Grad student Margaret Coogan leads George Washington to their first perfect score in program history
WASHINGTON — Grad student Margaret Coogan has started her final season as a Colonial off with a bang, leading George Washington University to their first ever perfect score in women鈥檚 cross country.
All of the top five finishers in the Mount St. Mary鈥檚 5K Duals were GW runners, completing their first perfect match behind a stunning 18:33.8, 1st place finish from Coogan.
Following her victory, Coogan emphasized the team nature of cross country as a team sport, despite its individual aspects.
鈥淚 always say the best part of being a student-athlete, and being an athlete in general, is competing with your teammates and getting to run alongside them, especially in cross country.鈥� Coogan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the most rewarding feeling ever鈥� Nothing beats winning as a team and having your teammates beside you.鈥�
Following COVID-19 constricting last season鈥檚 track and cross country schedule into one spring semester, she was eager to have one last season on campus with the team. George Washington was one of the few U.S. universities to not have a full return to campus this past spring, adding to the changes in daily life that the team faced during the pandemic.
Thankfully for Coogan, the NCAA extended eligibility for student-athletes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淚 almost didn鈥檛 feel like my time was up,鈥� Coogan said. 鈥淚 was just so happy to be able to come back; I didn鈥檛 get to live through a normal college career because of COVID. I think for all student athletes, it’s especially important that we are able to come back for this extra year.鈥�
In her five seasons running cross country in the buff and blue, Coogan has been a steady force for George Washington.
In both the 2019-20 and the 2020-21 edition of Atlantic-10 Championship, Coogan finished in fifth place. Additionally, she has impressed on the track as a star steeplechase runner, setting a George Washington University record at Charm City Last Chance this past May.
With a history of success entering her final season, there are a lot of expectations for Coogan and her team entering the 2021-22 season. From fans, from coaches, but most importantly from themselves.
鈥淭here鈥檚 added pressure, but I wouldn鈥檛 say it鈥檚 pressure for something that鈥檚 unrealistic or unachievable,鈥� Coogan said. 鈥淚 think we put the pressure on ourselves more so than anyone else does.鈥�
If the Mount St. Mary鈥檚 5k Duals showed anything, it was that George Washington is up to the challenge.
All the top six finishers were Colonial runners, and their seventh runner finished ninth, dominating the seven team race.
However, in spite of the promising start, Coogan knows there鈥檚 a long season ahead of her before the A-10 Championships on Oct. 30.
鈥淚t was the first race so I鈥檓 trying to stay levelheaded about it. Cross country is a really long and awesome and exciting season.鈥�
Her season will continue when George Washington heads to the JMU Invitational on Friday, Sept. 17th.
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