Heike McNeil has been the coach of the NCU cross country team for 11 years. She is the three-time defending CCC Coach of the Year and was named the NAIA Coach of the Year in 2015. Here are some of her thoughts upon returning from the 2016 NAIA Cross Country National Championship race.
When I had to make the decision to stop running competitively almost 2 years ago I thought I had said forever goodbye to the crazy emotions of winning and losing. I have done a lot of winning and losing in my life – but little did I know how much harder this would hit me as a coach. I can honestly say that I was utterly unprepared for what happened two days ago at our NAIA cross country national meet.
I just watched a group of young women go through a very challenging season. Having won the national title in 2015, we were ranked #1 throughout the entire season. When looking at our race results it seemed like our season was so perfect – but in reality the obstacles we hit seemed insurmountable so many times. We were learning about the importance of TEAM – as it seemed like every race someone else stepped up and filled in for a teammate that was struggling in one way or the other.
In the end, by the grace of God - and with the help of Liz Flom and Stacy Graves, we pulled it all together and had eight women and two men who were healthy, ready and eager to race travel to Illinois to do their best one more time – since a big part of this group of exceptional athletes were seniors. We had sacrificed so much, worked so hard and prepared so carefully.
On race day things started to go wrong - and everything that went wrong was completely out of our control. There was absolutely NOTHING that we could have done differently in our preparation, absolutely no way we could have run any harder. I am incredibly proud of every single athlete and of how they competed and gave their very best for that day.
During the season, we had talked about how giving your best every day is all that is ever asked of us. We had also talked about how there are so many things that are more important than winning. At the beginning of our season, we set core values that help us grow as a team, as a person, and in our faith in Christ. And yet when we weren't able to defend our national title and took second place - it felt AWFUL nevertheless! It just really, really stung.
For a couple of days I couldn't even look at media let alone social media at all – because I wanted to avoid reading about that championship. In those days I faked a lot of smiles, shook a lot of hands and gave hugs to people that were congratulating me on being the 'runner up' team – when I didn't feel like celebrating at all.
At first I wasn't sure why I felt like this. I just couldn't be excited that we had placed second despite having our top runner come down with the flu - among other things. I had certainly hoped that I would stand up and proclaim that winning wasn't the most important thing anyway and that we were more excited about the things we had learned along the way, the process we had enjoyed. But I guess in the end I'm just human – and a very competitive athlete at heart.
It hurt because this title was going to be the crown jewel of a truly exceptional class of seniors, a group of unbelievably dedicated athletes. The University of British Columbia was the better team on that day – and so they deserved to take that trophy and that banner home. But – right or wrong – it IS in the nature of the competitive athlete not to settle and not to be satisfied when you know it could have been better. This is what drives us as athletes to BE better, to prepare better, and to run faster.
So ….. I really needed a couple of days - and as the tears are starting to dry up, I can see some of the things that we are taking away from this season that we will all cherish forever. The friendships that were built that already lasted through hardship, the relationships that were formed that will last a lifetime – and a legacy that was built by a group of young, dedicated and amazing women that is certain to outlive them. A legacy where each and every teammate became a better steward of her gift of running because of being on this team. A legacy where hard work and dedication have paved the way to success, a legacy where every young lady on this team gained direction in her life as she followed Christ during this season and drew closer to Him through this crazy experience. A legacy that will be passed down through the hearts of all of those who have been impacted by this amazing team (this includes EVERY team member of the women's AND men's teams). This legacy cannot be destroyed and it is a unique gift.
I will always remember this team for the unconditional love they constantly showed for each other, for their faith in Christ, and for their perseverance through this season. It is because of them that I am reminded of what a privilege it is to be part of a Christ centered school such as NCU, to have such amazing support from our entire NCU community. And last but not least, it is because of them that very soon when someone congratulates me on being runner-up I will actually be able to smile genuinely and know that just because I was a part of this team's amazing season I won more than any trophy or a banner can ever be.
Thank you to everyone that ran their heart out all season, to all NCU faculty and staff, parents, NCU students, the NCU softball team and to anyone that was a part of an incredible season! (and let's get that banner next time!)
