Senior Scholar-Athlete Spotlight: Paige McKinney
8/26/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
Thirty-three seniors were on Davidson Wildcat rosters as this spring began, and though their 2020 seasons were abbreviated, their contributions to their respective teams, the overall athletics program and college itself make them worthy of recognition. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we will feature members of the class of 2020 as part of the Senior Spring Scholar-Athlete Spotlight.
Name: Paige McKinney
Sport you competed in: Women's Track & Field
What is your major?: Political Science Major, Economics Minor
What was your favorite class and why?: I really enjoyed Comparative & International Education and Food & Nutrition Policy. Both classes were set up like discussion circles and each professor had a way of organizing the discussion so that every student had a voice. Students would share thoughts on each reading and tie in material from other courses or experiences. Engaging in that way is definitely a perk of Davidson's smaller class sizes!
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season?: I will remember all of the special parts of our practices - wearing crazy socks, having great talks with teammates on our cool down runs, surprising Coach Straub with the "go bananas" song/dance, etc. I'll also remember the moments we shared in those last few days after we found out we were going home early. We ran all of our favorite routes, chatted in Commons for hours, gave our senior speeches, received notes from the underclassmen and rising seniors, put together a track meet with silly events, and finally said good bye. What makes our team so special is that we have this unconditional love and support for each other. Those qualities stood out even more during that tough week.
If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career?: I think I would have to choose cross country regionals this past fall. I remember this sense of immense joy and gratitude as I rounded the final turn and sprinted uphill towards the finish line. I'm very thankful to have been able to cap off my cross country career feeling so strong and fulfilled.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why?: My favorite trip was the 2019 Boston University Valentine Indoor Invitational. After recovering from injuries, I really needed that race to prove to myself, 'I can still do this, I can still PR.' Being in that environment, surrounded by incredible competitors and full stands, felt like magic and was a reminder of why I loved racing. A close second favorite trip would be our meet in Myrtle Beach during my sophomore year spring break. It was not the best meet and we kind of realized we would never be making that trip again, but we were able to do our cool down run right on the beach and definitely made the most of that time together!
What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different?: Davidson scholar-athletes are different because they carry the same level of intensity and commitment in their sport and the classroom to involvement in the arts, jobs, community engagement opportunities, and more. It is amazing to hear about the impact Davidson scholar-athletes have and it is clear that it takes true passion, as well as practicality, to balance it all.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you?: I would invite Bryan Stevenson, Phil Rosenthal, and Larry David.
Most memorable college moment outside of competition?: The annual cake race really stands out because this is when the freshmen really get to bond with the upperclassmen as we help them get ready, cheer them on, and of course feast on cake together afterwards! Track Prom this spring also stands out because we celebrated remotely and tried to maintain some of the same traditions like doing promposals and giving awards.
Did you have a pre-game/match/meet superstition?: I don't necessarily have superstitions, but I am definitely particular about my pre-meet routine, and I've followed pretty much the same routine since high school. I always put on compression socks the night before and leave them on through breakfast the next morning, and I wear sparkly eyeliner and a braid or bow on race day for an extra confidence boost!
What lessons from sports helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester?: Many of Coach Straub's lessons have carried into my life: choosing joy, being excited rather than nervous, getting "back to basics," having a "D1 mentality," building others up, focusing on the things I can control, and more. Coach really taught me to remember why I love the sport in the first place, to have fun with it and let go of the fear that the past is holding me back. During this unusual and uncertain time, her advice has translated to working on mental toughness and carrying myself with confidence.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat?: I am most proud of the friendships I've made on this team and how much I've learned about myself through these connections. It has been wonderful to watch the team evolve as we've all grown independently and together. We worked extremely hard on ensuring that the group becomes more encouraging and inclusive, and I hope this team dynamic lives on and continues to improve.
Who do you want to thank for their support?: First and foremost, I want to thank Coach Straub. She truly treats our team like family and it seems there's no limit to her energy, joy, and encouragement. I could not have asked for a better coach and role model. I feel so lucky to have had her in my corner during my time at Davidson. I want to thank my family, especially my mom, who first encouraged me to join a cross country team and has been my biggest fan the entire way. I also want to thank my friends and teammates - I love you all!!
What's next for you?: This summer I worked as a Gig-Hub Consultant and began an internship at an organic dog treat company that I will continue into the fall while I apply to full-time jobs. I hope work on food access and child nutrition policy issues and I plan to go back to school to study public policy.
Name: Paige McKinney
Sport you competed in: Women's Track & Field
What is your major?: Political Science Major, Economics Minor
What was your favorite class and why?: I really enjoyed Comparative & International Education and Food & Nutrition Policy. Both classes were set up like discussion circles and each professor had a way of organizing the discussion so that every student had a voice. Students would share thoughts on each reading and tie in material from other courses or experiences. Engaging in that way is definitely a perk of Davidson's smaller class sizes!
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season?: I will remember all of the special parts of our practices - wearing crazy socks, having great talks with teammates on our cool down runs, surprising Coach Straub with the "go bananas" song/dance, etc. I'll also remember the moments we shared in those last few days after we found out we were going home early. We ran all of our favorite routes, chatted in Commons for hours, gave our senior speeches, received notes from the underclassmen and rising seniors, put together a track meet with silly events, and finally said good bye. What makes our team so special is that we have this unconditional love and support for each other. Those qualities stood out even more during that tough week.
If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career?: I think I would have to choose cross country regionals this past fall. I remember this sense of immense joy and gratitude as I rounded the final turn and sprinted uphill towards the finish line. I'm very thankful to have been able to cap off my cross country career feeling so strong and fulfilled.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why?: My favorite trip was the 2019 Boston University Valentine Indoor Invitational. After recovering from injuries, I really needed that race to prove to myself, 'I can still do this, I can still PR.' Being in that environment, surrounded by incredible competitors and full stands, felt like magic and was a reminder of why I loved racing. A close second favorite trip would be our meet in Myrtle Beach during my sophomore year spring break. It was not the best meet and we kind of realized we would never be making that trip again, but we were able to do our cool down run right on the beach and definitely made the most of that time together!
What makes a Davidson scholar-athlete different?: Davidson scholar-athletes are different because they carry the same level of intensity and commitment in their sport and the classroom to involvement in the arts, jobs, community engagement opportunities, and more. It is amazing to hear about the impact Davidson scholar-athletes have and it is clear that it takes true passion, as well as practicality, to balance it all.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you?: I would invite Bryan Stevenson, Phil Rosenthal, and Larry David.
Most memorable college moment outside of competition?: The annual cake race really stands out because this is when the freshmen really get to bond with the upperclassmen as we help them get ready, cheer them on, and of course feast on cake together afterwards! Track Prom this spring also stands out because we celebrated remotely and tried to maintain some of the same traditions like doing promposals and giving awards.
Did you have a pre-game/match/meet superstition?: I don't necessarily have superstitions, but I am definitely particular about my pre-meet routine, and I've followed pretty much the same routine since high school. I always put on compression socks the night before and leave them on through breakfast the next morning, and I wear sparkly eyeliner and a braid or bow on race day for an extra confidence boost!
What lessons from sports helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester?: Many of Coach Straub's lessons have carried into my life: choosing joy, being excited rather than nervous, getting "back to basics," having a "D1 mentality," building others up, focusing on the things I can control, and more. Coach really taught me to remember why I love the sport in the first place, to have fun with it and let go of the fear that the past is holding me back. During this unusual and uncertain time, her advice has translated to working on mental toughness and carrying myself with confidence.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat?: I am most proud of the friendships I've made on this team and how much I've learned about myself through these connections. It has been wonderful to watch the team evolve as we've all grown independently and together. We worked extremely hard on ensuring that the group becomes more encouraging and inclusive, and I hope this team dynamic lives on and continues to improve.
Who do you want to thank for their support?: First and foremost, I want to thank Coach Straub. She truly treats our team like family and it seems there's no limit to her energy, joy, and encouragement. I could not have asked for a better coach and role model. I feel so lucky to have had her in my corner during my time at Davidson. I want to thank my family, especially my mom, who first encouraged me to join a cross country team and has been my biggest fan the entire way. I also want to thank my friends and teammates - I love you all!!
What's next for you?: This summer I worked as a Gig-Hub Consultant and began an internship at an organic dog treat company that I will continue into the fall while I apply to full-time jobs. I hope work on food access and child nutrition policy issues and I plan to go back to school to study public policy.
Players Mentioned
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