Randelle L. Boots '13 was the second Wellesley College student-athlete to ever claim an NCAA Division III National Championship, becoming Wellesley's first track national champion when she captured the 2011 Women's Indoor Mile Championship with a time of 4:57.46. A Wellesley record seven-time All-American at the conclusion of her career, Boots was simply dominant as a student-athlete in cross country and track & field, winning multiple regional cross country and track titles. She broke 15 program records at distances ranging from 600m to one mile and still holds Blue program records in the outdoor 1500m (4:23.34) and the indoor mile (4:49.22) and as part of the Blue's top Distance Medley Relay time in 2011. A two-time NEWMAC cross country Runner of the Year (2010 and 2011), Boots earned three NEWMAC All-Conference Team honors and three New England Division III All-Region honors in cross country and five All-New England Division III track & field honors, and the All-New England Intercollegiate track & field honors four times.
I am honored to be selected to join the Wellesley College Athletics Hall of Fame. I came to Wellesley with fairly limited running experience -- I ran cross-country in high school, but instead of track, I played basketball and lacrosse. Nevertheless, my first year of collegiate running was successful. I won my first race at Gordon College, and I can still see my mom and grandfather ("Pops") screaming and cheering at the last loop around an athletic field. My mom, sisters, Pops, and grandmother Mary Lou made every effort to come to my meets. Wellesley fosters a strong community, and that community also embraced my family. I will be forever grateful for that.
My time as a Wellesley Athlete was riddled with ups and downs -- awards, records, frustration, and injuries, but the Wellesley Community was with me the whole time. That first cross-country season I ended up surprising myself by qualifying for nationals. Then, I thought I'd take the winter track season off, but my Coach convinced me to try an indoor race in the mile. I remember being incredibly nervous. I had no idea how to warm up for the race, and I was clueless as to strategy. Luckily, I had amazing teammates. Leah Clement was a talented 800-meter runner, and she was experienced and calm when it came to races. She showed me her pre-race routine, helped me determine when to warm up, when to switch to spikes, and the whole nine yards. My first mile race built the confidence I needed to qualify for Nationals. Despite going on a Geoscience trip to New Zealand mid-season, I qualified for Nationals and placed third that year -- a testament to the Wellesley Athletic Department’s support of well-rounded student-athletes.
As the outdoor season rolled along, I was thrilled that my teammate (and now Olympian in the Biathlon), Clare Egan, qualified for Nationals with me in the 1500. I fell in the semi-finals that year and didn't make the cut. Nevertheless, what I remember when I think of that National’s meet is my teammate's beaming face on the podium as she received her All-American award.
My sophomore year was my most successful. I earned All-American honors all three seasons and won the NCAA National Championship in the Mile. I battled injuries my junior and senior years, which resulted in frequent heartbreak. My team and the Wellesley Community, however, were always there to support me and encourage me to build upon my other interests.
I had some of the most amazing experiences at Wellesley -- athletically, academically, socially, and in terms of my personal growth. Wellesley builds resilient people and everlasting friendships. I would not be who I am today without my Wellesley experiences, especially as a Wellesley student-athlete. I am forever grateful for the support I received from the Athletic Department, the Environmental Studies Department, my mom, my sisters, my family, my friends, my team, my Coach, and the Wellesley Community at large.
