The women’s cross country team is deep with history, tradition and legacy. Over the past couple of decades, the women’s team has put up countless records and Big 12 Championship wins.

 

The 2020 Cyclone women want to continue this legacy going forward.

 

Confidence, selflessness, and sheer determination describe Cyclone runner, Cailie Logue. 

 

“When I first started cross country as a younger kid, it was something I enjoyed but it was also a challenge and it allowed me to have some more confidence in myself. As I’ve grown older through the sport I’ve found out more about life skills and my ability to approach a challenge or work for something over a long period of time,” Cailie Logue said.

 

Logue’s experience as a Cyclone runner has prepared her for life after graduation and has taught her more than her own titles and records ever could. 

 

“It definitely teaches you a lot about life, like taking care of other people and being a part of something larger than yourself,” Logue said.

 

The history of the Cyclone women is deep in championships and banners. The legacy doubles to include the strength and determination of women cross country athletes. 

 

“My teammates inspire me but on a bigger scale. American women’s distance running right now, professionally, is at its peak and is the best its ever been. To watch all of these professional women breaking records and winning medals has been really inspiring,” senior runner Karly Ackley said.

 

After hearing the stories of past Cyclone women go through the program to achieve professional dreams, the current Cyclone team strives to keep the legacy going. 

 

“We came in with a streak of winning Big 12 Championships and making it to the National Championships and being able to continue that while we’ve been here and carrying on the tradition that was set by people that came before us has been really cool,” Ackley said. 

 

The goals that the women strive for include every single one of their Cyclone teammates.

 

“We are all very different but we still all come together. We have many so many different personalities and different backgrounds and situations but we come together to have one big goal,” Ackley said.

 

A pattern throughout the women’s team is confidence and how it plays a role not only in cross country but in real life. This partners with the values and traditions that being an Iowa State Cyclone comes with.

 

“It’s definitely given me a lot of confidence in my life, being able to succeed in this aspect of life gives me confidence in other places,” Ackley said. 

 

“I know for me on a personal note, I’ve had a lot of injuries in the past few years. It’s taught me to keep picking yourself up and keep trying when you’re knocked down,” Ackley said. 

 

The women have stepped up both at the podium and in learning life lessons. Cailie Logue described an experience that taught her what it meant to be a Cyclone runner who was forced to battle adversity.

 

“My freshman year regionals team wasn’t really predicted to make it to Nationals. We were expecting a challenge and we didn’t know if that would be the end of our season or not. We actually came out and won the meet and it was all excitement. There wasn’t any expectation on us as freshmen at that meet but we got to experience pure excitement from our teammates,” Logue said. 

 

So, what does it really mean to be a Cyclone runner? To the women, it means that through the countless records and championships, there is more to learn about each other, one’s self, and life.