Athlete of the Week: Charlee Boxall
While at Lee, Boxall has competed in the 1500-meter run, the 800-meter run, and the 3000-meter steeplechase. She also runs the mile during the indoor track season, her favorite event.
Photo courtesy of LeeU Flames
If you had the opportunity to compete at a collegiate level at a school over thirty hours away from your home, would you do it?
Redshirt Charlee Boxall, a junior nursing major from Adelaide, Australia decided it was worth it and chose to attend Lee University.
Boxall began running as a sport at the ripe young age of five years old.
“Mum said as soon as I started walking, I was just running everywhere, so she put me in,” said Boxall. “Ever since then I’ve been doing it.”
Boxall's initial love for athletics included swimming and netball, a variant of basketball. However, running stayed as the constant in her life.
Originally, Boxall came to the United States to run for Shorter University, the Flames’ bitter rival. However, Boxall decided to transfer schools and leave Shorter.
According to Boxall, she visited Lee, and it was a perfect fit.
"I just had a really good feeling about [choosing Lee],” said Boxall. “I chose it, and it's been the best decision I’ve made.”
While at Lee, Boxall has competed in the 1500-meter run, the 800-meter run, and the 3000-meter steeplechase. She also runs the mile during the indoor track season, her favorite event.
Despite her passion for running, Boxall said that some days, running isn’t always easy.
According to Boxall, when she has days where she feels awful and does not want to go running, she pushes through, and the reward is always worth it.
“Everything comes together in a perfect race and you get that time that you’ve [been] really wanting, and I’m really close to the team and coach and everything,” Boxall said. “I love that atmosphere.”
Even as Boxall embarks on the latter half of her collegiate running career, she does not want to leave the sport she loves after college.
“I’d hope I’d still be running,” Boxall said. “I’m just trying to take it a season at a time, but I’d hope I’d be doing something with my running. [That] would be the dream and the goal.”
With this semester's season, Boxall has a very simple goal as she and the Lady Flames track and field team continue their climb up the rankings.
“Go to Nationals,” Boxall said. “All-American.”
You can keep up with Boxall and the Lady Flames track and field team on their web page.
