Zanelle Willemse '18 Recruiting Profile

Moving to WI, America from South Africa in 2013 was one of the toughest but best decisions my parents could have made. It caused me to persevere and to be adaptable no matter the environment or circumstances. Running in America also taught me that the effort I put in not only benefits me, but also has a significant impact on others and my community. Not only have I qualified individually for state in cross country, but also as a team for both cross country and track. In 2016, I was a part of the 4x800m relay team that placed fifth at state.
Unfortunately in August of 2016, I received the bad news that I had a stress fracture and two stress reactions in my right foot. I was devastated. I knew, however, that I couldn’t give up and that I had to keep on training to be competitive again. I wasn’t able to compete in the 2016 cross country season, the 2017 indoor track season, and neither could I compete at the first few races of the 2017 outdoor track season. The injuries I had doesn’t hold me back from achieving my dreams. With my drive, dedication and hard work, I am going to come back for an awesome senior year, and hopefully continue on into college.

During the summer of 2017, our school’s track and field program developed a summer youth track and field league for children aged 6-12 years in which we teach them the basics of shot put, long jump, running distances ranging from sprints to the 1600m, as well as the basics of the relay. Our distance coach asked me to be a coach, and so I spend my Monday and Thursday nights coaching the young ones and teaching them about the sport that I love so much, and sharing good tips on improving their running as well.

I am looking to join a program where I can be pushed to better myself as an athlete and a person. Academics, of course, come first, so I want to enroll in a school that will help me along my career path as well.