“During June, I competed at New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia,” Maggie said. “It is a highly competitive event that you qualify for, and I was lucky enough to compete in the Girls Championship 2000m Steeplechase, representing SCA.” She was invited to Nationals when her time in prior races met the requirements for the event.

Knowing that she would be competing against some of the best long-distance runners in the country, she was anxious at first. “I was nervous before my race, but I overcame it, and the stress went away as soon as the gun went off, as it always does,” she explained. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family, getting to know the city of Philadelphia, and meeting the other runners. “It was cool to be around other athletes that I know have put in so much work to get there, like I had,” she added.

After New Balance, she attended the NIKE Smoky Mountain Running Camp at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Her sister, Chloe ’24, encouraged her to attend the Camp because she had a wonderful experience there as an SCA athlete. “I had so much fun running on trails, meeting new friends, playing games, staying on the UNC Asheville campus, and learning so much more about the sport as a whole,” Maggie said.

Maggie credits the encouragement from the St. Cecilia community for her success. “I would not be able to compete at this level without the support from my coaches, teammates, and friends,” she explained. “I have learned to never give up from all the instances that have tested my determination while at SCA, like hard tests, long weeks, etc.”

She added, “Both experiences were so much fun and helped me to become a better leader and improve in both mental and physical athleticism.”  The NIKE camp is open to athletes of all ages. “I highly recommend it, and it is a great way to make the sport fun,” she shared. “NIKE also offers other sports camps in different locations for those who want to improve their skills in other areas.”

Thank you, Maggie Crosslin, for sharing your summer story with us!