Gaston College freshman headed to NJCAA national championships
Freshman Keirieonna Wilson has reached every goal she set when she joined Gaston College's women's cross country team late this summer for the start of preseason workouts.
In the Rhinos' first meet of the season at Pfeiffer College, the Statesville native and South Iredell High alum bettered her previous-best personal record for a 5K.
She went on to take Rhinos' team medalist honors in her first three races before a leg strain sidelined her for a month.
But Wilson came back strong in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10 Championships Oct. 28 at the Cleveland Community College course in Shelby.
She led coach Kody Kubbs' team to a Region 10 runner-up finish and crashed the sub-21 minute barrier by navigating the course in 20:51.0, good enough for a third-place overall finish.
In taking third place, Wilson checked off another goal – to qualify for the NJCAA national championships in Huntsville, Ala. - to become Gaston College's second individual national qualifier in school history.
Not only did she join 2022 NJCAA national qualifier Victoria Perez in reaching that milestone, she also bettered Perez's third-place time from a year ago (22:27.8).
What's left to check off as Wilson prepares for the national championship meet this Saturday? Why not run an even quicker pace at the nationals and PR again?
"I am very nervous for the race, but I hope to do well," Wilson said prior to a workout last week at Rankin Lake Park. "It will be a good experience for me since I am running next year here too."
Given Wilson's work ethic, which has drawn much praise from Kubbs, the freshman may be primed for her best performance of the season at the biggest venue of the season.
"Wilson hit a really good time at the Region meet, bettering her PR by 31 seconds," Kubbs said. "Her training and prep were where they should have been. She has what I would call an unstoppable work ethic. She is always focused and not lacking at all in motivation."
Wilson departs Thursday from Gaston College's Dallas campus for the national championships. She will be accompanied by Kubbs and teammates Abbygale King and Abigale Harris.
"We are taking a couple other runners to help Wilson feel more comfortable and have a little less anxiety going in," Kubbs said. "Since we hope to qualify (for the national meet) as a team next year, we want to get the other runners some experience."
There will be hundreds of runners in Huntsville and a field of top competition from all across the country. However, Gaston College competed against talented NCAA Division I opponents in some of its meets leading up to the Region 10 race.
"We have run against (nationally-ranked) Furman in addition to South Carolina (of the SEC), Virginia Tech (of the ACC) and others," Kubbs said. "Wilson has toed the line with that kind of runner already."
The Rhinos' itinerary calls for the entourage to depart Gaston College Thursday afternoon for a six-hour drive to the site. Friday is a preview day to get familiar with the course and run the route. A banquet is scheduled for Friday evening with the race to be held on Saturday.
"Last year's experience was very valuable,' Kubbs said. "It paved the way. So we learn from that and hopefully have a good showing."
In running a sub-21-minute 5K at Shelby, Wilson is certain to draw interest from four-year schools as she continues her education and cross country career at Gaston College.
"Schools are starting to put feelers out there," Kubbs said. "Wilson is going somewhere else to run."
Wilson, who loves pets and lists dog-walking as a favorite activity, has her sights set on a program that boasts a good criminology department.
"That's the plan. We will see how it goes," she said.