Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
From Long Distance to Sprints, Ramsay Evolving Into Team Leader
2/1/2019 10:47:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
McKenna Ramsay has used her long-distance experience to aid in her ability as a sprinter for the Bobcat track and field team
McKenna Ramsay started her track and field career as a distance runner. Coming from an athletic background, her father competed in cycling while her mother was an avid runner, Ramsay competed in cross country and long-distance running at a young age. As she got older, she started to think she might be built for sprint events.
Once she got to Summit High School in Dillon, Colo., Ramsay became a force in mid-distance races. She experienced immediate success. As a freshman, she set high school records in the 200, 400, and 800. She also participated on the school record relay teams in the 4x400 and 4x800.
"I started out as a distance runner when I was really young," said Ramsay. "I've always had some natural speed and that always helped coming into track season. I like sprinting a little bit better and I seem to be a little bit better naturally at it."
After high school, Ramsay found Bozeman to be the perfect place to continue her career as a student-athlete. The area is similar to her hometown and she thought of the track team as a fit for her talent level and as a program that could push her to be the best athlete she could be. At MSU, Ramsay studies interior design and photography.
Ramsay's natural athleticism was displayed early in college. Her freshman year, Ramsay participated on the fastest 4x400 relay in school history clocking in at 3:40.28. The time was good for the silver medal at the Big Sky Championships.
"Freshman year really flew by," said Ramsay. "I think I kind of took that relay for granted a little bit. That was what I was thrown into so, I thought that was kind of (normal) to have people that fast and have that great of a relay team. I was a little nervous and wanted to do my part for the relay because I knew the rest of them would all pull their weight."
Now a junior, Ramsay primarily runs the 200, 400 and 4x400 relay for MSU. In addition to her record relay team, she has the fourth fastest time in the outdoor 400 (54.84) to go along with two other program all-time top 10 relay marks. She has the eighth fastest indoor 400 (55.30), ninth fastest time for the indoor 200 (24.83) and is a member of five different relays that have completed top 10 times in school history.
Ramsay appreciates participating in the relays because of the different sense of energy there is from individual races. Closing out the meet, the relay can be the deciding factor if the teams are close enough. Relays are also more of a team race than her individual races. Your team and relay mates are relying on you to succeed in your split. Her sprint coach, Jay Turner credits her success to her competitive nature.
"I think (her competitive drive will) take her a long way," said Turner. "To be successful in this sport, pretty much any sport, you've got to have that drive. I think a lot of kids when they come to this level, they don't realize the type of commitment and sacrifice you have to make. So, for someone like her to have that kind of heart, it helps her a lot."
That competitive nature has been one of the major reasons for Ramsay's success. Turner credits her as being one of the Bobcat team leaders. She often trains with the freshmen, showing them the rigors of collegiate training and college life off the track.
Despite her success as a relay member and the integral role she takes on the team, The 400 is still the race closest to Ramsay's heart. The race crosses her cross-county background with her sprinting ability. The 400 is also a race Ramsay can display her competitive drive.
"The 400, there's a lot more strategy to it than you'd think there would be," said Ramsay. "Coach Jay's been driving into us this year, 'you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.'. That race is not comfortable at any point and you have to dig deep to make sure you're running what you need to be."
Looking ahead, Ramsay wants to get on the podium at the Big Sky Conference Championship for the 400. She currently has the third fastest time in the conference at 56.95 seconds to go with her third-fastest time in the Big Sky in the 200 at 24.92 seconds. Turner and Ramsay both expect her to get faster as the season goes on. The two have been focused on her explosiveness, with Ramsay even running a 60-meter at the beginning of the year.
Ramsay and the Montana State track and field team returns to competition on Friday, Feb. 8. MSU hosts its second dual invitational of the season with the first event starting at 2:30 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
Once she got to Summit High School in Dillon, Colo., Ramsay became a force in mid-distance races. She experienced immediate success. As a freshman, she set high school records in the 200, 400, and 800. She also participated on the school record relay teams in the 4x400 and 4x800.
"I started out as a distance runner when I was really young," said Ramsay. "I've always had some natural speed and that always helped coming into track season. I like sprinting a little bit better and I seem to be a little bit better naturally at it."
After high school, Ramsay found Bozeman to be the perfect place to continue her career as a student-athlete. The area is similar to her hometown and she thought of the track team as a fit for her talent level and as a program that could push her to be the best athlete she could be. At MSU, Ramsay studies interior design and photography.
Ramsay's natural athleticism was displayed early in college. Her freshman year, Ramsay participated on the fastest 4x400 relay in school history clocking in at 3:40.28. The time was good for the silver medal at the Big Sky Championships.
"Freshman year really flew by," said Ramsay. "I think I kind of took that relay for granted a little bit. That was what I was thrown into so, I thought that was kind of (normal) to have people that fast and have that great of a relay team. I was a little nervous and wanted to do my part for the relay because I knew the rest of them would all pull their weight."
Now a junior, Ramsay primarily runs the 200, 400 and 4x400 relay for MSU. In addition to her record relay team, she has the fourth fastest time in the outdoor 400 (54.84) to go along with two other program all-time top 10 relay marks. She has the eighth fastest indoor 400 (55.30), ninth fastest time for the indoor 200 (24.83) and is a member of five different relays that have completed top 10 times in school history.
Ramsay appreciates participating in the relays because of the different sense of energy there is from individual races. Closing out the meet, the relay can be the deciding factor if the teams are close enough. Relays are also more of a team race than her individual races. Your team and relay mates are relying on you to succeed in your split. Her sprint coach, Jay Turner credits her success to her competitive nature.
"I think (her competitive drive will) take her a long way," said Turner. "To be successful in this sport, pretty much any sport, you've got to have that drive. I think a lot of kids when they come to this level, they don't realize the type of commitment and sacrifice you have to make. So, for someone like her to have that kind of heart, it helps her a lot."
That competitive nature has been one of the major reasons for Ramsay's success. Turner credits her as being one of the Bobcat team leaders. She often trains with the freshmen, showing them the rigors of collegiate training and college life off the track.
Despite her success as a relay member and the integral role she takes on the team, The 400 is still the race closest to Ramsay's heart. The race crosses her cross-county background with her sprinting ability. The 400 is also a race Ramsay can display her competitive drive.
"The 400, there's a lot more strategy to it than you'd think there would be," said Ramsay. "Coach Jay's been driving into us this year, 'you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.'. That race is not comfortable at any point and you have to dig deep to make sure you're running what you need to be."
Looking ahead, Ramsay wants to get on the podium at the Big Sky Conference Championship for the 400. She currently has the third fastest time in the conference at 56.95 seconds to go with her third-fastest time in the Big Sky in the 200 at 24.92 seconds. Turner and Ramsay both expect her to get faster as the season goes on. The two have been focused on her explosiveness, with Ramsay even running a 60-meter at the beginning of the year.
Ramsay and the Montana State track and field team returns to competition on Friday, Feb. 8. MSU hosts its second dual invitational of the season with the first event starting at 2:30 p.m. in Worthington Arena.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field2022 Big Sky Outdoor Championships
Monday, May 16
Track and Field Big Sky Championships
Monday, February 18
Coach Kennedy - Feb. 11, 2013
Tuesday, February 12
Coach Kennedy - Feb. 4, 2013
Tuesday, February 05
