Sophomore Maggie Schroeder Runs in National Race

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Lexie Crawford

Sophomore Maggie Schroeder.

18:53. Sophomore Maggie Schroeder, varsity cross country runner and state champion, can now add running a national race and making a personal record (PR) to her resume.

 

On Saturday, November 24th, Schroeder went down to Charlotte, North Carolina to run in the Footlocker Cross Country Championships, a series of annual races, held in four different regions of the nation.

 

Schroeder’s previous PR was 19 minutes flat, so setting her new PR at 18:53 was a big accomplishment. At the KHSAA State meet, she would have been able to PR there, had she not made a wrong turn.

 

Schroeder said, “When I realized I had made a wrong turn at state, I was petrified.” Not only was she scared that she could have lost her state championship, but she knew her time would be slower than what she was capable of.

 

Though the state meet seemed a disappointment at the time, she now looks back on it as a funny memory and story to tell. At the Footlocker Cross Country Championships, she made it an opportunity to redeem herself. She knew the competition would be difficult, but by sticking with girls towards the front of the pack, she knew she’d be able to produce a fast time.

 

The night before, the rain started pouring, making the course Schroeder ran on a muddy mess. At some points, such as the start, there was nearly a foot of standing water. The torrent of rain didn’t stop until after she finished racing. She was muddy and cold, but her persistence paid off.

 

Schroeder said, “When I crossed the finish line, I felt accomplished. I knew I was capable of running in the 18s, but when I finally did it, I was so excited. I knew my training had finally paid off.”