By: by KSU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga.- After closing out a successful senior campaign for the Kennesaw State women’s cross country and track and field teams, Mackenzie Howe was named the Kennesaw State Athletics Women’s Athlete of the Year.
“Mackenzie came to KSU as a good runner out of high school and transformed herself into a great collegiate runner at KSU,” head cross country coach Stan Sims said. “Her accomplishments go beyond coaching and her athletic and academic record speaks volumes of her dedication and work ethic. While at KSU I was her coach and now after she has graduated I consider myself a lifelong friend. And what is exciting is that if she chooses, her best running is yet to come.”
This is the second time Howe was given the award after winning it last year. She became only the second women’s athlete to win it twice with fellow cross country athlete Marjo Venalainen claiming the award in 1999 and 2000. Earlier this year, Howe was also awarded the Total Person Award given by Kennesaw State to the athlete who has succeeded athletically, academically and in the community.
Starting her senior season off strong, Howe became the first Owl to win the Atlantic Sun Individual Cross Country championship after a thrilling race where she would win by the smallest margin in A-Sun history. Her top finish would also give Howe her fourth All-Conference award becoming the 11th member of the elite club.
Competing for the second straight year in the NCAA South Regional, Howe finished the 6k course in 20:16 which was good enough for eighth place and a spot at NCAA Nationals. It also earned her an All-Region award for placing in the top ten.
As the first Owl to run in Nationals at the Division I level, Howe had a solid showing at the course in Terre Haute, Ind. Facing some of the top cross country athletes in the country, she finished 108th in a time of 21:22.
Not stopping after cross country, Howe continued her success into the track and field season. The senior added two A-Sun Indoor Conference titles to her name, finishing first in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter races at the championship. During her outdoor season, Howe set the new school records for the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races. She earned the A-Sun Outdoor Conference Championships for finishing first in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, respectively.
She didn’t stop there moving on to the NCAA East Region Preliminary for the second straight year. Competing in the 10,000 meter race, Howe finished 21st in 34:13.69 and concluding her illustrious career as an Owl.
“When I was told I got Athlete of the Year for the second year, it took me a second to really soak it in and realize what an honor that really is,” Howe said. “I am so thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to run for Kennesaw and now that I have graduated, I can't think of a better sendoff then that award. I had so much fun and feel so blessed to have had an awesome cross country coach to run for all four years. I feel honored that I was recognized for all the hard work and self-discipline I put into what I loved. I owe all of it to God and am definitely going to miss it.”
