Osawatomie cross country runner Kelccey Medina recently signed a letter of intent to run for Ottawa University. During the signing ceremony, she was flanked by (left to right) her mother, Coleen; Kirk Wren, Ottawa cross country head coach; and her father, Mike. (Submitted Photo)
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Medina Signs Letter To Run For Ottawa
Senior Enjoys Unexpected Opportunity To Run Cross Country In College
By Dustin Kass, dustinKass@miconews.com
It was an unexpected result, at least in Kelccey Medina’s mind.
She only ran cross country during her final two years at Osawatomie High School, and a bout of mononucleosis hampered her during her senior campaign.
Still, she was the center of attention recently when she signed a letter of intent to run cross country for Ottawa University.
“I actually didn’t expect this,” Medina said, mentioning that she had been unhappy with the times she posted last fall.
Medina, like so many high school athletes, had high hopes for her senior year.
She enjoyed some success running for the Trojans in the fall of 2006, which was her first year on the cross country team after making the shift from playing volleyball. She hoped to build on that experience in her final year at Osawatomie.
Then, the mono struck. Mononucleosis is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and one of its most obvious, and well-known, effects is constant fatigue. It’s not an element of cross country success, and Medina battled its effects all season, coach Amber Campbell said.
“Kelccey was not pleased with her times this season,” Campbell said. “She really had to fight her way back.”
Medina’s drive to run despite the illness illustrates why she will be an asset to Ottawa, Campbell said.
“She’s extremely dedicated and worked very hard,” Campbell said. “We’re excited for her to go to the next level.”
Medina chose to attend Ottawa because she really liked the school, she said. The fact that her dad, Mike, is an alumnus also helped. Once on campus, she plans to major in recreation administration.
“I’m just really excited about all of this,” Medina said.
She is the daughter of Mike and Coleen Medina of Osawatomie.
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She only ran cross country during her final two years at Osawatomie High School, and a bout of mononucleosis hampered her during her senior campaign.
Still, she was the center of attention recently when she signed a letter of intent to run cross country for Ottawa University.
“I actually didn’t expect this,” Medina said, mentioning that she had been unhappy with the times she posted last fall.
Medina, like so many high school athletes, had high hopes for her senior year.
She enjoyed some success running for the Trojans in the fall of 2006, which was her first year on the cross country team after making the shift from playing volleyball. She hoped to build on that experience in her final year at Osawatomie.
Then, the mono struck. Mononucleosis is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, and one of its most obvious, and well-known, effects is constant fatigue. It’s not an element of cross country success, and Medina battled its effects all season, coach Amber Campbell said.
“Kelccey was not pleased with her times this season,” Campbell said. “She really had to fight her way back.”
Medina’s drive to run despite the illness illustrates why she will be an asset to Ottawa, Campbell said.
“She’s extremely dedicated and worked very hard,” Campbell said. “We’re excited for her to go to the next level.”
Medina chose to attend Ottawa because she really liked the school, she said. The fact that her dad, Mike, is an alumnus also helped. Once on campus, she plans to major in recreation administration.
“I’m just really excited about all of this,” Medina said.
She is the daughter of Mike and Coleen Medina of Osawatomie.