Editor’s Note: Riley McMahon’s state performance will be chronicled in Friday’s Westine Report, which can be picked up at Union Grove area businesses.
By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
To the four runners on the Waukesha West cross country team – you just made the list.
That was Union Grove senior cross country runner Riley McMahon’s reaction when the Waukesha West runners passed her in the final 200 meters of a WIAA Division 1 sectional cross country meet in Mukwonago Saturday, Oct. 22.
Despite finishing behind the Waukesha West runners, McMahon still qualified for the WIAA Division 1 State Championship in Wisconsin Rapids with a time of 20:55.11 – nearly 40 seconds better than her state-qualifying time last season.
While McMahon was excited to compete in the state championship tomorrow afternoon, the memory of the Waukesha West runners still bothers her days after the race.
“I got beat out by the four Waukesha West girls the last 200 meters at sectionals, and I want revenge,” McMahon said. “They beat me, so now I want to beat them at state. It’s not much fun if you are competing and don’t accomplish anything.”
McMahon’s competitive nature is something that her track and field and cross country co-coach Mike Mikula has enjoyed watching.
“Riley is quiet, but when you talk to her one-on-one you get the competitor out,” Mikula said. “There are three school track records in the 800, 1600, and two mile events that she has already decided she wants to break next spring.”
McMahon has parlayed her raw competitive edge into two consecutive trips to the state cross country championship, a state tournament appearance in 800 and 1600 meter events at the state track and field championships last spring, and a commitment to Murray State in Kentucky.
Humble beginnings
Not a bad resume for an athlete who took up running her freshman year in high school simply to stay in shape and make friends.
“I started running my freshman year just so I wouldn’t be a couch potato,” McMahon said. “I also thought it would be a good way to meet new people and make friends.”
McMahon accomplished both goals quickly, but at a cost of a nagging shin splint injury that plagued her for parts of her freshman and sophomore seasons as a varsity runner.
“Shin splits as a freshman and sophomore limited the number of competitions for me, and left me as a low level varsity runner,” McMahon said. “I wasn’t nearly as competitive my first two years because of the injuries, but those injuries also helped me become much more competitive by my junior season.”
McMahon indeed was a different athlete by her junior year, qualifying for state in cross country and track.
“I have had the great opportunity to see Riley grow as a runner from her freshmen year, and she truly amazes me with how far she has come and how hard she works,” Union Grove cross country co-coach Tammy Rhody said. “I thought she hit her peak in her junior season, but this year she came out faster and better than ever. I love that Riley knows her body and all that it can handle. Every time we do an interval or pace workout, she is right on and knows how to maintain, and what we as coaches are trying to achieve.”
Now as a senior, McMahon is as competitive as ever heading into her final cross country meet.
“I’m really excited to run my last cross country race in high school and make the best of it,” McMahon said. “I get to spend this weekend with my friends and enjoy running in Wisconsin Rapids.”
A state championship race in front of friends is certainly a fun way to conclude a special high school career.
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