Running has been prescribed as a tactic to clear one’s head. Movement brings energy. Idle hands have been described as the devil’s playthings. John Milton famously wrote in Paradise Lost, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.” Senior Psychology major Meghan Quinn knows as well as anyone, from her experience and classes, how important good mental health is for running and life. After all, the senior sprinter holds six Bucknell school records and recently dominated the 2023 Patriot League Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Success in athletics depends on more than just superior physical traits. Quinn’s lengthy list of accomplishments testifies to that doctrine.
Like many collegiate athletes, Quinn played several sports before settling into a specialist role. Urban Meyer famously refused to recruit any football player who was not a multi-sport athlete. Meyer understood how different sports hone various skills. Quinn played field hockey for Warwick High School in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and unsurprisingly based her success on one factor, “I was fast.” Any Bucknell track & field fan would agree with her assessment.
“I played field hockey first and continued throughout my senior year of high school. I started track & field in middle school and quickly liked it. I had some early success in track and had amazing teammates and coaches. I was paired up with two of the best runners in the state. That helped push me to the times I wanted to accomplish. When I decided on my collegiate sport, track & field was the clear answer. It is where I felt the most, Meghan.”
Her decision was a loss for Bucknell Field Hockey but a gold medal for the prestigious Bucknell Track & Field team. The Orange & Blue has a long history of success in the sport. Quinn did not pile up first-place records against an undeserving field or supplant middling participants. She has shattered the records of Bucknell Hall of Famers and Legends. Quinn appreciates and understands the rich heritage she has joined.
“I am proud to be a Bison and proud of this team and the culture that we have. We have worked hard and continued to build that culture.”
The list of her records and top ten placements staggers the mind. She holds these best marks in Indoor Track & Field: 200m dash (24.03) and 4x400-meter relay (3:40.56). Additionally, Quinn is second (7.56) in the 200-meter dash. The time is only 0.06 seconds away from first place.
For Outdoor Track & Field, Quinn has these records: 100-meter dash (11.64), 200-meter dash (23.85), 4x100-meter relay (45.92), and the 4x400-meter relay (3:41.21). She placed third (46.89) in the 400-meter relay, seventh (3:47.46) in the 4x400-meter relay, and ninth (11:55.58) in the Distance Medley relay as part of other quartets.
Quinn collected two PL titles at the 2023 Outdoor Championships when she won the 100m dash and the 4x100-meter relay. She placed second in the 200m dash and the 4x400-meter relay. Those finishes and collected points won her First and Second Team PL honors and the Highest Point Scorer of the Match award.
Remember, Bison fans, in track & field, records are kept differently. Only the personal best of an athlete is allowed in the top ten. Otherwise, several of the categories would resemble an old arcade game when one player’s name dominated the rankings.
To own six school records in individual and group events is a testament to Quinn’s dedication and teamwork. To see a smooth relay team in action is the closest sporting event to the lyrical dance of an Edmund Spenser sonnet. Quinn’s work with the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams testifies to her ability to transition to a group effort. Most track & field events consist of solo affairs. The javelin thrower receives a placement from their toss of the weapon. The hurdler leaps the impediments themselves. The high jumper doesn’t use a teammate as a springboard. But the relay member’s place in history is determined by their 25% contribution and 75% of what their teammates provide. Pure talent must be buttressed by the keystones of camaraderie and friendships. Quinn had that in spades
“Having success in a relay is much more than the time. It is the relationships that you build with your teammates. I am best friends with both the 4x100 and 4x400 quartets. I was sad to see Jessie (Castellano) and Bridget (Lalonde) graduate. We had such a good friendship out of track and field. We were always there for each other. We motivated each other. In the 4x400, it was hard for us to break the record. It is hard to have four ladies run 54 seconds at the same time! But we did it because we believed in each other. I remember being so tired when we broke that 4x400 record. But it motivates you to keep going when you are such good friends with them.”
A secure mental balance is crucial for track & field athletes. Their placement on All-League Teams boils down to their performance at the League Championships. Basketball and other sports hand out the ducats before the tournament. No other competition enters into the equation. A great throw at the historic Penn Relays matters only for weekly awards. Legacies are made and discarded at the League Championships.
“It is hard because much is measured by one performance. The type of runner you are can switch from weekend to weekend. I have had my struggles with that. So, have other runners. Progress isn’t linear. That being said, Leagues weekend is a special time. We do prepare for that weekend knowing much will be decided. I think the amount of energy that we carry is different. We pride ourselves on having a sea of orange. That amount of support changes the vibe. It lifts everyone. But I agree. Track & Field is different from other sports because of the emphasis placed on that weekend."
Head coach Kevin Donner, like all coaches, plays a crucial role in the team’s mentality. He is fond of quoting Donnerisms, but the repetition does not reduce their truth. “One Umbrella” and “Not Made of Sugar” have become treasured mantras in Bucknell Track & Field lore.
“The track & field teams are so large with many different athletes and events, but we are all part of one program. That is where “One Umbrella” comes in. We support one another. We go out of our way to watch each other’s events. Not “Made of Sugar” comes back to rain. It is a weather thing. ‘We are not made of sugar. We can get through this meet rain or shine.’ But many of us have applied it to everything. We are stronger. We can handle anything. Our team has grown so much. We stand up next to Army & Navy and aren’t intimidated. It is a confidence thing. You are telling yourself I can do this.”
For Quinn, she didn’t enter Bucknell knowing she wanted to study psychology. Similar to many students, she was hooked after taking a psych class. Having been bitten by the psychology bug, she now knows her career plans.
“I started taking psych classes before I declared. It was where I fit in terms of declaring a major. I want to give back to this sport that has given me so much. I have learned much about the profession after working closely with our sports psychologist, Nick Fuller. I would love to be a sports psychologist for any sport. The psychology major here provides me with the opportunity to pursue that career. I care about people and their mental health. I hope to get my master’s in counseling next year.”
Quinn’s emphasis on mental health might be her best contribution to the program. Typically, an outsider to athletics would think the record-breaking stars would not require those reassuring talks. But while stars can shine brightly in the world, often, inside, they battle pressure and doubt. Several cases of prominent athletes at P5 schools struggling with mental health have surprised the nation and alerted the general population to the ubiquitous aspect of mental health. Quinn’s openness about her journey can serve as a beacon and encouragement in ways a pamphlet or speaker cannot. The personal connection can overcome hesitation in sharing.
“As a captain, I try to maintain the emphasis that mental health plays. I always share my experience with Nick Fuller (Bucknell’s sports psychologist). If I can be a success story, I would love to be one.
Her relationship with Fuller just doesn’t exist when the storm clouds are pouring. The conversations are not a tactic to regain momentum but the bedrock of her running strategy.
“I see him when I am running well. I see him when I am running poorly. I started seeing him starting sophomore year. It specifically helps with track & field. There are plenty of mental health blocks that athletes face. I think that is why psychology has played a role in my life. I wish we had something like that during my high school athletic career."
It won't be easy, on paper, to top her previous seasons. Quinn has blitzed through the Bucknell record book and the Patriot League at a historic pace. Quinn will focus less on specific goals but on the overall journey and experience as she enters her final season clad in Orange & Blue.
“I go into every season without any expectations. It sounds bad but I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on myself. I am excited for what is coming. I would love to improve upon my records. We have a group to better the relay records. The team has depth in the jumps, throws, pole vault, and hurdles. I would love for the team to break into the top three at Leagues. With my training, I think good things are coming. I only need to stay healthy mentally and physically.”
Health is always a wildcard. That maxim reverberates in the minds of each athlete and coach. But if Quinn can stay healthy in both arenas, she will finish her Bucknell career as one of the all-time greats. Fans should look for #WinWithQuinn to trend on Bucknell Track & Field’s social media pages. The Warwick Winmaker is sprinting toward eternal glory.
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