Woodley: Leadership and life lessons

Imagine the rush of adrenaline that dances across the nerves of your brain as you hear the crack of a starter pistol at a loaded track meet.

That has been the life of this sprinter for as long as he can remember. 

Jordan Woodley, a junior sprinter on the track and field team, is best known for his status as captain and his prowess as a runner. Track and field is his main passion, but he also loves basketball and football.

Throughout the years, Woodley has participated in numerous events and meets for track and field, even going as far as to win medals in the 4x100m and 4x400m relay events. Woodley has also won the GNAC titles of Rookie of the Year and Runner of the Year as a Laser, and currently holds five school records. 

Junior psychology major Jordan Woodley is a captain of the track and field team.

This past year, he took part in cross country, which helped him to gain a better foothold going into his third year of collegiate-level track. He has been in-season since August, and he will continue to be in-season until at least late April. The frigid New England air mixed with the constant churning of the legs is not a great combination during track season. Making sure to avoid injuries and preserve availability for meets is crucial as a sprinter. 

When asked why he competes, Woodley stated that “the main reason I run track is because of the escape it brings me when I perform, whether it be at practice or meets. It's a lonely sport. It’s almost you versus you, and I feel like my best challenger is myself.” 

When it comes time for the red synthetic rubber to mesh with the spiky sole of your shoe, the only one in your way is you. Although he has made much of his notoriety in spikes, Woodley is a well-known individual on campus who has an eventful life outside of sports and academics. 

Woodley is an avid gym-goer, and much of his time during college has been dedicated to figuring out how to get the most out of his body. He’s picked up the bench press along with other workouts, which has helped him to lift more efficiently. A fact about Woodley is that his legs are surprisingly less of a focus for him in the gym since he already runs so much. 

“In the gym, I stay consistent and push myself because it’s one of the most satisfying things to see results pay off from the hard work you put in after hours,” Woodley said.  

One thing worth noting about Woodley’s tactics in the gym has been his loaded set of workouts that include lateral raises, chest-supported rows, triceps extensions, and incline dumbbell presses. Woodley has also included workouts that he got from others at Lasell, and this has shaped his six-day workout schedule.

One thing worth noting is that Woodley’s purpose of lifting has shifted. Much of his sophomore year was simply lifting heavy weights just because he could, and this seemingly left him feeling unfulfilled. Woodley was more so lifting with anger last year, and this year he lifts with intent. Workouts now aren’t so much about getting bigger but becoming better.

Woodley has been able to find a lot of peace during his time in college. Hanging out with friends, playing video games, walking his dog Ace, or visiting family has kept him sane. When in his room sometimes he plays role-playing games (RPGs) such as "The Witcher III," "Cyberpunk 2077," and "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain." 

Watching movies has also been comforting; some of his favorite movies are “Watchmen,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “Shin Godzilla.” Woodley loves superheroes like Wolverine and other characters like Jon Snow, Miles Morales, and Luke Skywalker. 

“As funny as it sounds, I love the comic book characters who are great leaders,” Woodley said.

This isn’t surprising, as Woodley is a leader himself at the university. Some of his biggest tasks are being a role model for freshmen at the school and helping them to make the right decisions. The characters he mentioned have a good foundation for how to lead a team, being able to aid everyone in success and personal growth.

Balancing life and sports is something that many athletes have trouble doing. When he came to college, Woodley had to figure out how he was going to make time for track, friends, family, and academics. Now being a junior and having internships, jobs, and his future career looming, Woodley will have to persevere through any challenge or obstacle he finds in front of him. Doing all of these things will again prove why Woodley is truly a great leader.