Dynamic track trio ready to write more history
Katie Woodford, Emily Woodford, and Chad Noelle have already written quite a bit of track and field history. Before the three seniors finish their high school careers, they’ll have the opportunity to write some more history today and Saturday at the New York State Track and Field Championships.
The trio – the Woodfords from Oxford and Noelle of Greene – will be among the hundreds of young men and women competing for state championships at Caledonia-Mumford High School. Noelle is the defending Division II champion in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races, Katie Woodford is a back-to-back Division II state champion in the 400 meters, and Emily Woodford is among the top contenders in the 200-meter dash.
A few months down the line, Noelle will be running in college for the University of Oregon, while the Woodfords will attend Cornell University. Section IV track and field coordinator, Robb Munro, knows how special this group is. During the outdoor track and field season, Munro has admired all three athletes; the past two years, he has had the opportunity to coach Noelle and the Woodfords during the indoor track and field season.
“In an area like this, we get special athletes from time to time,” Munro said. “These three are among those special athletes. Very rarely do you truly have one of the best in the country at what they do. Chad is one of the elite athletes in America. To put it in perspective, he was sixth in the high school indoor nationals in the mile. Now the mile is a premier event. When was the last time we had a point guard or a running back from around here that was among the top six in the country? We don’t get many opportunities to see that kind of special athlete.”
Noelle and Woodford established themselves early on in their careers in the Midstate Athletic Conference. Noelle holds numerous league records as do the Woodfords. On the sectional level, Noelle has a pair of records, and Katie Woodford is the current recordholder in the 100-meter dash. Emily Woodford, too, has perhaps the second-best time ever recorded in the 200-meter dash. In all, the MAC has three Section IV records, and three came out of this threesome – all in the same year.
“There are about 60 track and field programs in Section IV, and they’ve competed 60 or 70 years – or however long the programs have existed,” Munro said. “Katie and Chad have run the fastest times ever, and Emily is certainly among the top five ever out of 60 programs.”
Before Noelle and the Woodfords came around, the league records in the events they competed were well established – and certainly quick. Noelle completely shattered the 1,600- and 3,200-meter records; Katie Woodford sliced up the 400-meter record lowering it 2 1/2 seconds; Emily Woodford lowered the 200-meter mark by half a second; and Katie Woodford established the Section IV record in the 100 meters easily eclipsing the MAC standard. “Katie lowering the 400-meter record by over two seconds, that’s worlds apart,” Munro said, “and Emily moving the 200 record from the mid 25s to high 24s, it’s not even comparable.”
Noelle has been a solo act as he makes his third trip to the New York State championships. Katie and Emily, in addition to their individual events, will compete in the 400-meter relay for the third straight year. The sisters have remained a constant over the past three years as graduation has taken at least one runner the past two seasons. Last year, Jess Russo took the place of Jessica Brown, and the Oxford team won a second straight Section IV Division II title. Amanda Marks graduated in 2010, and in stepped senior phenom Haley Witchella. The Woodfords, Witchella, and Russo captured a third straight sectional title for the Blackhawks, and Oxford is again among the top Division II teams in the state.
“I think what Oxford has been able to do in the relay each year is so impressive,” Munro said. “They’ve constantly had to groom another kid and fill a spot year after year. I think kids are drawn to that and want to be a part of it, and they were able to get Haley out this year. The Woodfords have done some very good things for that program.”
Katie Woodford, Emily Woodford, and Chad Noelle are among the most accomplished individual athletes Chenango County has ever produced. Munro, a student and historian of track and field, knows we may not see athletes of this caliber come around again for a long time.
“Our league is losing the most talented senior class it’s ever lost. I can’t think of another senior class with athletes of this caliber,” Munro said. “It is sad to see them go, but at the same time, I’m very excited for the things they can do at the next level. They’re good kids and awesome to work with. The Oxford and Greene coaches have been fantastic.”
The trio – the Woodfords from Oxford and Noelle of Greene – will be among the hundreds of young men and women competing for state championships at Caledonia-Mumford High School. Noelle is the defending Division II champion in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races, Katie Woodford is a back-to-back Division II state champion in the 400 meters, and Emily Woodford is among the top contenders in the 200-meter dash.
A few months down the line, Noelle will be running in college for the University of Oregon, while the Woodfords will attend Cornell University. Section IV track and field coordinator, Robb Munro, knows how special this group is. During the outdoor track and field season, Munro has admired all three athletes; the past two years, he has had the opportunity to coach Noelle and the Woodfords during the indoor track and field season.
“In an area like this, we get special athletes from time to time,” Munro said. “These three are among those special athletes. Very rarely do you truly have one of the best in the country at what they do. Chad is one of the elite athletes in America. To put it in perspective, he was sixth in the high school indoor nationals in the mile. Now the mile is a premier event. When was the last time we had a point guard or a running back from around here that was among the top six in the country? We don’t get many opportunities to see that kind of special athlete.”
Noelle and Woodford established themselves early on in their careers in the Midstate Athletic Conference. Noelle holds numerous league records as do the Woodfords. On the sectional level, Noelle has a pair of records, and Katie Woodford is the current recordholder in the 100-meter dash. Emily Woodford, too, has perhaps the second-best time ever recorded in the 200-meter dash. In all, the MAC has three Section IV records, and three came out of this threesome – all in the same year.
“There are about 60 track and field programs in Section IV, and they’ve competed 60 or 70 years – or however long the programs have existed,” Munro said. “Katie and Chad have run the fastest times ever, and Emily is certainly among the top five ever out of 60 programs.”
Before Noelle and the Woodfords came around, the league records in the events they competed were well established – and certainly quick. Noelle completely shattered the 1,600- and 3,200-meter records; Katie Woodford sliced up the 400-meter record lowering it 2 1/2 seconds; Emily Woodford lowered the 200-meter mark by half a second; and Katie Woodford established the Section IV record in the 100 meters easily eclipsing the MAC standard. “Katie lowering the 400-meter record by over two seconds, that’s worlds apart,” Munro said, “and Emily moving the 200 record from the mid 25s to high 24s, it’s not even comparable.”
Noelle has been a solo act as he makes his third trip to the New York State championships. Katie and Emily, in addition to their individual events, will compete in the 400-meter relay for the third straight year. The sisters have remained a constant over the past three years as graduation has taken at least one runner the past two seasons. Last year, Jess Russo took the place of Jessica Brown, and the Oxford team won a second straight Section IV Division II title. Amanda Marks graduated in 2010, and in stepped senior phenom Haley Witchella. The Woodfords, Witchella, and Russo captured a third straight sectional title for the Blackhawks, and Oxford is again among the top Division II teams in the state.
“I think what Oxford has been able to do in the relay each year is so impressive,” Munro said. “They’ve constantly had to groom another kid and fill a spot year after year. I think kids are drawn to that and want to be a part of it, and they were able to get Haley out this year. The Woodfords have done some very good things for that program.”
Katie Woodford, Emily Woodford, and Chad Noelle are among the most accomplished individual athletes Chenango County has ever produced. Munro, a student and historian of track and field, knows we may not see athletes of this caliber come around again for a long time.
“Our league is losing the most talented senior class it’s ever lost. I can’t think of another senior class with athletes of this caliber,” Munro said. “It is sad to see them go, but at the same time, I’m very excited for the things they can do at the next level. They’re good kids and awesome to work with. The Oxford and Greene coaches have been fantastic.”
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