SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Madison Rawson had participated in a running club in Pensacola but had never been part of a team. One long distance call and four years later, she is one of the elite runners in the state of California on one of the best teams heading into the CIF State Championships on Nov. 30.

Rawson, who lives in Roseville, moved to the area from Florida just prior to her freshman year. Before arriving or even attending her first day at her new school, Sacramento’s St. Francis, she was signed up for the cross country team by her parents.

“Basically I was going to the other side of the country and did not know anyone,” said Rawson. “It provided me with people I actually knew on the first day of school and I had friends going into freshman year. It was nice.”

Head Coach John DuCray remembers the day he first heard about the new kid from Florida that wanted to join his team at St. Francis.

“Her dad called me and said his family was moving out,” recalls Head Coach John DuCray. “He said she was a tough kid but had not done a lot of running. But she will work hard.”

And…

“He was correct,” said DuCray. “He knew his daughter quite well. She is a very hard worker.”

After an initial season on the Frosh/Soph team, Rawson got the running bug.
“My freshman year I really enjoyed cross country but I did not take it seriously,” said Rawson. “Going into my sophomore year, I decided to work harder in the offseason.  I had the opportunity to be on varsity my sophomore year when somebody got injured. From that moment, I have enjoyed it, wanted to stay on varsity and work hard for it.”

She made the jump to varsity as a sophomore and was part of the fourth-place team in the state. She finished 51st overall as the fifth runner on the team. Rawson added membership to the track team, allowing for consistent training year round.

“We encourage the girls to do both sports to get to their potential,” said DuCray. “If you run both sports it gives you the chance to be the best that you can.”
With the new dedication and added training, Rawson made bigger strides as a junior. She finished 38th at the state meet in a time of 18:38, helping the team to their second-place finish. The Troubadours became the first team from northern California to make the podium at the Division I meet. They continued their success with a great performance at the Nike Nationals.

“It was a big accomplishment,” said Rawson. “At the time we did not realize how great it was because we were focused on nationals. Thinking back it is definitely something I will remember.”

As a senior, she has been part of the lead pack all season. She has finished among the top five in nine races, including a fifth-place finish at the prestigious Mt. Sac Invitational. She also finished 11th at the Stanford Invitational. She earned All-Delta River League honors for the third straight season, crossing second overall.

The state meet is all that is left as her prep cross country comes to the finish line. She has the experience to be a factor at the meet both individually and for her team.

“It is really nerve-wracking” said Rawson of the state meet. “You get up to the line and they announce all the teams. It is such a big meet and everyone is there. It is so fast but it is an inspiring moment because you are surrounded by the fastest runners in your state.”

The Troubadours enter the championship as one of the contenders for the title. In addition to Rawson, DuCray can lean on an experienced group that has run on the Woodward Park course each of the last two seasons in the season’s last meet.

“I think it is advantage because I know the course,” said Rawson.
Rawson’s work has created opportunities to continue her career in college. Ironically, with schools like Ole Miss recruiting her, it could take her back to the southeast, bringing her running career full circle.

On Saturday, she will toe the line for the final time.

“She will give 100 plus percent,” said DuCray. “If there is a 105 or 110 percent to give, she will. I have learned over the last few years to not worry about Madison. She will go after it.”

Just like her dad said she would.