Despite the light rain and cold weather, 600 student athletes competed at the NCAA Regionals Cross Country Championship Race on Nov. 9, 2018. A couple of athletes from the Winthrop men’s and women’s Cross Country Teams ran at the Winthrop Farm course near the Winthrop Coliseum.
The event consisted of both a women’s 6K and men’s 10K, with over 1,000 spectators to watch teams from the Big South Conference area. Two of those runners were junior human nutrition major Harper Henson and senior human development and family studies major Kelsey Ballou, who shared their final race on the Cross Country team at Winthrop.
“Being able to run with Kelsey and for our school hosting the [cross country] meet was fun,” said Henson.
According to winthropeagles.com, Winthrop was listed in the final results of the Regional Championship.Schools from all over the Southern States came to Rock Hill to attend, which means a lot to Winthrop’s presence in the collegiate sports level.
“The fact [that] Winthrop held it is such a big deal as we are a mid-major D1 school compared to other [teams that participated],” said Ballou.
Henson described how she had to take it easy during the meet due it not being the best conditions with the rainy weather.
“I just had fun with it really” said Henson, “I didn’t try to put too much pressure on myself.”
Both Henson and Ballou finished the race with improved personal records from the 2017 NCAA Regional meet. Ballou had a time of 24:08 and Henson had a time of 22:40. Bboth athletes were pleased with their results and efforts at the meet.
“I definitely think that we both did fantastic” said Ballou, “We both gave it everything we could and it was a fun race for both of us.”
“It’s pretty intimidating when there are thirty seven teams and the best of the best of all the states in the South,” said Ballou.
The NCAA Southeast Regional is the final race for Ballou, as she will be graduating this December. Ballou was satisfied with the last race and enjoyed running with her friends on the team.
“Knowing it was my final race, the feeling of being done and running with Harper definitely helps motivate [me].” said Ballou.
This race is also Henson’s final race in the collegiate level, as she is graduating in May of 2019. With all her hard work, she learned lessons from her experiences and uses it to advise upcoming athletes at Winthrop.
Henson suggests that they “don’t put too much pressure and enjoy each practice and meet, and put effort into it.”
The end of the NCCA Regional meet was a big accomplishment for athletes to participate as well as the honors they receive along their athletic career.
“You can only compete at collegiate level for so long, which is a big honor,” said Henson.
With the end of the season and her athletic career, Ballou reflected on the good memories that she made with her track mates and the meets she took part in.
“My favorite part was just hanging out with all the girls and sharing running stories from high school during away meets,” said Ballou.
