Greencastle’s Wilson elects to skip school track season
Greencastle’s Emma Wilson, the two-time defending Indiana state champion in the 3,200-meter run, will not compete for the Tiger Cubs this spring in what would have been her senior track and field season.
Craig Jordan, who has served as Greencastle’s track and cross country coach since the fall of 2016, informed the Banner Graphic by telephone on Monday of Wilson’s decision.
Wilson’s decision is connected to Jordan’s tenuous employment status, which is now termed as him being on “administrative leave” from his physical education teaching position and coaching roles.
A letter from Greencastle superintendent Jeff Hubble, which was provided to the Indianapolis Star, indicated in an article published on Wednesday that Jordan’s leave is a result of “an irretrievable breakdown in your professional relationships that cannot be resolved.”
Wilson told the Star that the situation involving Jordan is “shameful,” and she will instead run this spring in open meets which allow her to run as an unattached individual.
She also told the Star that her future coaches at the University of Illinois were fine with her decision.
“I am sad that I’m not going to state,” Wilson told the Star. “At this point, I don’t even care any more. I don’t want to run for Greencastle any more. I just want to run for coach [Jordan].”
Wilson won the 3,200-meter run in each of the past two seasons, and also won the 1,600-meter title in her sophomore year.
She has won the cross country state championship the past two seasons, and won the IHSAA mental attitude award this fall.
Wilson also qualified for the Nike Cross Nationals meet the past two years, finishing 14th last year to earn All-American status.