"I think I might want to run."
McKenzi en route to a runner-up finish at her first cross country regional meet.
Stearns said OK, 'Let's talk this summer.'
When summer came, he suggested a 4-mile run to start with cross country season arriving in the fall. But McKenzie shunned the idea.
She said, 'I can't run four miles.'
But fast track less than a year later. Not only can she run several miles non-stop, but McKenzi can run them quite fast.
Over the cross country season, McKenzi became one of Colonial Forge's top runners in her first season of competitive running. She was a runner-up in her district and regional meet and finished 20th in the Group 6A championship. She finished her season with a 19:02 5K PR at NXR Southeast.
McKenzi competing in the 3200 indoors at the 2018 VA Showcase.
She only got better with a few months more of training and as the indoor season rolled around.
She was a district champion in the 1600m and 3200m races and earning All-State honors in the 3200m, with a third place showing in the Group 6A championship.
McKenzi racing the 3200 at the 2018 Brian Watkins Invite. Coach Stearns in the background counting laps.
Setting the stage for Saturday's 3200m run at the Brian Watkins Invitational, a meet which she had only prior attended as a spectator, McKenzi now finds herself in a thrilling race.
It will be a battle with the Group 6A girls 3200m indoor state champ, Yentz of Patriot High and Webb of Woodbridge High.
A story book ending would see McKenzi, the first year runner, winning a race and an event that honors her father.
Ultimately, she had to settle for second-place behind Yentz, but there's no doubt she ran inspired and determined.
She clocked a 6-second PR and automatically qualified for the state meet with a 11:04 performance.
McKenzi ran a 3200 meter personal best of 11:04 on Saturday at the Brian Watkins Invite.
Her running prowess indicates she inherited some great genes from her father, but she believes he would have been more proud watching how she handled defeat.
In prior years, McKenzi would always hand the race winners their custom watches.
McKenzi with Coach Stearns' daughter presenting awards to the 3200 meter race winners from Mountain View High School at the 2012 Brian Watkins Invitational.
However, this year was different as McKenzi was obviously more emotionally invested in trying to win and earn the watch herself.
Having lost, she could have been upset or exhausted and excused herself from the awards presentation during her cool down. They would have been valid reasons, understandable even.
McKenzi presenting the award to the girls 3200 meter race winner Lindsay Yentz at the 2018 Brian Watkins Invitational.
But McKenzi didn't do any of those things. She was gracious and with a big smile presented the watch to Yentz. If someone was not aware of the back story, they might be confused why the race runner-up was giving out an award to the race winner.
Regardless of her finish, though, this race will always be a celebration of her father's life.
A rare photo of Brian Watkins holding his daugter McKenzi. He passed away only 27 days after she was born in October of 2000.
But better yet, McKenzi has one more year to earn a watch.
And there's no doubt we can all celebrate and root for the young lady.
This is surely a race that would mean the world to her dad, and there's no doubt he'll still be watching her run all eight laps from heaven above.