Wesley Robertson hasn’t stopped learning to become a better runner.

The Centralia senior isn’t stopping anytime soon as he has signed to run cross country and track at Columbia College. Robertson was one of five Centralia athletes recognized during a signing ceremony on April 22 at Centralia High School.

Robertson plans on studying history to become a history teacher or psychology to become a sports psychologist at Columbia College. He really wanted to run for head coach Brennan Cape and the Columbia College program.

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“He has a really good program as they have gone to nationals in cross country the last few years,” Robertson said. “Their distance team is looking pretty good, so I’m excited to be there for the next four years.”

Robertson was an all-state cross country runner this season and helped the Centralia boys win their first ever state trophy three years ago and the school’s first cross country state championships the last two years. In state track last year, he set a school record of 8:06 along with the rest of the 4x800 relay team in its second-place finish. 

He, Nolan Spickert and the now college runners of Dryst Bostick and Carter Moss even competed in the 4x800 relay at Nike Outdoor Nationals last year and came close to their school-record time with a 21st-place 8:08.87. Robertson enjoys that camaraderie at Centralia and believes there will be more of that at Columbia.

“I’ve always enjoyed the team culture that’s here,” Robertson said. “I feel like Columbia’s winning culture and being able to compete really draws me in.”

This year, Robertson has consistently finished in the top three in his individual and relay events and has run personal-best times in the 800, 1600 and 3200. He said his growth and improvement couldn’t have happened without Jason Watermann, who is the cross country head coach and track assistant coach.

“I really have to thank coach Watermann for that,” Robertson said. “He’s really instilled the values in me of wanting to push myself to be the best that I can. The main thing with distance running is consistency and making sure you run every day. It doesn’t have to be hard stuff. It’s really going out and doing something.”

Watermann said it’s great to see Robertson’s years of dedication and hard work pay off. He said Robertson has the mindset and work ethic to continue improving even after growing so much physically and mentally. Robertson wants to get better and takes steps toward that goal.

“Wesley’s growth has come from his constant desire to learn and improve,” Waterman said. “He’s always asking questions and looking for ways to get better.”

Because of his drive to improve, Watermann said Robertson was part of the first Centralia boys cross country team to qualify for state when he was a freshman. He said Robertson's state finish this season was the second lowest for a Centralia boy at a state meet, and he also owns the third fastest individual time in school history. 

Robertson said Watermann’s dedication to his runners and the great talent that has come through Centralia has helped the cross country program stock skyrocket. He said five of Centralia’s best boys are among the top 10 to ever run at the school, so there is some luck but also much effort from Watermann and the athletes.

Having this competitive atmosphere had an effect on Robertson, he said, and he is “super blessed” to have had it as he is so close to graduation. He will also miss the family aspect.

“Everybody cares about how you’re doing, how you’re feeling and what’s happening in your sport,” Robertson said. “I hope that the next four years will be similar to that because the feeling you have at Centralia is that almost everybody is like a family.”