Jul. 23—JAMESTOWN — Meghan Ford has learned a lot in her four years of college — and we’re just not talking academics.
“My outlook on running has changed tremendously since beginning college,” said Ford, a former standout runner for Jamestown High School. “Leaving high school, I was so eager to chase the next best thing. When I had what I thought I wanted, I realized what I enjoyed most about running was simply going out every day to train, pushing myself with people I love to be surrounded by every day, and most importantly having fun throughout it all.”
The JHS Class of 2021 grad is back to having fun.
Ford is set to enter her fifth year of collegiate athletics this fall. The former Blue Jay track star will be running for South Dakota State University (SDSU) in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track while continuing to pursue bachelor degrees in graphic design and German language studies
“School is going great,” Ford said. “I am enjoying my classes. I will be continuing school at SDSU for two more years yet getting both of those degrees and I am healthy and running right now.”
Being healthy and able to run hasn’t been a consistent thing for Ford since she headed to college in the fall of 2021.
After high school, Ford made the move to Furman University in South Carolina but after two years with the Paladins, she made the decision to transfer largely because she was dealing with recurring injuries and illnesses that made it very difficult for her to improve her times and physical fitness.
“… When I didn’t have that support system and wasn’t enjoying it and I got my first injury, I realized where I was wasn’t really what I thought it would be, so transferring schools was the best decision I have made for myself,” she said.
Ford transferred to South Dakota State in 2023.
“Now, even though the road is still bumpy, I have that support system and joy in training and everything outside of training, like in my day-to-day life as well,” Ford said.
That doesn’t mean the injuries stopped.
Ford was forced to sit out for the entire 2023 cross-country season with a stress fracture. The former Blue Jay tried to get back in competing shape for the 2024 indoor track and field season but things didn’t go according to plan.
Ford ran for a couple of months leading up to the 2024 season but that ended quickly with another stress fracture — this time in her tibia. At that point, she made a decision to correct and strengthen her body by basically starting from square one.
Ford attended physical therapy three days a week last year.
She began practicing her heel striking again to take the load off of her forefoot and lower legs to try to prevent more stress injuries to that area. She also had strength assessments and gait analyses done and found some imbalances that she had to work a lot on to correct.
That process brought her to the fall of 2024.
“I had a great fall season full of progress and had the longest bout of training since high school being injury free,” Ford said. “I had some peroneal tendon issues in my ankle near the end of the cross season, but I ran through the conference and regional meet because I really wanted to finish the season not just for myself, but for the team conference title. So while that probably prolonged the issue for quite some time, I am really glad I did because it brought myself and team so much closer together knowing that we got the team title and I got to complete an entire season for the first time in so long.”
While she was able to finish the cross-country season, the ankle injury prevented Ford from running the indoor track and field season.
“I had to take some more time away to cross-train, but I was able to pace my teammates in an outdoor race this spring and begin training for cross-country, which I am still doing right now,” Ford said. “The huge improvements I saw in cross-country gave me a great sense of hope in knowing that I can still continue to improve despite the bumps in the road. … I am very happy to be in full running mode right now.”
Ford’s No. 1 goal for her fifth competitive cross-country season is to stay in full running mode.
“My absolute No. 1 goal of the season is to be consistent and healthy, even if it means I’m only giving 90% effort in training every day and leave a little bit extra out there,” Ford said. “I can continue to run for many years to come, but I really want to be there at all of the meets in college and race for my college team while I still have the opportunity. Of course I have goals of making nationals and doing well, but my health and longevity needs to come first.”
This summer Ford is training and working with Daktronics in Flagstaff, Arizona. She will be heading back to Brookings in August to begin the season. The Jackrabbits first meet of the season is scheduled for Aug. 30.
“There’s so much left to be wanted after the setbacks I have had in running the last few years,” Ford said. “I have made myself so proud just because of how I have persevered through everything that has been thrown my way from overcoming injuries to transferring and other things over and over again.
“These have made me stronger than any accomplishments could have, so whatever I am able to accomplish in my last two years of college and beyond will be largely because of all of those challenges I’ve had to overcome,” she said. “I’d love to win conference titles and go to nationals and do well there, but I also hope to continue shooting for better times and goals for many more years.”