Wildwood Young Leaders collective

I’m Eva Novy-Hildesley, a senior on the Pomona-Pitzer cross country and track teams. I am studying Sports Science and particularly interested in how female physiology uniquely impacts performance, health, and recovery. I’m grateful to have been involved in Wildwood for several years now, and feel deeply passionate about addressing the gender gap in the sports science field. I’m excited to be a part of this group and continue empowering female athletes with the knowledge of their bodies and opportunities we deserve.

Hi, my name is Raquel! I am a sophomore running on the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

XC/TF teams in Claremont, CA. I am a premed student at Scripps majoring in

neuroscience with a particular interest in women’s health. I am passionate about

making running fun and accessible for all girls, with the goal of running for

longevity and love above all. I have been involved with Wildwood since 2020, and

am so grateful for the powerful impact it has had on my life. I am excited to work

with such an incredible group of women in the YLC!

Hi my name is Ella! I am a junior at UCLA studying communications. I am also an athlete on the cross country and track team at UCLA. I have loved growing as a participant in Wildwood clinics to being involved as a camp counselor and supporting events. I am passionate about the empowering space Wildwood creates for young female athletes. So I can not wait to be part of more growth for Wildwood and their mission!

Hi! My name is Marley MacDonald, and I’m a sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill. I was introduced to Wildwood just before eighth grade, when I attended its inaugural summer camp and immediately fell in love with the community. As a cross-country runner in recovery from an eating disorder, I knew how important it was to have a strong network of support to stay healthy and successful in the sport. Through Wildwood, I gained education and awareness around critical topics for female runners, including adequate nutrition, body image, and navigating performance anxiety. Most importantly, I found an amazing community of strong, supportive female runners who have been there for me through the highs and lows of running.  Although I’m now retired from cross country, I’ve continued long-distance running throughout college and ran my first marathon in May.  Running has brought some of the most amazing people, stress relief, and purpose into my life, and I’m incredibly grateful that Wildwood helped me build a healthy relationship with the sport from such a young age.  

Hi! My name is Kendall Accetta and I am so excited to be a part of the Wildwood Young Leaders Collective. I ran at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon, where I was lucky enough to be coached by Marie and participated in the very early days of Wildwood programming. Through those early girls talks in high school, I was introduced to topics like the impact of the menstrual cycle on running, proper nutrition, and mindset, and saw firsthand what a difference it can make to learn about these topics at a young age.

After graduating from Lincoln, I attended Colorado College where I double majored in Political Science and English Literature and served as a captain of the cross country and track and field teams. I was also a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Council, where I helped lead conversations around many of the same topics that had impacted me through Wildwood. I was a two-time All-American in the steeplechase and was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year, achievements I largely attribute to the lessons I learned through the Wildwood community.

Since college, I have stayed involved with Wildwood Running through grant writing and now by leading Wildwood EDU programming. I am currently running with Battle Road Track Club and working in marketing in Boston!

Hi, my name is Carly! I have been involved with Wildwood for a few years now, and am so

excited to be continuing that journey with such an incredible group of girls! I was lucky enough to be coached by Robyn in high school, where I grew such a deep love for the sport of running and the community that comes with it. I got my degree in graphic design from the University of Oregon, and am back in Portland working at a specialty running store and doing freelance design! While my cross country career ended after high school, I continued running all

throughout college and up until now. I love doing community races, and exploring different run clubs in my area with friends. I am 24 years old now, and my high school teammates are still some of my best friends and favorite running buddies! That is exactly the kind of healthy, long lasting community building that Robyn and Marie are so good at, and that I want to contribute to with the Young Leaders Collective. Wildwood has also given myself and others the space to

have educational and vulnerable conversations that are so necessary in the sport. 

Hi! I’m Natasha Ong, a senior at Pomona College and co-captain of the Pomona-Pitzer cross country and track teams. I’m originally from San Francisco and am currently studying

neuroscience on the pre-med track. I hope to pursue a career in women’s health, which has made me especially interested in how the experiences girls have during adolescence can shape theirlong-term relationships with movement, fueling, and their bodies. I’m passionate about helpinggirls find community and confidence through running while also making the sport more accessible and inclusive for girls of color. I’m so excited to be a part of the Wildwood Young Leaders Collective and to work alongside other passionate young women to empower the next generation of female athletes!