Q&A Interview with McKenzi Watkins
I understand your dad passed away only a few weeks after you were born. In absence of your dad being in your life growing up, what has the Brian Watkins meet meant to you in remembrance and honoring your day?
It has shown me how great of a person he must have been considering that people such as Bill Stearns have put in so much effort to make the meet happen every year and help people remember his life.
So what ultimately made you decide at last year's meet to consider give running a try this year?
I had always been a soccer player, but last year I had begun to lost interest in soccer. Every year, people (Dave Davis and Bill Stearns) would tell me I was doing the wrong sport, so last year when soccer wasn't an option for me, I thought why not give it a try.
What was it like this year actually competing in the meet and race honoring your dad? Did you feel any extra inspiration or motivation during the race? Was it a very emotional week for you?
It was actually very nerve racking. I had gone through the past few seasons of running thinking that I would be winning my dad's race but then when I heard that I would be racing the state champion I knew I would need to work my but off if I wanted to win. The fact that I was racing in my dad's race really helped me to not doubt myself during the race. I thought about how proud he would have been and it helped me to push myself the whole time. This week was not too emotional but knowing that I was racing in my dad's race made me work extra hard in my practices knowing that I needed to give it all in this race.
How did you feel with the outcome? Second place but running a big PR and automatically qualifying for the state meet.
I was not upset at all about not winning but I was actually very happy with the outcome. I looked at my watch after I had just finished and was shocked at the time. I knew that I had given it my all and I was thankful that Lindsay was there because I am not sure if I would have hit a time like that without having her to compete with.
So most years you are just a spectator handing out the watches, so how different was it this year presenting the award as a fellow competitor?
I was definitely more tired! But at the same time, I was happy for her like I have been for the winners in the past years. She ran an awesome race and helped me to get a time I did not think I was going to get that day.
How surprised have you been about how much you have improved and excelled at running in one year? Last summer, you were telling Stearns that you couldn't even run four miles.
I definitely surprised myself. I went into cross country thinking that I would just be average compared to runners with much more experience and ended up competing with some of the top girls in the state. Bill always gives me goals that I would never think to set for myself (which was at first going on a 4 mile run), so I've been able to surprise myself a lot over the past few months.
Does your mom share any stories of your dad and his running? What are some of your favorite stories?
When my mom and dad would go on long runs at Prince William Forest Park, he would always leave a trail of sticks behind him because he would go too fast for her to keep up with him.
Whenever my dad would finish a run or workout, my mom would ask him how it went and every time he would say "it was great". It always surprised my mom because she didn't understand how something so painful was somehow great. They were both runners, but he truly loved it from what I have heard.
What does it mean to you now to have your teammates and coaches as well as even coaches and runners from other teams rooting and supporting you due to your story and your dad?
It means a lot to me because it makes me feel like what I am doing now isn't only for my own improvement as a runner, but I am also part of helping people to remember who my dad was every time I run a race. This feeling was especially there on Saturday.
Do you think about often what it would be like to have your dad still alive watching you run now or believe he is watching you from above?
Sometimes I think about what it would be like to have him there but I couldn't be more thankful for my friends and family who continue to support me every time I run now. I do believe that he is watching me in every race and I feel like it makes him very happy to see that I chose to dedicate a huge part of my life to something he loved so much.
The obvious question is what it would mean to you next year to win the Brian Watkins Invitational 3200 as a senior? Possibly mean more to you than a state title?
Winning that race next year would mean more to me than winning a state title because it would not only be something representing me but I would be able to show my hard work and honor the life of my dad at the same time. I wouldn't be able to do that as much by winning a state title.