Oct. 19, 2004
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The transition from high school star to collegiate athlete can be tough, but you wouldn't know it by watching Sacred Heart Academy product Maddie Schueler, who is making a name for herself on the University of Missouri women's cross country team.
"Being away from home is the biggest difference," the freshman said. "Cross country has helped with that. I've met a lot of new people."
Schueler, a multiple state high school champion in cross country and track, already is a leader on a team that ranks No. 10 nationally in the Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association poll.
Just five months ago she was a setting records in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the State Meet, leading Sacred Heart to the ClassAAA title. It's obvious by her fast start at Missouri that she didn't rest on her laurels last summer.
"There are so many people to run with; that's helped me," she said.
Talent and maturity have made Schueler a key element on a team that needed someone to step up early. Missouri had some top runners working to get back in form, and Schueler helped fill the gap. In the season-opening Missouri Cross Country Challenge on Sept.11, she led for much of the race and finished second behind teammate Jill Petersen. Schueler ran the 5,000 meters in 18 minutes, 7.85 seconds.
"I didn't really know what to expect," she said.
A week later Schueler led her team with a second-place finish in the Woody Greeno Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. The 6,000-meter race was won by Wichita State's Desiraye Osburn in 21:52. Schueler was eight seconds back.
Missouri won the team titles in both events.
"Maddie is already a pretty solid rock on this team," said Missouri associate coach Rebecca Wilmes, who recruited Schueler. "She seems so steady. On a team that has good national runners, Maddie is right with them. That doesn't happen very often. I think we have the best group of runners we've ever had."
More recently, a healthy and talented Missouri team and stiffer competition have shown that Schueler still has work to do.
The Notre Dame Invitational on Oct.1 included then-No.1 Stanford, No.4 Notre Dame and No.12 UCLA. Schueler finished in 17:58, but that was good only for 67th place as Missouri finished fourth in the team standings.
Saturday, Schueler clocked a personal best of 21:42.5 for 6,000 meters in the NCAA Pre-National Meet at Terre Haute, Ind. She finished fourth on her team, 50th overall, as she helped Missouri finish fourth.
The next big race for Schueler will be the Big 12 Conference Championships in Topeka, Kan.
Wilmes said she saw Schueler's potential early on.
"She's been a part of some great teams," Wilmes said. "Hearing about her training in high school, I knew she was going to have a breakthrough. She's the whole package, a great student and a great runner."
After the cross country season, Schueler will move on to indoor and outdoor track.
"It'll be fun to watch her run different things," Wilmes said. "She's a great runner. She's got a big future."