Mustangs senior highly anticipating final season

Jo McKibben has a plan for post-graduate life.

Right now, though, she is taking one day at a time as slow as the minutes and seconds that pass by allow her to which includes the annual Morningside University Invitational Friday, Sept. 17. The Mapleton, Iowa native, and Morningside University cross country and track and field standout had a chance occur from the COVID-19 pandemic – not something many would look at positively.

"I get to have practices and compete and be around my best friend and so many other awesome teammates who came back for another year due to the NAIA allowing it with the pandemic," she said. "To have (senior) Emalee (Fundermann, her best friend) with me along with Zach Ambrose, Kristine Honomichl, Ro Paschal, Betsy Ridout – the list goes on. We have such an awesome family in cross country and track and field."

"I am truly cherishing every day I get this season with coach Nash and everyone," she added.

However, McKibben also understands that not everyone returned is back from the 2020-21 squads, and her responsibilities have continued to increase.

"Losing someone like (graduated senior and now assistant coach) Payton (Boer) with so much experience and the know-how of leadership is tough to take, but it enables others of us to have the new opportunity to step forward and guide the teams," she admitted. "We have a great returning group on each team, so I feel like we will get the job done in being leaders vocally and by example." 

"I'm a good example of that," she added. "When I got here, cross country had never been something I'd done. Coach Nash wanted me to try it, and after a while, I liked it. I still need the mentorship of others who have been in the sport longer, though. I tend to go out too fast at times, as I'm a sprinter at heart. My teammates have patiently taught me to understand the pace of the course, which I'm still working at. I see a lot of what I was like coming in with the newcomers this fall. They are so much fun to be around, though, and we are coming together."

Once her competition and collegiate career wind down, McKibben has big plans for that future, as mentioned earlier.

"I've always wanted to find a field where I could help others," she said. "I feel like where I am now – going for a master's in health and wellness/nutrition to aid diabetic patients and get them a healthy lifestyle plan – is where I fit. I know COVID affected that portion of the population immensely, so I want to be there to help assist those individuals after graduate school."

Ready to pour her heart into each day … just like she is on her final collegiate athletics' and overall experience go-around.