It was early in her high-school career that Meghan Sullivan reached a crossroads.
The challenge was what sport to continue — basketball or running?
On the urging of a coach who recognized her potential, Sullivan began a cross-country career for the Herndon Hornets the fall of her sophomore year.
That decision quickly proved the correct one, for a number of reasons.
Now a senior and with her high-school cross country career all but finished, Sullivan became a standout in the sport. This fall she won four races, including district and region championships, then placed fourth in the Virginia High School League Class 6 girls state meet.
Sullivan also broke the 18-minute mark in multiple races.
“I am beyond satisfied with my high-school cross-country career, and I hit all of my goals this [senior] season,” Sullivan said. “If someone told me I would break 20 minutes in a race when I was a sophomore I never would have believed that. I’m very glad I gave cross country a try back then.”
By practicing more and following a serious and challenging training routine, Sullivan vastly improved as a cross-country runner from her sophomore season, when she was limited by a nagging hip injury, to her junior year. As a junior, she won the Liberty District title, finished second in the region and qualified for states.
Sullivan also listened to advice and suggestions offered by former Herndon standout cross-country runner, teammate and former state champion Gillian Bushee, now a runner in the sport for the University of Virginia women’s team.
“She has really helped me with my mindset to trust myself and be confident,” Sullivan told FFXnow.
One of the reasons Sullivan likes cross-country and running is she enjoys practice, something she didn’t nearly as much in basketball.
“I liked the games, but not the practices. In running, I look forward to practicing,” Sullivan said.
At this year’s state meet on the 5,000-meter Oatlands Plantation course in Leesburg, Sullivan ran 18:34. She also broke 18 minutes in a 5K race with a personal-best time of 17:53 at a meet in Winchester.
The 2024 season began for Sullivan on a high note when she won the Monroe Parker Invitational on Sept. 7 on the 2.98-mile Burke Lake Park course in 17:46.
“The Monroe Parker meet gave me confidence and helped set me up for a good season,” Sullivan said.
In a few days, Sullivan will run in the Foot Locker South Regional girls high-school cross-country meet in Charlotte. The top 10 finishers qualify for the Foot Locker national meet.
After that, Sullivan will finish her senior year at Herndon, running on the indoor and outdoor track-and-field teams during the winter and spring.
Next fall, she will become a member of the women’s cross-country and track and field teams at the College of William and Mary.
