Luray runner plans to compete in Division-III ODAC cross country and track
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, March 27 — Annah Wood believes in trying new things.
“It isn’t always a bad thing,” she said. “Cause I never would have imagined me running track… I didn’t even really know it was a sport until like ninth grade.”
During her sophomore year, Wood — as a way to “stay in shape for soccer” — tried indoor track for the first time. Like many new track athletes, she started out as a sprinter, according to LHS track coach Davis Sours.
“The first time I saw her run, I said ‘That young lady is a distance runner, she just doesn’t know it yet.’ It didn’t take long to realize she was the real deal,” Sours noted.
And the rest, as they say, is history…at least LHS track history — three-time, all-state performer in multiple running events; three region titles in indoor track March 5-6 at Liberty; 9th place finish among 93 qualifiers at the state cross country meet Nov. 16 in Blacksburg; multiple course and school records.
“She’s basically done it all and she’s been a pleasure to watch,” LHS Athletic Director Don Ehlers said at a ceremony in the school library. “I appreciate all you’ve done for LHS… Bridgewater is a great school and I think you will enjoy it.”
A few dozen family, friends, teammates, coaches and other supporters gathered in the LHS library March 27 to watch Wood sign her intent to run for the Eagles of Bridgewater College.
“Annah has been a pleasure to be around. She put in the work all season long, she’s been a leader on the team…she was all-district, all-region, all-state,” LHS cross country coach Monica Janney said. “For me, I am most proud of her growing as a leader on the team and her academics…inspiring other students and other runners.”
Wood plans to study Health and Physical Education, with partial academic scholarships covering about half of the costs of her four-year education. As a student-athlete, the Luray senior will be competing among Division III collegiate runners in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
For this humble runner, it represents reaching a long-term goal through hard work and dedication.
“Honestly, I’m really excited. I never thought that I would even be going to college, much less running, or playing a sport, in college…so I just think it’s really awesome and I’m really excited that I’ve gotten to this point,” Wood told PVN just prior to last week’s ceremony. “It’s just kind of amazing how like a person can get to that point and not realize that they are at that point… I didn’t think that I could get there, and I think it’s really cool that I am going to be able to get there, and I’m just excited to see how it goes.”
Bridgewater and Lynchburg were the two ODAC schools that showed the most interest in Wood’s running, but it was BC head coach Denver Davis that won out with one of the top programs in Division III. Now entering his 15th season, Davis has coached 26 All-Americans, 39 Division III national qualifiers, 12 ODAC Players of the Year, 13 ODAC titles in indoor track alone, and three D-III national champions.
“I really liked him. He’s a really nice guy and obviously he’s leading a great program,” Wood said of Davis. “My first impression was like…he has a great relationship with his athletes and everyone around him likes him, so that has to be a good sign.”
The women’s track and field program at BC looks to only lose three student-athletes to graduation next season, so it’s unclear what Wood’s role will be as a freshman. However, she will also be running cross country in the fall under BC coach Lance Harden.
“We haven’t talked about that much because Coach Hardin thinks it’s important for me to focus on my high school [season] and finish out my high school career, and then focus on college,” Wood said. “That’s the coach that I have spoken to the most. He’s always keeping up with my races, asking how I’m doing…and he also has a great relationship with all his athletes. And he’s obviously coaching pretty well because the distance program is doing great. He kinda made me lean toward Bridgewater.”
Bridgewater coaches first approached Wood about being an Eagle last spring, and she accepted their offer this fall. While she’s still amazed that she’s reached this point in her running career, it doesn’t surprise her coaches.
“It’s all about the mentality that an athlete has…running, especially distance, hurts. And you have to fight through that discomfort to become better,” LHS track coach Skip Hamilton said. “Everything she does is 100 percent.”
The first season Wood ran indoor track as a sophomore at LHS, she finished second in the 500 meters and first as a member of the 4×800 relay team at region. She went on to finish seventh at state in the 500 meters. She followed that up with an all-state performance that spring in outdoor track. That was followed by all-state runs through each season for the next two years.
And it all started, because she tried new things.
“I just want people to realize that hard work gets you to a lot of places that you might not have realized you would be able to get to,” Wood said. “I have to give a lot of credit to Coach Sours because he just pushes me daily and let’s me know that this is where I’m supposed to be…like going to college is where I’m supposed to be.”
The LHS senior also believes in something deeper driving her actions.
“The one thing I know about this young lady,” track coach Roger Bundy said, “she is so committed to making everyone better and not just in sports.”
Wood says her faith has lead her to this point.
“The past few years in track, my relationship with the Lord has grown, and I think just relying on Him and trusting in Him through this whole process has been a big thing for me…because like I said, I never would have imaged going to college, and obviously I would pray about it all the time because I didn’t know where my path was going to go, and it’s lead me here,” Wood told PVN. “So I think just trust in God and believing in Him has been a big factor in being able to reach the collegiate level.”
To follow Bridgewater College’s women’s tack and field team, CLICK HERE.
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