Heart. Passion. Determination.
Three words that describe Woodland Hills junior Rylee Lewis-Wright.
Whether he’s racing around the track or battling through the trails, Lewis-Wright always seems to be on the run. He could be wearing the black and blue of Woodland Hills, competing for the Wolverine Summer Track Club, or competing on his own in a summer 5K. The uniform, course and competition may change, but his approach doesn’t.
He runs because he loves it. He runs because he wants to improve. And most importantly, he keeps showing up. For Lewis-Wright, running isn’t limited to one season. It’s a year-round passion fueled by the determination to become better every time he laces up his spikes.
But his journey into distance running actually began by accident. When Lewis-Wright entered high school, his mother signed him up for cross country thinking she was signing him up for track. That simple mix-up ended up introducing him to a sport he quickly began to love.
“My mom signed me up for cross country thinking it was track,” Lewis-Wright said. “Ever since I went to practice, I started loving running.”
It wasn’t just the running that caught his attention. Lewis-Wright began enjoying everything that came with the sport from practices and competition to the atmosphere surrounding cross country and track meets.
“I saw how fun it was going to cross country meets and then track meets,” he said.
His introduction to high school running wasn’t without adversity. An injury during his freshman season kept Lewis-Wright from having the start he envisioned. Instead of allowing the setback to push him away from the sport, it gave him something else to run for.
“I was injured my freshman season, but I still have something to prove,” Lewis-Wright said.
That determination continues to drive him, but when Lewis-Wright talks about what motivates him each day, his answer goes deeper than running. His faith is at the center of it.
“I feel like God motivates me,” Lewis-Wright said. “I’m always grateful waking up. I just thank God that I’m able to move, run and do everything that I can for a new year.”
That gratitude carries over into his training. When the high school seasons end, Lewis-Wright continues putting in the work, using the summer months as another opportunity to train, compete and prepare for what comes next. He hopes what comes next eventually includes an opportunity to compete at the collegiate level.
But Lewis-Wright doesn’t want his future in running to be measured only by times, finishes or personal records. He wants his running to have a purpose.
“I do want to run at the collegiate level,” Lewis-Wright said. “I don’t want my running to only be about running for myself. I also want to encourage other people.”
That desire to encourage others has become another part of what running means to Lewis-Wright. Every race provides another opportunity to compete, but it also gives him a platform to share the faith and motivation behind what he does.
“I want my running to inspire and encourage,” he said. “I want my running to have a meaning. I want Jesus behind everything I do.”
What started with a simple mix-up has grown into something much bigger. Running has given Lewis-Wright an opportunity to compete, improve and inspire others while continuing to discover how far the sport can take him.
There are still goals to chase, faster times to pursue and plenty of miles ahead. And Lewis-Wright believes he still has something to prove.
For the Woodland Hills junior, the three words behind his journey remain the same.
Heart. Passion. Determination.
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