Jamestown鈥檚 Meghan Ford set for another impressive year to finish high school career
JAMESTOWN, N.D. (BVM) — In seventh grade, Meghan Ford made a decision to go out for the cross country team at Jamestown High School.
鈥淢y brother used to run,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淚 was going into seventh grade and all the people on the team were trying to convince me to run.鈥澛犅�
The effect it had on Ford was instant.
鈥淚 went to practice for like two days and then quit all my other sports,鈥� Ford said.
Ford never expected to be where she is today entering her senior year of high school.
鈥淚鈥檝e been shocked by everything that has happened in the last couple of years,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淭hree years ago, I wouldn鈥檛 have expected the accomplishments. I wanted to win state, maybe senior year or qualify for nationals, not get All-American. That wasn鈥檛 even on my mind. Sophomore year was kind of an eye-opener for me.鈥�
Leading into her sophomore year of cross country, she was already coming off a track season where she won state in the 1600-meter run, took second in the 3200-meter race and third in the 800-meter run as a freshman.
Then as a sophomore, Ford won the individual NDHSAA Class A cross country state championship. She also won the Western Dakota Association championship, the Devils Lake Invitational, the Blue-White Invitational and the Andrew Carlson Distance Challenge. She took 16th at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional Championships and 17th at the Nike Cross Nationals Heartland Regional championships.聽
To cap off her season, she was named the 2019 Gatorade North Dakota Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. Then came her spring track season where Ford repeated as the 1600-meter state champion, won the 3200-meter run, and took fourth in the 800-meter.
鈥淚 started setting really big goals for myself,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淚 mean, I鈥檝e blown away my expectations already so I feel like the sky’s the limit. 鈥� I just really enjoy pushing myself; it’s so rewarding.鈥�
That mentality followed her into her junior year. In the fall of 2019, Ford repeated as both the state champion in cross country and as the Gatorade North Dakota Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. However, she would add a new accomplishment when she was named an All-American.聽
At the 2019 Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) in Portland, Ore., Ford finished 21st, earning her the final spot for receiving All-American status.
Heading into the track season, Ford was ready to go for a three-peat in the 1600, defend her title in the 3200 and finally get a championship in the 800. Unfortunately that wouldn鈥檛 be possible as all high school spring sports were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been hard to do workouts alone,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淚t’s just not as fun without your team. It’s not the same. I鈥檓 definitely not going to take it for granted anymore.鈥�
Even without the track season, Ford鈥檚 impressive rise to the upper echelon of high school runners has not gone unnoticed.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of people around the Dakotas that see my times and watch me race,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淭hey go to my meets and cheer me on that I don鈥檛 even know who they are.鈥�
She still can鈥檛 believe it, but appreciates all those who have cheered her on and is humbled by it.
Colleges have also taken notice, and although she hasn鈥檛 made a decision yet, Ford will have plenty of high-quality programs to choose from when she does finally make her decision.
As for her final year of high school, Ford is still pushing herself to do even better than she did last year.
鈥淚 want to get top 5 at NXN,鈥� Ford said.
As well as continue her string of state championships in both cross country and track. Regardless, as Ford said, 鈥渟ky鈥檚 the limit.鈥� Everyone will just have to pay attention to see just how high she鈥檒l go.
