With each year Madison Thurston has run cross country at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, she has set her personal best time. It was the case again at a recent meet in Joplin, Mo.
Running a 5K course, Thurston finished it in 19:20, breaking another personal best
“That’s probably my fifth or sixth time I broke 20 (minutes) last season, and then this year, we’ve had two races so far and my first race was a 19:33 and then the most recent was 19:20,” Thurston said. “I’m fortunate to say that every year I’ve gotten faster times and faster (personal best), so I’ve definitely enjoyed being here because it’s showed me how much more I can progress every year and get faster.”
Originally from Kaufman, Texas, this is Thurston’s third year to run at UAFS. Though she is a junior in terms of eligibility, she’s a senior on the academic side of things, and plans to graduate this spring with a degree in biology, so this means Thurston is finishing her running career this fall.
“This season is my best season yet, so I’m really enjoying it and I’m excited to see what else I can do the rest of the season,” she said. “We have a great team here with some really sweet girls, so I look forward to showing up every day for practice because I enjoy our time together.”
Thurston carries over the positive approach she has with her teammates over to running the course.
“I would say it all begins with the mentality that you have,” she said. “I think if you have a positive mentality going into the race, then you think positive throughout the race.
“I mean, of course every course is different, but when you go in there with the game plan and the mindset that you’re fully capable of succeeding, then I think that’s when the numbers and your times start to show.”
Last season, Thurston’s personal best on a 5K course was a 19:46.2 at Rogers State University in Claremore, Okla. Her personal best on a 6K was 23:32.5 at the NCAA Division II Central Regional in Joplin, Mo., the same course Thurston achieved her latest personal best time in the 5K.
“That was my favorite memory, just because it was a happy experience to have all of our team together looking for the same goal of finishing the season strong, so I would say I enjoyed that race,” Thurston said. “Plus, we’ve run that course multiple times, so we start to get used to it and it feels comfortable, so I would say that was my favorite race.”
And Thurston definitely has no regrets about choosing to run for UAFS.
“I love the campus,” she said. “I thought it was a really beautiful campus and I felt like I could get around here; I could learn to walk to class and stuff. And also I got to meet some professors. I’m a part of the biology program here, so getting to meet some of them, it got me interested and I like how personable they are. So I just really thought that this place would be a great fit for me and I’m happy to say that it has been so far.”
Thurston has equally been satisfied with her coach, Mason Rhodes, a former UAFS runner.
“He’s willing to listen to us and if we need to change something depending on how we feel, he’s open for anything,” Thurston said of Rhodes. “So it’s been great to have him as a coach.”
Thurston also played four seasons of volleyball in high school along with cross country, but preferred the latter sport more. She also likes the solitude running provides.
“I just love how quiet and peaceful it can be sometimes when you’re out there and you’re not thinking about other things,” Thurston said. “It’s just how your body moves and how awesome it is that you get to do these things, and I think it just feels really rewarding when you start to see the numbers fall into place.”
Speaking of numbers, Thurston’s next goal before she concludes her UAFS running career is to finish a race in less than 19 minutes.
“It’s very scary to think about life after being a college athlete, but I’ve definitely enjoyed the opportunities I’ve had so far, so I’m gonna keep having a positive mindset and never take for granted the opportunity I’ve been given,” Thurston said. “So I’m trying not to think of it because I know it will be bittersweet when it ends.”