Molly McCann '17 Recruiting Profile

My love of running began at seven years old.  I would beg my dad to take me out with him, one day my persistence paid off and that's where my story begins...

Soon after that day I started running in community 5K's and participating in summer track series.  We are fortunate in Tallahassee to have such a strong running community and we have the best running club, Gulf Winds Track Club, and I must give them some credit to my continued success.  In middle school I started tracking my times against college times.  There were certainly highs and lows but I was determined to improve.  Whenever there was doubt or a set back I'd get right back on track.  With that attitude I was quickly able to check off my early goals.  I qualified for state in cross country all three years. Then in seventh grade I was on the 4x8 track team that placed eighth in the state, the first state title in our school's history.  The true highlight of my middle school years was being Captain in eighth grade.  I enjoyed leading the younger girls in their middle school careers and I hope a part of my love and excitement of our sport remains with them today.

Our Middle School Head taught us "Work Hard; Be Nice" and his words stayed with me as I entered high school in the fall of 2013.  The girls Cross Country and Track programs at Maclay School has a combined ten state titles and eight runners up titles.  I knew I would have to "work hard; be nice" to be a member of the varsity team.  That summer I trained with the team and in August I was number two on the varsity team!!  Quickly our team took shape on and off the course; we truly were a team.  We had a great cross country and track season that year.  

My sophomore cross country season was even better, each race I continued to improve and was able to compete in the Foot Locker Regional race where I PR'd and broke the 20 minutes mark in a 5k.  Check off two goals break 20 minutes and compete in a national race. This track season I saw a lot of growth in my mental running.  Although I didn't qualify for state individually I can count this season a success in several ways.

I'm proud of where I am athletically and academically, I know there is always room for improvement and have learned how to balance school, training, and my health.  I feel what sets me apart from other recruits is I have achieved all of this while learning how to live with epilepsy.  I was diagnosed in January 2013.  This was certainly a curve ball I was not expecting.  Many emotions, fears, and thoughts flooded my mind.  Do I have to give up running?  Can my body handle the stress of becoming an elite athlete?  Again, the "work hard" words rang in my mind.  I truly believe I was given this talent and could handle it all.  So, I'm proud to say I'm a runner through and through!!