Distance Trio Leaving Their Mark At Mississippi State
Hodge, Magloire, and McPherson making the most out of junior season
When one takes into account how much practice and preparation takes place prior to a meet, it is no surprise that a trio of Mississippi State distance runners have what it takes to be tops in the nation's toughest track and field conference. For Meggan Hodge, Zita Magloire, and Jennifer McPherson, the numerous miles put in during the week is the hard part. What makes their success so special is all three are juniors. With a storybook season already underway, if the tandem returns for the Maroon and White next year, there is no telling what could happen.
Entering this weekend's Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships, McPherson is ranked fifth in the country in the mile run by Trackwire.com and is No. 1 in the event in the SEC. Already this season, the Nampa, Idaho-native has met an NCAA provisional qualifying mark with her second-place finish (4:42.79) at the Boston University Terrier Classic on Jan. 29. She also won the 800-meter run (2:12.34) and the mile run (4.49.10) at the Clemson Invitational. In her first race of the season, McPherson finished second (2:10.29) behind former MSU all-American Tiffany McWilliams in the highlighted 800-meter run championship at the Purple Tiger Invitational.
"I think Jennifer has been the best kept secret in the country over the last year and a half," said MSU Head Coach Al Schmidt. "Everyone is going to see how good she is. It's her time to shine. We hope great things are ahead for her."
During the 2004 outdoor season, McPherson qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional with her winning time of 4:20.80 in the 1500-meter run at the MSU-hosted Jace Lacoste Invitational. She also ran a career-best in the 800-meter run at the TCU Invitational (2:12.21). Following her ninth-place finish (4:32.25) in the 1500-meter run at the NCAA Mideast Regional, McPherson went on to finish 24th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas (4:34.09).
Prior to this weekend's meet, Magloire was the top collegiate finisher in the 800-meter run at the Boston University Terrier Classic on Jan. 29. She also ran the first leg of the team that finished fifth in the distance medley relay at the Clemson Invitational.
"Zita is an extremely hard worker who adds a lot of commitment, dedication, and talent to our team," said McPherson.
Magloire had a sensational 2004 cross country season where she was named SEC Athlete of the Week for her win at the MSU Short Course Invitational. Last year during track season, Magloire posted a career-best time in the 800-meter run (2:09.65) at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Baton Rouge, La. She also set a career-best in the 1500-meter run (4:38.12) at the Bulldog Invitational.
"Zita has won an SEC Championship and has made her mark in the Texas Relays history books," Schmidt said. "She's starting to make a breakthrough as an individual and has been very good to us as a relay runner."
Both Magloire and McPherson were a part of the 2003 indoor distance medley relay team that won the SEC championship title, becoming the only relay team in school history to accomplish the feat. The same team set a new Mississippi State indoor school record in the event (11:18.04) at the 2003 Rod McCravy Memorial in Lexington, Ky. They again help set an outdoor school record in the distance medley relay (11:10.06) en route to winning the event and setting a new meet record at the 2004 Texas Relays.
While Magloire and McPherson were making breakthroughs last track season, for Hodge it was a completely different story. She spent last season wondering if her entire career had come to a complete standstill. Last summer, she dealt with a serious back injury, making it difficult to sit, walk and run. Despite the injury, Hodge decided to compete during the 2003 cross country season, while sitting out the indoor and outdoor track seasons.
"I couldn't finish the workouts and was extremely out of shape," Hodge said. "I pretty much ran on talent and what fitness I had left from the year before."
While the injury took its toll on the Beaumont, Alberta-native physically, it brought her down emotionally as well.
"I didn't get to be around my teammates because I was always in rehab or class. I tried not to think about running as much as possible. I had to completely stop running for six weeks. It was seriously one of the most depressing times of my life," she added.
Now, the injury is a far memory. With the pain behind her, the 2002 First Team all-SEC selection, all-South Region pick and SEC Athlete of the Week went out and finished her MSU cross country career during the fall and has already posted a better-than-average indoor season. Both times she has competed in the 3000-meter run?€”at Clemson and the Bayou Bengal Invitational hosted by LSU?€”Hodge has won. She also anchored the relay team that finished fifth in the distance medley relay at the Clemson Invitational. Hodge is the school record holder in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:56.02; she set at the 2003 Texas Relays.
"Meggan has battled back from her injury," said Schmidt. "It's really early in her redshirt junior year. We're looking for her to get back to the form that made her First Team all-SEC. She deserves success."
Following this weekend's conference championships, the dynamic trio has their sights set to compete at the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville March 11-12. The gears shift for the women's squad next weekend as State opens its 2005 outdoor season at the FSU Snowbird in Tallahassee, Fla.