And that’s because, until recently, the talented athlete who holds two school records in track events and back-to-back IAAM cross-country titles didn’t really think of herself as a runner at all.

“My realization about running happened gradually,” said Patrick, who is as humble as she is hardworking. But after setting school records in track & field events as a freshman, running a sub-18-minute 5K in the Nike Cross Country Regionals at the end of 2023, and being named 2024 Gatorade Cross-Country Player of the Year in Maryland, Patrick has accumulated enough success to prove to herself that running is, in fact, her thing.

Emma’s first real taste of competitive running came during her eighth-grade year at Severn. Before that, her experience with the sport was limited to running a one-mile loop in her neighborhood—something she occasionally did for fun.

Once Patrick started to run, her talent spoke for itself. Word of a “really fast” middle-schooler soon reached Upper School Track & Field Head Coach Andrew Otero. His curiosity piqued, Otero stopped by a Middle School meet, where he had the chance to meet Emma. “After that, I’d speak to her a bit if I saw her in the halls,” said Otero. But he intentionally kept it light, not wanting to impose any expectations on the young athlete. “I didn’t want Emma coming into the Upper School and thinking, ‘OK, I need to perform at some high level because everyone’s expecting that.’”

At the end of eighth grade, though, Otero did have one question for Patrick: “What’s the plan for next year?” Fortunately, it was a yes for the track & field team.

When Patrick entered Severn’s Upper School and got her first taste of higher-level competition, her talents again shone through. As a freshman, she shattered long-standing school records in the 1600m and 3200m events, setting times of 5:11 and 11:26, respectively. And this spring, she did it again, besting her times to 10:49.27 n the 3200m race and 5:10.70 in the 1600m event.

Just as Otero had heard rumblings the year before, the speedy freshman’s talents caught the attention of another set of Upper School coaches. Cross Country coaches Richard Zmuda (now retired) and Skip Sensbach also heard rumors about a star in the making.

Recognizing Patrick’s potential to excel at longer distances, they set about convincing her to make the switch from soccer to cross-country in the fall of her sophomore year. Otero also joined in this effort, knowing that if Patrick wanted to pursue running in college, cross-country training would be critical in her development.

“From the start, it was clear she had an incredible track season, and by the latter part of it, I believe Emma realized she had found her true passion,” said Sensbach, current Head Coach. “Convincing her to join cross-country in the fall wasn’t difficult.” To be safe, though, he did enlist some of the current team’s runners to text Patrick and encourage her to come out in the fall.

As it turns out, Sensbach was right—it didn't take much convincing. “I had enough success in track to realize that this could really be something,” said Patrick, who nonetheless appreciated the warm welcome by her future teammates.

Patrick didn’t take long to make her mark in cross-country. Despite her limited experience with the sport, she embraced the unique challenges and quickly adapted. Her first season was a resounding success—she won every league race and claimed victory at the IAAM Championship, outpacing seasoned runners from both the A and C conferences.

“Going into my first cross-country season, I didn’t know what to expect because I’d never raced over two miles,” said Patrick. “Winning my first cross-country championship was surprising but also eye-opening. It showed me I had a natural ability for longer distances.” That season culminated in an impressive sub-18-minute performance at the Nike Cross Country Regionals, cementing her place as a top runner.

“It’s easy to overlook the immense work and dedication Emma puts into her sport because she makes it look so effortless,” said Sensbach, who has seen firsthand how her strong work ethic has made her a better runner. “I often hear spectators marvel at how easy she makes it look.”

Despite that smooth appearance, Patrick admits to experiencing nervousness before each race and counts the end of any race as her favorite part. “Winning the big events is definitely exciting,” she said. “It feels good knowing the work I put in leading up to the race has paid off.” The consummate teammate, Patrick’s other favorite part of cross-country is the closeness of the team and the ease they enjoy as a unit that works together to win events.

While Emma’s natural talent and hard work have brought her numerous accolades, her young running career hasn’t been without challenges. An injury sidelined her for much of the 2024 season, but true to her determined nature, Patrick bounced back just in time to win her second IAAM cross-country title. This impressive feat earned her another IAAM Athlete of the Week nod and All-Metro and 1st Team All-County Capital Gazette honors.

In the meantime, she's been doing indoor racing outside of Severn and even qualified for Indoor Nationals. She also hopes to race again at the Northeast Regionals with a goal of securing a top ten finish. Looking ahead to college, Patrick is intrigued by the prospect of competing in 10K races at the next level.

What makes Patrick’s story compelling is that, despite her extraordinary achievements on the track and cross-country course, she remains grounded and well-rounded.

“What truly sets Emma apart is that her exceptional skill and talent are matched by her humility and supportive nature,” said Sensbach. “She has a deep appreciation for the team aspect of cross-country. She is an invaluable asset to our sport and a cherished team member.”

Otero echoed this sentiment. “She’s a runner—it’s what she loves—but what I like about Emma even more is that she knows there’s a lot more to her identity than running,” he said. “She’s involved with numerous clubs and is a junior class rep. She has an insane academic schedule and maintains great grades. She loves the sport, loves her team, and embodies integrity and character.”

With her running career still in its early stages, the future certainly looks bright. With the support of her coaches, teammates, and the Severn community, Patrick will continue to set new goals and chase new dreams. Far from being the finish line, this is undoubtedly the starting point for even greater things to come for the remarkable Emma Patrick.

This story was originally published in the May 2025 issue of the Bridge. You can see the full issue here.