Chelsea Wishard knew she had it in her when approaching the finish line to the first cross-country race of the 2008 season. She trailed behind teammate Lauren Lodge for the entire race yet in the final segment of the three-mile course the determined Wishard pushed ahead finishing a mere two seconds in front of her teammate. Wishard and Lodge finished one and two for this meet against rival Loyola Marymount.
Since then Chelsea the sophomore from Lawai Hawai’i has proven herself to be a role model on this team leading the Waves in every one of the meets she has competed in this season.
Wishard improved her West Coast Conference time by a whopping two minutes on Nov. 1 when she finished in third place in the WCC Championships.
Yet it is not simply her outstanding winning streak that allows her fellow teammates to look up to Chelsea Wishard. Teammates and coaches alike admire her for her perfect balance of competitiveness and optimism. She shows up each day not only prepared to give her all yet also excited to enjoy the run and the time spent with her teammates.
“Chelsea is one of the hardest workers I know she never loses sight of her goal fellow Wave runner Kelli Binder said enthusiastically. But the greatest part about her is she can do all this and still remember to smile and have fun.”
In addition to providing the team with positivity and determination this standout athlete couldn’t be more modest and team-oriented. Wishard admires and respects her teammates just as much as they do her. In fact while this season’s statistics may show otherwise Wishard believes she has no more of a running ability than her fellow teammates.
“I don’t think I’m necessarily a better athlete than anyone else Wishard says humbly. Everyone on the team has the potential to be the best. It’s just about who wants it the most…and I really want it.”
The runner’s inspiring attitude doesn’t make every strenuous workout a piece of cake for her however. She says there are days when she feels she almost can’t pick up her feet to run. But Wishard attributes her team once again for helping her get through the rough days. And more importantly she believes the team pushes her on the good days as well always helping one another to work hard and improve.
“I would have never made it through last year without the other girls on the team Wishard says with a smile on her face. She calls the team her single greatest motivation” for her success.
While this season has been tremendous for Wishard thus far competing has not always been so blissful in the past. Her freshman season was certainly not free of frustration and struggle particularly during the most important meet of the year: The WCC Championships. This vital contest is what the runners and coaches look forward to all fall and competitors are under pressure to perform their best. Last year Wishard couldn’t handle the pressure. The young runner was nervous and ran a dreadfully disappointing race.
This season she promised things will be different. It was. She finished the 6K race in 22:07 and was just 13 seconds behind the first-place winner.
Pepperdine cross country head coach Robert Radnoti is pleased with the team and the season. “When we look back to last year’s WCC Championships it is apparent that Pepperdine women have come a long way Radnoti said. I’m not sure a Pepperdine team that I have coached has ever been better prepared.”
The driven Wishard has had some fun this season as well. She had the experience earlier this fall of performing in her home state which she plans to return to one day. While she enjoys Southern California Wishard says she misses the tranquility and atmosphere of her beautiful hometown of Lawai on the south shore of Kauai. She has fond memories of growing up in her small Hawaiian town always active in outdoor games and sports as a child.
Her race near home went well but more importantly she calls it “the funnest meet ever with a cheek-to-cheek smile on her face. Her best friend from childhood and a large pack of family members proudly cheered on the sidelines as she felt at home” running this exquisite Hawaiian ocean course.
This crowd of supporters included Wishard’s biggest fan-her mom. She says she owes much of her success thus far to her mom who has always helped her stay positive and motivated. At times Wishard felt as though her mom was “pushing her too hard” but she now believes it has all paid off.
The experience of finding success as a collegiate athlete has made all the hard work worth it for Chelsea Wishard. With her drive the support of her team and family and most certainly a smile on her face this Wave is sure to finish the 2008 season with success.