Like so many young girls who grew up in Indiana, Crystal Meekswanted to be a basketball player. Everything went as planned forher until seventh grade. She was in track, and the coach asked herto run a mile and a half. The problem? She loved it.
Today Meeks is one of two seniors on the women's cross countryteam that recently won the first Mid-American ConferenceChampionship in school history. She earned a 10th place finish inthe race and was also named to the second All-MAC team.
"She knows what it's all about to be on a contending team and Ithink that's really important just having someone on the teamthat's done all those things," head coach Sue Parks said. "It'seasy for a coach to tell some of the younger runners some things,but it means a lot more sometimes when it comes from one of theirteammates."
The leadership Meeks brings to the team is often done by exampleas Meeks is not a very vocal person, Parks said.
"She works really hard, she's a consistent runner, she alwaysencourages other people," Parks said.
If it weren't for that moment in the seventh grade when Meeksfirst ran long distance, her life could be very different today.She still loves basketball and wants to eventually coach someday,but believes running is a "whole different world."
"You get on such a high when you're on a run and have a goodrace," Meeks said. "It's about how your body can handle somuch."
That body in this case is handling 60 to 70 miles a week andthat is why Meeks believes she needs to be mentally tough as arunner.
"Your body can only carry you so far and the rest is all yourattitude and how bad you want to do well," Meeks said.
Part of being mentally tough is having teammates around that youknow are dealing with the exact same things as you are, Meeks said.That togetherness allows the team to pull through in difficulttimes. On runs and in races, teammates will often yell to eachother when someone falls behind and encourage them to get back withthe rest of the group.
Meeks remembers how at the regional meet last year, everyonefinished really close to each other and they all knew that they hadran one of the best races in their lives.
Meeks gets a lot of support from teammates, but she said hermother is her biggest supporter. She attends almost every meet andis someone Meeks always turns to during hard times.
"When I'm upset about something, she always cheers me up," Meekssaid. "[She tells me] 'look what you're doing, you're in division Irunning' and that helps a lot, just the words of encouragement shegives me."
Meeks may turn to a lot of people for support, but one thing shemay not realize is how many people turn to her. This season will beher last competing with the team. There's a sense that the voidthat Meeks' departure will create will not go unnoticed.
"People believe in her, they know when she steps on the line,she's going to give her best every time and people like that arehard to replace," Parks said.
That feeling is mutual for Meeks. "I'm not going to know what todo, I don't think," she said. "It's been my life for so long. I'vegained so many friendships and I don't want to lose them."
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