Photo by: Dawson Ahrenstorff
Macy White Makes Splash Following Year of Training at MSU
2/12/2021 4:26:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
While her first year at Montana State was spent mainly focusing on technique and development, freshman Macy White has already put together a big-time performance in her first official appearance as a Bobcat in her second year in Bozeman
Macy White made her mark in the Montana State track and field record book in her first official appearance as a Bobcat a week ago. That performance just happened a year after anybody may have initially expected.
White is in the midst of her second season as a member of the Bobcat program. In terms of eligibility though, she's officially a freshman.
The native of Woodstock, Georgia, was pitched on the idea of making the trek to Bozeman by sprints coach Jay Turner. It took some work, but Turner felt that his group would be a good fit for an athlete that would be coming from a suburb of Atlanta.
"Part of the reason we don't get a lot of athletes from say the south or southeast, Montana is a long way from home," Turner said. "There was a lot of convincing on my part and her just being open minded on her part. Saying that Montana and this part of the country, this university would be a good deal for her.
"One thing we say as coaches here is that regardless of where you're from, if we can get you here and see what it looks like, see the atmosphere and the team, once we get that out of the way, you'll be convinced like we all are."
Bozeman and Montana State University eventually made their imprint on White. She signed with the Bobcats in March of 2019.
"Jay reached out to me and I was like 'Montana, is that even a place,'" White joked looking back on her recruitment. But she said that she quickly learned about the state she'd call home and team she would eventually be part of. The people that she met drew her to MSU and helped the transition.
"It was a little hectic," White recalled of her official visit. "I ended up coming out here and just falling in love with the campus, it was super cool. I didn't expect to come out 30 hours away, but it was pretty awesome. It's completely different than what I'm use to at home."
Her first year in Bozeman definitely took an adjustment, but Turner said it wasn't as big of one that he even expected. Much of White's first year as a Bobcat on the track was about technique and development. Even though she was a third-place finisher at the GHSA 6A State Championships as a senior at River Ridge High School, there were still some adjustments he saw that White could make just with repetition.
A lot of that occurred as White redshirted the indoor season of the 2019-20 academic year.
"The talent was obviously there," Turner said. "But a lot of times when you get freshmen, regardless of the times they've run, it's just technically there's a lot to be desired. Since she didn't get to participate in meets due to her redshirting, we took the time to work more on that."
As White looked ahead to her first official collegiate outdoor season, the coronavirus pandemic shifted the entire track and field landscape. White found herself in a predicament of not competing for an entire calendar year.
"It was super bumming," White said of the initial news of the canceled outdoor season. "It is what it is, I had to move on. It was actually a blessing for me because I had to have knee surgery in May. So, it kind worked out in my favor. So full year coming into this season. It's a freshman year all over again."
While White's training in Bozeman was halted due to the pandemic, Turner saw an improved sprinter return from Georgia this past fall semester. A sprinter he could tell was more comfortable with her surroundings heading into her second year at MSU.
"Due to Covid, we couldn't continue that into the outdoor season," Turner said of working with White in training. "But she did a lot of the things I was teaching her when she was back home during the summer. Things you don't even need a track to do, worked on those things, she came back a lot better. We're expecting a big first year from her."
"I think it's going to play a huge role in me having success in the future," White said of her experience aiding in her improvement in her second season at MSU. "Obviously coming in your first year it's way different. Living in the dorms doesn't help a lot, you're really just getting use to a lot of things. But in your second year, you're use to the new training methods, the new techniques, coaching styles, it's way better, my body is already use to it. I think it plays a big role."
And White's already delivered.
MSU held its second meet of the indoor season inside Worthington Arena on Feb. 5 against Idaho State. Donning an official Bobcat uniform for the first time, White made her debut in the 60-meter dash.
She opened out of the blocks and accelerated at the 20-meter mark. By the time she crossed the finish line, she'd finished first in a time of 7.66 seconds. That time already ranks her tied for fifth in program history. White eventually also took first in the 200-meter dash with a converted time of 25 seconds.
She currently sits first on the Big Sky performance list in the 60 and second in the 200.
Just one meet into her college career, White has already made it into Montana State's record book. She hopes to continue her growth throughout the upcoming outdoor season.
White is in the midst of her second season as a member of the Bobcat program. In terms of eligibility though, she's officially a freshman.
The native of Woodstock, Georgia, was pitched on the idea of making the trek to Bozeman by sprints coach Jay Turner. It took some work, but Turner felt that his group would be a good fit for an athlete that would be coming from a suburb of Atlanta.
"Part of the reason we don't get a lot of athletes from say the south or southeast, Montana is a long way from home," Turner said. "There was a lot of convincing on my part and her just being open minded on her part. Saying that Montana and this part of the country, this university would be a good deal for her.
"One thing we say as coaches here is that regardless of where you're from, if we can get you here and see what it looks like, see the atmosphere and the team, once we get that out of the way, you'll be convinced like we all are."
Bozeman and Montana State University eventually made their imprint on White. She signed with the Bobcats in March of 2019.
"Jay reached out to me and I was like 'Montana, is that even a place,'" White joked looking back on her recruitment. But she said that she quickly learned about the state she'd call home and team she would eventually be part of. The people that she met drew her to MSU and helped the transition.
"It was a little hectic," White recalled of her official visit. "I ended up coming out here and just falling in love with the campus, it was super cool. I didn't expect to come out 30 hours away, but it was pretty awesome. It's completely different than what I'm use to at home."
Her first year in Bozeman definitely took an adjustment, but Turner said it wasn't as big of one that he even expected. Much of White's first year as a Bobcat on the track was about technique and development. Even though she was a third-place finisher at the GHSA 6A State Championships as a senior at River Ridge High School, there were still some adjustments he saw that White could make just with repetition.
A lot of that occurred as White redshirted the indoor season of the 2019-20 academic year.
"The talent was obviously there," Turner said. "But a lot of times when you get freshmen, regardless of the times they've run, it's just technically there's a lot to be desired. Since she didn't get to participate in meets due to her redshirting, we took the time to work more on that."
As White looked ahead to her first official collegiate outdoor season, the coronavirus pandemic shifted the entire track and field landscape. White found herself in a predicament of not competing for an entire calendar year.
"It was super bumming," White said of the initial news of the canceled outdoor season. "It is what it is, I had to move on. It was actually a blessing for me because I had to have knee surgery in May. So, it kind worked out in my favor. So full year coming into this season. It's a freshman year all over again."
While White's training in Bozeman was halted due to the pandemic, Turner saw an improved sprinter return from Georgia this past fall semester. A sprinter he could tell was more comfortable with her surroundings heading into her second year at MSU.
"Due to Covid, we couldn't continue that into the outdoor season," Turner said of working with White in training. "But she did a lot of the things I was teaching her when she was back home during the summer. Things you don't even need a track to do, worked on those things, she came back a lot better. We're expecting a big first year from her."
"I think it's going to play a huge role in me having success in the future," White said of her experience aiding in her improvement in her second season at MSU. "Obviously coming in your first year it's way different. Living in the dorms doesn't help a lot, you're really just getting use to a lot of things. But in your second year, you're use to the new training methods, the new techniques, coaching styles, it's way better, my body is already use to it. I think it plays a big role."
And White's already delivered.
MSU held its second meet of the indoor season inside Worthington Arena on Feb. 5 against Idaho State. Donning an official Bobcat uniform for the first time, White made her debut in the 60-meter dash.
She opened out of the blocks and accelerated at the 20-meter mark. By the time she crossed the finish line, she'd finished first in a time of 7.66 seconds. That time already ranks her tied for fifth in program history. White eventually also took first in the 200-meter dash with a converted time of 25 seconds.
She currently sits first on the Big Sky performance list in the 60 and second in the 200.
Just one meet into her college career, White has already made it into Montana State's record book. She hopes to continue her growth throughout the upcoming outdoor season.
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
