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 True cross country fans know our sport is more of a team event than most outsiders realize, yet there are plenty of individual standouts as well.  So, while honoring the tradition we have started at DyeStat with Interval Sessions, which introduced you to the top individuals in both track and XC, we launch Fall 2009 with "Star Squad Spotlight," giving you a chance to get to know not just the top individual runners in the country, but also the best teams.

 star | megan ferowich
11.26.09
by Dave Devine, DyeStat Senior Editor

Precocious Knoxville Catholic TN sophomore Megan Ferowich has never met or competed against 2006 Foot Locker champion and former Tennessee standout Kathy Kroeger, but she's been hearing her name quite a bit this year.  It's somewhat inevitable when you start tearing up Volunteer State courses and competition the way Ferowich has this fall.  In just her first year of cross country, the former soccer player has parlayed a promising freshman track season into a sterling autumn cross country campaign.  As a ninth grader, Ferowich won Tennessee State AA-A titles in the 1600 and 3200, was runner-up in the 800, and then capped the season with a pair of 5:01 mile efforts at the Music City Distance Carnival and the Nike Outdoor Nationals Freshman Mile, both of which she won. 

After making the difficult decision to hang up the cleats and lace up the spikes, she steadily worked her way down to low 18-minute marks throughout the fall before dropping a 17:47.76 in the Tennessee AAA State Meet, winning by a margin of 1:29.  If that didn't garner attention and make her a contender in most people's minds for a berth to San Diego from this coming weekend's Foot Locker South Regional, the fact that she recently blazed a 10:26 3200 at the Knoxville Track Club Post-season Time Trial should do the trick.

DyeStat senior editor Dave Devine catches up with a rising Tennessee star who is just beginning to realize her full potential.


1) Congrats on a great cross country season so far.  Let's talk about the Tennessee State Meet first-- were you surprised at how fast you covered the course and your margin of victory?  Was it a matter of simply taking off from the gun and never looking back?  And how did it feel when you crossed the line and realized you'd run 17:47?

Thank you; I wasn't too surprised because I had just run 18:02 on a hilly course for the Regional race. I went out fast, took the lead and kept it the entire time. It felt great finishing with a 17:47, but I am not satisfied yet-- I want to go faster.

2) I know this is your first season of cross country, after playing soccer as a ninth grader.  Has your success surprised you, or did some of your accomplishments on the track last spring make you think, Hey I could be pretty good at this?  Even still, cross country is different from track in many respects; what things have you found you like about cross country now that you've gone through most of the season, and are there things you've found particularly challenging?

After running track, I knew that I would do pretty well in cross country; I was, and am still, excited to see just how well I can do. I love the races where I get to run completely in the woods, but its much harder in cross country when it rains than it is in track.

3) It's kind of inevitable that any promising female runner in Tennessee with fast marks in cross country ends up being compared to 3-time Foot Locker finalist Kathy Kroeger.  Is that a name you've heard or seen mentioned as you've run through this season, and what do you do with that kind of comparison? Is Kathy someone you've met or ever had a chance to speak with?

I've been keeping up with Kathy Kroeger's success through my coach since last track season. I always ask him questions like, "What did Kathy Kroeger run in this race?" Although I want to, I have not met her yet. I was supposed to race against her in the 2 mile last season, but I found out just before the race that she was not there. I'm honored to be compared to her and I am doing my best to live up to the comparison.

4) I understand you're planning to run Foot Locker South this weekend, for the first time.  Have you heard much about the course in North Carolina, or spent any time checking out who your top competition might be? Are you someone who pays attention to the "national running scene," or are you more likely to kind of do your thing and race whoever shows up?

I have heard Foot Locker South is a fast course. I don't know who is going to be there; I just plan on running my hardest no matter what. I never really look up who I will be racing against, I just ask my coach a couple days before if there is anyone in particular I should know of. I try to just worry about myself and not get caught up in a bunch of times.

5) As you prepared for this year's cross country season, I'm guessing you put in your first real summer of training (at least specifically for running).  What did your summer look like, in terms of mileage and preparation?  Do you have any favorite runs or workouts that have helped you reach this level?  And are there specific things you've worked on with Coach O'Neil to help you make the jump from soccer player to distance runner?

Yes, this was my first real summer of training specifically for running. I ran at State on May 20 and 21, and then Nike Nationals on June 28th. After that, I took 2 weeks off, and then slowly got back into running. I ran around mid-200s total, in terms of miles. My favorite workouts are 400s because they challenge me-- I know they will be hard, and they will make me better.  I also like Mile repeats. Coach O'Neil has helped me in many ways, especially with my form.

6) I know you won the Nike Outdoor National Freshman Mile last June.  Can you describe the experience and maybe the confidence it gave you heading into your sophomore year?  Was that your first opportunity to really race on a national level?

The Nike National race last summer was my first national race, and it is a race I will never forget. I knew the race would go out fast, and I knew I didn't want to lose. It was especially tough because we ran in the afternoon and it was just over 100 degrees. Winning the race has given me more confidence now, post-season, because I know that I can compete and win nationally.

7) Was it difficult to give up soccer to pursue cross country this year, or was that a decision you were ready to make after the success from last year's track season?  I read you also play basketball-- is that something you plan to continue?  I heard you also pitched for a boy's baseball team at one point?

It was very difficult to give up soccer, because I have been playing for over 8 years and I love it, but I know I am much better at running than playing soccer. I remember a coach once telling me that I looked like a cross country runner out on the soccer field. I also have given up playing basketball for my school. I will definitely miss that as well. Haha, I don't know how you found out, but yes, I did play baseball on a boys team in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, and the 2nd year I mainly pitched. I have always loved playing sports; I even used to play football with my brother and some neighbors.

8) It's pretty hard to excel in a sport like cross country or track, especially when you have aspirations for national-level meets, without a support structure around you.  Can you talk about the people who might serve as that support structure for you?  Maybe family or coaches who've helped you get to this point, and what that's meant for you?


I have had so many people support me throughout all of my sports, especially running. My family, my teammates, people from my school, and many coaches have supported me. Even friends from my Church have traveled a few hours and then cheered me on at my race.

There are also people I don't know, some of which know me and some don't, that cheer me on during races. All of these people are a tremendous help, I appreciate them so much, and I want to thank them for everything they have done for me.


Photos (from top) - Headshot and bottom photo, Donna Dye at 2009 NON; middle two photos submitted by Megan Ferowich 
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