Missouri cross-country senior athlete Sarah Chapman has some unfinished business to attend to after the COVID-19 pandemic prevented her from doing what she came to the U.S. to do.
Chapman planned to return home to Maidenhead, England, to begin her career, but when MU presented her with an opportunity to return for an additional cross-country season, Chapman couldn’t pass it up.
“She really wanted to come back and help her team, and we are hosting the SEC Championship, ” Missouri cross-country coach Marc Burns said. “She really wanted to be there and be a part of that for our program.”
Chapman has plenty of goals she hopes to achieve before the end of her senior season. She wants to place in the top-40 at the cross-country nationals and achieve All-American status. She also hopes to help her team conference championship meet to qualify for the national team.
“I think that says a lot about her as a person,” Burns said. “That she is excited about her own success, but she really was excited about coming back and helping the team perform well on her own home course, in front of her own crowd, at the SEC Championship.”
The senior’s love of running started in elementary gym class, with a 1,500-meter run. At the age of 12, she began running in competitions and later joined clubs that allowed her to grow as a runner. Chapman eventually committed to run collegiately at the University of Birmingham in England, where she traveled and took part in various competitions.
Soon, Chapman began to catch word of MU from a friend who knew of Burns. During her final year, she began to send out emails to the university, and eventually scored a visit.
“I was really comfortable with [the university],” Chapman said.
“They supported you, but also gave you the flexibility to make your own decisions with their support.”
The support helped Chapman grow comfortable with moving 4,240 miles across the globe. Soon after her visit, Chapman committed to Missouri to earn a master’s degree in business administration, and join both the cross-country and track and field teams.
Chapman said the transition from England is akin to living two different lives. In England, young athletes don’t run for high school, but run for clubs instead. Growing up, she had few friends who were runners. In the U.S., however, most of her friends are runners. Another difference? According to Chapman, England doesn’t have the same appreciation for sports as the U.S. does. In the U.S., most people follow sports, while in the U.K. people don’t tend to follow many sports unless they really love them.
Even from the other side of the world, Chapman still has family and friends who are rooting for her and the Tigers program.
Strong past memories motivated Chapmen to return to Missouri. Her current favorite memory in black and gold came in 2020 when she won the Gans Creek Classic. She hadn’t expected the win, but her victory against Arkansas earned Chapman a title in front of all of her friends and family watching back home.
Running has won Chapman more than titles, including 2020 All-SEC First Team, 2020 All-SEC Indoor Second Team and 2021 NCAA West Preliminary qualifier in the 5k run. It has allowed her to make friendships all over the world and build her confidence both on and off the track.
Chapman has also had the opportunities to push herself and do things she didn’t think she could. She’s realized her capabilities when she puts her mind to something.
Before her arrival in America, Chapman dealt with an injury that taught her one of the biggest lessons as an athlete: Don’t be put off when things don’t go as planned, because, in the long run, the challenges and struggles will pay off. These setbacks will make you a stronger athlete because when things go wrong, they give you the mental ability, strength, and willpower to make it.
“When you have setbacks, it makes you appreciate success, and you don’t get complacent because you know how much has gone into getting you to that success,” Chapman said.
It’s no question that Chapman is a team player as well.
“Not only does she exemplify hard work, dedication and leadership on the team, she is the sweetest person you will ever meet and relentlessly competitive when she puts her spikes on,” Burns said.
Chapman is training day in and day out to equip herself not only for her own success but also her team’s. On Oct. 1 she will compete in her first cross-country event since returning to Missouri this season. Now, she plans to keep running.
Edited by Kyle Pinnell | kpinnell@themaneater.com