Kornacki: Meier Discusses Her Long, Winding Road to NCAA Track Championships
6/4/2018 11:40:00 AM | Women's Track & Field, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Haley Meier had one last chance at her dream to qualify for the NCAA championships in the 1,500-meter run. The University of Michigan distance standout came so close the year before, finishing 13th at the NCAA East Prelims -- one spot shy of making the field.
So, in the instant after the 2018 East Prelims race had concluded May 26 at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, Meier had a flashback to 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.
"I finished the race, bent over with my hands on my knees, just like last year," said Meier. "I had finished one spot out in Louisville and it was a bummer. I looked up at the scoreboard and saw I was 13th. This time, when I crossed the finish line, I had my hands on my knees again and saw I was fourth in my heat. I said, 'Oh, my gosh, that is my dream!' I wanted this so badly.
"I would've cried, but I was so exhausted."
The top five in each heat automatically qualify for the NCAA championships, and by finishing fourth, Meier didn't have to wait to see if she finished in the top 12 after both heats. When all was said and done, Meier was sixth overall, making it with plenty of room to spare.
Meier said, "For people who have been the first spot out, it's so discouraging after all the hard work you put in. But I came into this race with a fire and a passion in me: 'I'm not going to let that happen again. I'm not going to feel like that again.' I was going to go after it and get myself to Eugene (Oregon).
"If I didn't make it, I was going to regret it the rest of my life. I wanted to meet the potential a coach sees in me and try to have that experience for myself."
It took a personal best time of 14:15.57 to achieve her goal of qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships that begin for her Thursday (June 4) at the University of Oregon's storied Hayward Field. Wolverine steeplechase qualifiers Claire Borchers and Sarah Zieve will join Meier there.
"I did it! I did it! I did it!" raced through Haley's head upon realization of her long-time goal.
Elinor Purrier of New Hampshire, the NCAA indoor mile champion, set a quick pace in Meier's heat. She tried staying with Purrier before settling into a small pack behind her, staying between third and fifth place the entire way.
"I was hurting," said Meier. "My legs felt like concrete the last 100 meters. When I crossed the finish line, I could relax and realize I did make it. I was so excited."
She had assured that the Wolverines' streak of qualifying for nationals in the event reached seven consecutive years. Only Oregon, with an 11-year streak, has a longer stretch of success.
"It's the seventh straight year that our coach, Mike McGuire, has gotten a 1,500-meter girl to the national championship," said Meier. "So, to continue that streak is really special to me, and I'm sure it's special to him as well. I'm happy to keep that streak alive for him and our team."
Still, it wasn't all joy for Meier after the race in Tampa. She felt for her teammate and training partner, Jamie Morrissey, the Big Ten 800-meter indoor champion in 2018, who had come into the race with a strong qualifying time, but didn't make the cut for Eugene.
They had to battle conditions "that were so hot," pushing 90 degrees, and then race in a driving rain in Tampa.
"All of us could barely see," said Meier. "And Lane 1 was flooded when we were running the finals to get to Eugene. So, it was kind of crazy."
She responded to all the challenges by running her fastest race ever, and that was a testament to the way she challenged herself after missing the NCAA cut 12 months prior.
"I used to get nervous when I raced, and didn't know how to handle those nerves," said Meier. "I would freak out a lot about races coming up and competition and let a lot of things get to me.
"But after finishing 13th last year, from that day on, I decided I was in charge of how I feel and I'm going to chase my goal and not let my nerves decide things for me. I did a lot of mental work to be more confident in myself. If I hurt in practice, I didn't give in. I worked on my mentality, and told myself I belong in these big races. 'I've been working hard. Why not me?' It's been a great stepping stone for me."
Meier also credited the teammates, trainers and other staff members who have been behind her at Michigan. She noted the contributions and support of her parents, Tammy and John, and younger brother, Pat, along with the "big impact" of high school coach Steve Zaranek.
McGuire has taken it from there, guiding her to Eugene.
"I couldn't think of anyone better to coach me," she said. "It's been amazing working with him."
Both Haley and her identical twin sister, Hannah, opted to attend and run for Duke after standout high school careers at Grosse Pointe (Michigan) South, but transferred together to Michigan for the last two seasons, reuniting with McGuire, whom they'd know since they were 13.
"Coming back to Michigan just felt like home and where we were meant to be," said Meier. "With my nerves, Mike's always known what works for me, and has always been such an amazing support system. He's a very important person to me, my sister and my family. He's made a big impact on my life for sure.
"He's seen so much greatness, that I really want to impress him. When Mike's proud of you, that's hard to get. So, that really means a lot."
Haley last month finished second in the Big Ten 1,500 with a time of 4:28.13, but had become the conference's indoor mile champion in February with a winning time of 4:46.05. She qualified for the indoor national championships, earning second team All-American honors.
Haley and Hannah also teamed up on Michigan's Big Ten championship distance medley relay four months ago.
"That meant so much," said Haley. "It meant a lot to win, but we were also trying to get our relay to the nationals and were just shy of the time we needed."
Haley began running in fifth grade, following her mother as a sprinter but not succeeding in those burst-of-speed races. A coach suggested she try distance running, and that clicked. Two years later, Hannah joined her on the track team.
"She always kicked my butt in high school," Haley said of Hannah. "She's good. Hannah's my very best friend and means everything to me. Being able to experience all of this with someone so close to you is really special.
"A lot of people think we're really competitive with each other, but we're always like, 'If you beat me, OK.' It's that kind of relationship and we've pushed each other to be better."
Haley and Hannah ran in a race for top high school distance aces at an event connected to the 2012 Olympic qualifying in Eugene. That helped fuel a goal to return there someday for the NCAA championships.
"So, it will be cool to go back there and race in my collegiate uniform for the last time in track," said Meier, who has one season of cross country eligibility remaining. "I missed the finals and first team All-American status at the indoor national championships, and a huge goal for this outdoor experience in Eugene is to do that."
Getting there used to be the top goal. Now, doing something special racing against the best at Hayward, provides a new dangling carrot for Haley.
Players Mentioned
