Maggie Rowe ends her great track and field career as a Logger with a strong senior season

Ending her experience as a track and fielder—more specifically, a high jumper—after this spring season, senior Maggie Rowe (Helena, Mont.) reflected on all of the memories that she has made throughout her four years as a Logger student-athlete.
Rowe has consistently impressed her fellow students with her athletic achievements.
Rowe began her career in track during her freshman year of high school when she discovered her passion for the long, triple and high jumps and decided to continue with it through college.
After contacting Coach Orechia, the head of the Puget Sound track and field department, and starting fall practice her freshman year of college, she knew she had found her place.
In the Northwest Conference Performance standings, Rowe is in sixth place for the high jump of 5’ 1.25”, first place for Puget Sound’s women’s high jump. She completed this personal record at the Spike Arit Invitational on April 19 in Ellensburg, Wash.
Including the record, Rowe has reached many of her personal goals throughout her years.
“One achievement I have had is qualifying for conference in the high jump all four years of college, and placing in the top eight,” Rowe said. “Additionally I have improved my overall strength (hitting the weights) as an athlete. This physical strength, as well as learning to think positively towards my event and capabilities as a jumper are just now coming together as I wrap-up my last season.”
Rowe has been a major asset to the team not only because of her talent and ability, but because of her leadership role to the incoming members and her responsibility in focusing on all aspects of the including technique, team cohesion and mental strength.
“On all athletic teams, it is important for seniors to step-up and act as mentors and leaders for the underclassman. We have a great group of seniors this year representing many of the events, and they have done a great job leading!”
In past seasons there have not been many other high jumpers. However, this year there are several freshman jumpers.
“I have taken them under my wing, leading them through workouts and giving them advice both for issues concerning track and outside of track. They call me “mom”! It is nice to be able to pass down what you have learned over the years to those that will be the next team leaders. Spending time with your teammates in this way is also a great way to bond,” Rowe said.
The track and field team is a very large community of strong and talented students who all come together for the same reason: to participate in an event they are passionate about and to represent Puget Sound.
This year has been especially memorable as there have been more upperclassmen taking on leadership roles to cope with a large influx of new members.
Throughout her college career, Rowe has seen changes each year due to the dynamic and personality of each event’s members along with the difference in competitiveness among individuals.
Rowe has benefitted emotionally and competitively from the continuous support of her teammates. She has recognized the process she had made during her college career and how much she has truly improved.
“When I first started competing in college I felt like my jumping had regressed. However, looking back to my freshman year I have realized that I’ve grown a lot as an athlete,” Rowe said. “As Coach Orechia says, ‘it’s a process’.  I have learned to break down my jump into its component parts from the approach, to take off, and my form over the bar. I have gotten better at trusting the process and focusing on one part of the jump at a time. I have also seen improvement in increasing my lower body strength and quickening my approach.”
As the track and field season comes to a close, Rowe’s jumping career closes as well.
Track has given Rowe motivation to work hard academically as well a venue in which she has made memories, forged lasting friendships and developed a healthy lifestyle.
To Rowe, jumping is more than just a sport: it is an outlet to be involved within the school.
The Puget Sound community will really miss her presence as a athlete and a fellow student.
Hopefully the skills and values that she has learned from track are transferrable to her life after college.