WOMEN'S SPORTS: Small-Town Girl, Big-Time Accomplishments

The small town of Windsor, Vermont, has just one high school, but that one high school has produced dozens of stellar teams and athletes. Jim Ewald went on to become a Division III All-American soccer goalie at Castleton State College. Sandy Clary led the 1993 Windsor High School field hockey team to its first solo state championship in over 15 years. John Barth joined the ranks of being one of only a small percentage to win both a high school varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball championship.

In the near future, Heather Carmichael will be added to that list of great ones.

Heather, a 16-year-old junior at Windsor High School, runs on the cross country team. She also happens to be the only girl. But don’t let that fool you, for this girl can run.

As a freshman, Carmichael finished second at the Marble Valley League championships with a time of 20:48.

Leave you breathless?

Only five days later, Heather finished second again, (within her team) but this time at the Division III state meet with a time 21:18. Overall, she finished 19th.

Many people have asked Heather if it bothers her being the only girl on the team. In fact, it did bother her in 1999, the first year she was the only girl on the team. But now she says, “I’m used to it. I think it’s made me a bit stronger.” Carmichael also thinks that practicing with the boys is “good for her” because it “gives her someone to chase.”

Heather’s passion for running began in the sixth grade when her brother Andrew, was in eighth. “Andrew and the coach talked to me about running and I decided to give it a whirl,” she says.

Since then, Carmichael has been tearing up Vermont cross country courses. In 1999, she knocked off a minute from her time the previous year and finished 2nd again in 19:59 at the Marble Valley League championships. Windsor High School also competed at the Division II level last year and Heather finished 12th overall at the state meet, in 20:52.

At the end of October, 2000, Vermont had its 2000 Division II cross country state meet. Carmichael was there, of course, and finished 23rd overall in 21:23.

She has qualified for the New England championships for the past three years. In addition, she has been named to the All-Marble Valley League cross country team three years in a row.

With all this running, how does she find the time to be a consistent honor roll student and be involved with the drama club?

“Running helps me stay on task since I’m pressed for time,” she says.“Sure my honors English class is a lot of work, but running keeps me in line,” adds Heather.

After graduating from high school, she plans on attending college. Heather also says she’d like to keep running, and hopes to obtain a cross country scholarship to do so. If an athletic scholarship doesn’t come through, she has her prestigious academic record to help with scholarship opportunities and fulfilling her dream of competing at the collegiate level.

Despite her brother Andrew’s efforts of getting her involved in running, Heather considers her older brother Jamie as one of her role models.

“He’s a great athlete and he’s one of the reasons I’ve kept up with running,” she says. “He’s supportive and real, that’s what I like, and he accomplishes so much."

Her other role model, former Windsor cross country runner Leigh Canon has inspired Carmichael with her love for running and kept Heather motivated for the past three years.

Next year, Heather’s senior year, we will undoubtably hear about her fourth consecutive selection to the All-Marble Valley League team and see her at yet another state and New England championship meet. We will also hear about her continuous appearance on the honor roll and in the drama club. We might also hear that she’s an everyday teenager who enjoys watching television, listening to music, and hanging with friends.

But Heather Carmichael, an above-average teenager and truly remarkable young woman, has the ability and network of support around her to go