Pictured: Southeastern Oklahoma State teammates Skye Summers and Megan Rose follow mask protocols before the Golden Sun Invitational
Approximately ten months ago, Southeastern Oklahoma State University distance runner Megan Rose was told like so many athletes across the country that her season was over. The worldwide Covid-19 crisis halted sports competition and in general the normal routines of life.
Rose, a 4-time individual high school cross country conference champion during her days at Mansfield, was in the dark as to when her racing schedule would return. Days of waiting turned into weeks. Anxious weeks turned into months.
In September, Fall sports across the nation slowly resumed its competitive schedule. SEOSU, a member of the Great American Conference, did not. The league’s presidents voted to postpone competition until the second semester. That left Rose who was to enter her third season of college cross country racing in limbo until just this month.
On January 15, the wait was over. Arkansas Tech University in Russellville invited conference members Henderson State and Southeastern Oklahoma State for an unconventional, protocol infused tri-match.
Regardless of the circumstances, Rose and company were elated for the opportunity to lace up their racing flats. A trip home to Arkansas soil for the Mansfield native made the chance to compete once again even better.
Unpredictable Arkansas weather greeted the former Lady Tiger as did an array of health-related pre and post race procedures. A sunny and mild mid-week turned freezing cold and windy for the afternoon start of the Golden Suns Invitational. Call it one more brick on the protocol wall to competition in this new world of masks, screenings, and social distance. Â
For what Rose had to endure to finally begin the 2020 cross country season on January 15, 2021, frigid winds may have been the least of her concerns. Cold hands, warm heart may have taken on a whole new meaning for the MHS standard.
When all was said and done, Rose finished second among her Savage Storm teammates and ninth overall in the meet. The following is an exclusive first-hand account of Rose’s return to racing. The words below are excerpts of a message Rose sent home to her high school coach and team following Friday’s collegiate meet.
“It was really awesome getting to compete again! I was just focused on having the right mentality. We’ve been waiting to compete for nearly a year and we obviously wanted to race well,” expressed Rose.
“I tried to not put too much pressure on myself thinking about how our season isn’t promised and this race is all that matters. I just told myself to give it 100% and just start passing people as I ran, and not to let up or slow down. I remember telling myself to race good, just go out there and race. If you don’t race well that’s fine. It’s just another Friday. Telling myself it’s just another Friday helped me not stress over the race too much.”
“We had to wear masks the whole time except for warming up, racing, and cooling down. However, our team always wears masks during warmup in practice because we are so close together. So, we still warmed up and cooled down in masks. We had to drive three vans to the meet instead of two so we could sit separately. The coaches were smart in the seating arrangements. I was in the same van as my roommate because we share the same living arrangements.”
“We had to fill out the Covid questionnaire sheet for the GAC and give it to the Arkansas Tech trainers. We got our temperature checked as well. No spectators were allowed. The meet consisted of three teams, Arkansas Tech, Henderson, and SOSU. The start was kind of funny. The gun didn’t go off so they told us to relax, and we all stood around as runners do. Then when they tried to shoot it again, it didn’t go off again. So I thought we were going to have to relax again. I relaxed and stood straight up, and the gun went off.”
“My start was a bit funny because of that. When we ran, I counted that I was fifth for my own team. I didn’t start with the front pack at the beginning and for a second got worried. It was very windy and cold. I like racing in the cold. I prefer it over the heat of racing in September. The wind was hurting all of us. I wished I was closer to the front pack so the wind could be blocked.”
“I remember passing one of my teammates, then another, and my assistant coach (Coach Stephanie Heald) said to pass the girl in red. As I’m running I nod yes and focus on passing her and not letting up or slowing down. I passed her before the first-mile marker with another teammate. I tell her ‘let’s get that girl in red’. The course was flat and was behind the Tucker Coliseum at Tech. I looked up to realize I was suddenly second on my team. I was very happy and content.”
“Our first place girl (Skye Summers) was way up ahead. She finished fifty seconds in front of me. I had a good finish. My overall time was 13:05 for ninth overall. I got a shirt for placing in the top ten. It was cold and windy, and we even saw snow on the way down to the meet. But, I was happy and content with the race. I prayed about the racing and my racing season for so long. I’m happy God has blessed us with the season and has given me this amazing ability to compete.”
