In Focus: Freshmen Runners Make 'Awesome' Impact
October 16, 2015 | Cross Country, General
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
When Greg Metcalf was looking for the right group of freshmen to add to the Washington women's cross country program, he liked the mix of talent and personality presented by Charlotte Prouse, Emily Hamlin and Lindsey Bradley.
However, until they arrive on campus, “you don't really know how they're going to fit, how they're going to mesh with the group you have,” the coach said.
Several months into the the group's first year with the Huskies, Prouse, Hamlin and Bradley are already exceeding expectations. In fact, one word comes up consistently whether talking to Metcalf or the freshmen.
So far, everything is “awesome.”
“From the moment they walked onto our campus they've become a larger part of our team every day,” Metcalf said.
As Washington heads to Madison, Wis., for the the Wisconsin Invitational on Friday, Prouse, Hamlin and Bradley have already woven themselves into fabric of the program.
Like any change, though, the transition has taken time.
Prouse is from London, Ontario. She won the 2015 Junior Pan Am Games title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Of the three freshmen, her trek to Seattle was the longest and, at times, she gets homesick.
“It's a lot different,” Prouse said. “It's taken a lot out of me. It's definitely hard being that far from home. I'm definitely a little homesick, but I have another kind of family here, so it's nice to be here as well.”
It helps that Washington assistant coach Anita Campbell is from Vancouver, B.C.
“It's been really helpful to know it's OK, everything will be all right,” Prouse said.
When it comes to competing, Prouse said the transition has exceeded expectations.
“For a lot of us, we're used to running alone or with a group of boys, so having that same dynamic around you always has definitely been a big change, but it's been such a positive one that it's been nothing but awesome,” said Prouse, who finished seventh at the Washington Invitational earlier this month.
Hamlin was a three-time Gatorade Athlete of the Year in Idaho – once in track and field and twice in cross country – a three-time Class 5A state champion and a seven-time state champion in track and field. After finding so much success in high school, though, Hamlin was ready for a new challenge.
“I love having people to train with and people to push me,” she said. “In high school, I feel like I was so done with it. I was ready to move on to college, the next level, and have people to help make me better.”
Facing a new challenge at the next level Hamlin said watching her teammates succeed provides motivation that has aided her improvement.
“I find myself improving every week,” she said. “I feel like I have completed the transition into college pretty well. It helps having these two by my side.”
Before boarding a bus bound for the airport, Bradley admitted she didn't know what to expect when she traveled across the state for college. The standout from Richland – last year's Class 4A state champion in cross country – was a bit “skeptical of how my body was going to adapt to college running.”
So far, though, the “racing has been going a lot better than I thought it was going to go,” she said. “My body has just responded to the training really well.”
Metcalf has seen improvement from his freshmen with each race. Now facing another race in an unfamiliar location, the Huskies' coach hopes that trend continues.
“They're all incredibly talented,” he said. “I would love to say that four years from now we'll be sitting here and they will all be All-Americans who helped us win a national championship, but from Day 1, they are as nice a group of freshmen women as we've had.
“I'm incredibly excited about what they're capable of doing.”
