Runner signs to Wofford

Two years ago, Caitlin Dodd wasn't thinking about running track in college. In fact, she'd never even run track in high school.

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"I always loved running, but I was usually busy riding horses," she said. "My dad is in the military, and we've moved around a lot."

That's what made May 25 so special for the Augusta Christian senior. Dodd signed a National Letter of Intent to run track at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.

The signing marked the end of a not-so-traditional high school track career. She first ran in the fall as a member of the Lady Lions cross country team. Her contribution was felt immediately.

"In the first meet I got third or fourth place, and from there I did really well," she said. "My best time in the 5K was 22:46."

Even after the cross country season ended, Dodd's running career was just beginning. She overcame a stress fracture in her shin in late fall and began training for girls track.

She became one of the top Lady Lions distance runners. Instead of the 3.1-mile races at the cross country meets, she specialized in the 1600-meter races at track meets.

"I thought those were harder than the 5K," she said. "It's definitely a different kind of race. You have to do a really fast pace for four laps."

She took eighth place at the SCISA Class AAA state track meet on April 28 with a one-mile time of 6:02, which helped the Lady Lions earn a second consecutive girls track state championship.

"To me, the greatest compliment I could give her is that she has great character," Augusta Christian athletics director and girls track coach Bruce Lane said. "She's always working on her own, running in the morning, and you could tell she wanted to get better."

Dodd said she will run both cross country and track at Wofford College.