Outdoor outlet leads to special collegiate experience

Emily Chicoine and running are about as well matched as two peas in a pod.

"Ever since I started being competitive in cross country and track and field, it has been something I've very much enjoyed," she reflected. "Just being out running is a great way to get my energy out. It's always been an outlet."

Chicoine's track resume includes Iowa Girls High School Athletic Association state track and field appearances for South O'Brien and a collegiate competition career with three All-Great Plains Athletic Conference awards and a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American honor.

"It's funny, but overall, I thrive the most in outdoor track meets," she admitted. "I enjoy cross country and the indoor season, but I have the most drops in my times when we go outside."

She's hoping that trend continues this week at the 2022 NAIA Championships. She's scheduled to make her second appearance with the 4x800 meter relay team that includes the senior trio of Emalee Fundermann (Anthon, Iowa), Jo McKibben (Mapleton, Iowa), and Tenna Beel (Stanton, Neb.). Her first outing on the relay at nationals saw her and her teammates end fifth.

"I was so fortunate to have (head) Coach (Dave) Nash see my breakthrough races last year and then have the same thing happen this season," Emily noted. "My 400 and 800 times both have seen strong drops, so I found myself as one of the four-fastest 800 runners and got a spot on the relay."

"The chance to run with this group has been great," she added. "We're all so supportive of each other. We feel like, going into nationals, we have a chance to drop our time even lower, so we've been building each other up for that in practices and late-season meets."

Chicoine continued that her upperclasswoman teammates provide more than just verbal support.

"I'm just comfortable with them," she said. "They project such a good environment with great leadership. I'll be thinking about it as we move forward into the future with a new coach and new athletes coming on to the team, as I'll want to have the same outlook and understanding."

"It'll be a big job, not just for me, but all of the returners to fill the shoes of this senior class leadership-wise," Emily added. "I think we are all ready to do so based on what we have learned from them."

Her head coach has added to Chicoine's confidence in the future role.

"We've all been able to see how much he cares for everyone, which goes beyond our competition results," she noted. "He has taken time out with so many of us to build us up on and off the track and cross country course. We can take that mindset and carry it on with the new classes down the road."