked so hard to get to that point and watching it happen is just so special.

Rosie: The success of the team comes from the support of the team. We’re always there for each other, whether that’s running, whether it’s on the course or on the track…or not. That’s the true success that we know: that we’re always there for the people. No matter what, we’re always going to be there to cheer them on.

 

Rosie: It’s pretty special, especially for the relays to know that you’re up there [on the record board] with the other awesome girls who all worked to accomplish something that’s really hard together. It’s awesome to be part of a team that has success because it’s easier when the team has had success not to focus on yourself.

Virginia: There’s no race I love more than the 4x8[00 relay]. We have a really special group of girls running that fast time. There’s nothing that compares to crossing the finish line with the baton and looking up at the scoreboard and being, “Oh, my goodness. We just ran that fast together!” That’s really special because it’s all together and we’ve all worked hard for it.

Rosie: What keeps me running are the people. Going on a long run or any type of run by yourself is less than anything fun. I do not enjoy it. But knowing that you always have someone to call and say, “Do you want to go on a run with me?” And they’ll say, “Yes.” And we’ll have a good time. That’s good to know.

Virginia: You really learn how to pick yourself back up and how to pick others up with you. Running is not linear. It’s not consistent. It’s a sport where you’re not going to have a perfect day every day. Learning to pick yourself back up from a race you’re not happy with and continue to be a good teammate and good friend, even if you haven’t run your best, is important.

~Weldon Bradshaw