Running for Glory
July 23, 2008 08:02 AM | General
July 23, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Former West Virginia University track and cross country standout Megan Metcalfe will get a chance to fulfill her lifelong dream when she competes in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
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| Megan Metcalfe is one of four athletes with WVU ties competing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, joining rifle coach Jon Hammond, shooter Mike Anti, and former pitcher Jeremy Cummings.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Metcalfe will represent Canada when she competes against the world’s best in the 5,000-meter event. A nine-time All-American at WVU in both cross country and track and field, she believes that her success in collegiate athletics was the tipping point in helping her train rigorously for this summer’s Olympic Games.
“Both (track and cross country) have been invaluable,” said Metcalfe. “There’s nothing like competing in the NCAA system, and no country has that in-between system like here. It was definitely a great stepping stone.”
Metcalfe merely scratched the surface when she won the 5,000 at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championships in her final season at WVU. Competing in events throughout Canada and overseas, she garnered first-place finishes in the Canadian Senior Championships in 2006 and 2007, the Pacific World Cup in Burnaby, B.C., and at the 2007 Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Metcalfe also competed in a myriad of other events that bettered her as a runner and pitted her against quality opponents. Those same competitors who pushed her to the limit will be lining up against her on Aug. 19 when the Games’ qualifying rounds are set to begin.
“I think a lot of the competitors I have raced before in Golden League meets and at the Indoor World Indoor Championships,” admitted Metcalfe. “I’m hoping to prepare myself like I’ve been there and have the confidence that I’m not just happy to be there but I belong there and I’m there to compete.”
In order to qualify for her lifelong goal, Metcalfe needed to finish first in July’s Olympic Trials at the Canadian Track and Field Championships. An emotional rush filled with excitement and disbelief came over her after she crossed the finish line first and punched her ticket to Beijing.
Now WVU’s most prolific distance runner will try to become the first Canadian female to medal in an athletics event since Angela Chalmers did so at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. As Megan’s Olympic experience enters its infancy, she expects a whirlwind of emotions before she lines up on the world’s biggest stage.
“I think I’ll be getting more shivers entering Bird’s Nest Stadium,” Metcalfe explained. “I’ve entered Olympic stadiums before because I’ve competed in Berlin and Athens. There’s something so different about those venues because you come out under the tunnel where warm-ups are and you enter the stadium and there are all those fans. It’s such an awesome feeling, and to do that wearing the Canadian gear and being in the Olympics … you just try to go in there not being too overwhelmed.”
Although her home is north of the border, Metcalfe continues to live and train in Morgantown with current WVU track and field and cross country coach Sean Cleary. Having been with Cleary since her freshman season, the two have built a strong bond that has proven to be immeasurable in guiding Metcalfe to the Olympics.
“Being able to train with Sean has been great,” said Metcalfe. “He’s the best coach I know of and we’ve built such a strong relationship over the years. Being part of WVU has just been awesome and I still feel like I am a part of WVU.”
Metcalfe has never been able to let go of her cherished days in Morgantown. After earning a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from WVU in 2005, she began working at Ruby Hospital as a physical therapist. She continues to help others in the rehabilitation process, but is working part-time so she can spare enough time to train.
Having solidified herself as one of the more recognizable figures in her workplace, she feels fortunate to be working at a hospital that has been so endearing and supportive of her Olympic quest.
“I feel very lucky to be at Ruby,” said Metcalfe. “Everybody has been very supportive.”
On her journey toward making the Canadian Olympic Team, she felt the need to update her family and friends about her progress as she continued to travel domestically and abroad to compete in several 5,000m events. Combining modern technology with her know-how writing skills, she created a blog (http://www.megontherun.com) that has helped her reach out to her numerous fans.
Creating the site did not come without second thoughts. She originally feared that people would perceive her as touting her own accomplishments, but eventually realized that she could help others get the inside track on a sport that is somewhat obscure outside the Olympic Games.
“I started it this year in January,” Metcalfe explained. “I come from a large family and I’m the youngest of six kids and each of my parents has large families as well. I have a very supportive network of cousins as well so I needed to do something that was a little easier for all of them to follow.
“At first I was self-conscious about it because I was kind of self-promoting. Track isn’t on TV a whole lot so there is this online network of results and pictures and videos that are very difficult to find. It was an easy way that I could put up simple things for family and friends who could follow along.”
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| Metcalfe won the NCAA women's 5,000-meter run in 2005 for the Mountaineers.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
Metcalfe admits that it can be difficult to keep her excitement to a minimum when thinking about what lies ahead in the next month. She remains a humble, hard-working resident of Morgantown who carries a fulfilling job. It becomes surreal when the same part-time worker helping others is suddenly competing against the world’s best in one of the more popular Olympic sporting events.
Although she and her teammates may be carrying the weight of Canada on their shoulders, Metcalfe believes that she is running for Morgantown as well. She admires the people and personalities that come from the Mountain State, and feels that the “open door policy” of its inhabitants is what makes the area an incredible place to work and live.
Her affection for WVU will stick with her when she leaves for Beijing on Aug. 3. The first-time Olympian has never been to the Celestial City, and hopes to catch a nice glimpse of what it has to offer, while knowing that the majority of her time there will be low-key in preparation for the 5,000m event.
“I think I’m going to play it by ear,” said Metcalfe. “I think my goal is to try to keep everything the same and try to stay away from the excitement up to the race, and then maybe three days after the race try to see as much of the Olympic spirit as I can. Hopefully there can be some time for me to see the Great Wall.”
