Former Mansfield Lady Tiger Megan Rose calls it a cross country career with her fastest 6K run at her final collegiate race.
Rose, who has been at Southeastern Oklahoma State since graduating four years ago at Mansfield, laced up her shoes for the NCAA Division II Central Region Cross Country Championships. That race fired off along the home course of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO. on November 6.
At the heavily populated meet featuring some 35 schools and 237 runners, Rose ran fast. According to her own account, it was the fastest finish she has produced since joining the college ranks.
“Ran a 24:10.5, fastest 6K of my career,” Rose recalled via text message to her hometown followers. “Finished the race first for my team.”
Rose was excited to establish another personal record in her last competitive race for the Savage Storm. Next season, she will move over to the coaching side of competition as a graduate assistant coach at SEOS.
As a team, the Savage Storm runners averaged 25:37. Rose managed nearly a minute and a half faster than the accumulated average. Although her overall placement (154) in the regional finals was modest compared to the bravado stemming from territories such as Augustana, South Dakota or Duluth, Minnesota, Rose was still excited.
“Good to see Megan run fast again,” said Mansfield coach John Mackey. “She did the same thing at her very last high school cross country race. That day she won the River Valley All-Stars in one of the fastest times ever on the Magazine course.”
Rose acquired many accolades while in high school including All-District, All-Region, and All-Star status. Through her college career she twice received the GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award and as of Saturday, finished as the top runner on her team.
Rose is expected back in Mansfield this next weekend for a break from training before track season starts. She has scheduled some free time to give back to the school that started her off on a running career. She will be a volunteer at the Mansfield hosted River Valley All-Star event on November 13.
