Done running, but not with the sport
Former KHS state champ stays active in cross country as Shawnee girls coach
Madelyn St. Cyr, center, is pictured with her high school coaches Shiloh Kannady, left, and Kerri Lafferty at last week’s Titan Classic. Pictured left running at the 2018 4A state meet, St. Cyr is coaching the Shawnee girls while finishing her degree at
Although her competitive career is over, Madelyn St. Cyr has found a way to stay connected to cross country.
The runner who led Kingfisher High School to its only state title in the sport is now coaching the girls team at Shawnee High School as she finishes her degree.
“I’m getting to use my skills with running in a different way,” said St. Cyr, who will graduate next May with a bachelor’s degree in business management from Oklahoma Baptist University.
St. Cyr was a four-time state qualifier for KHS and capped her career in 2018 when she earned All-State honors while finishing fifth at the Class 4A state meet.
Her finish helped lead Kingfisher to the state championship.
“Maddie will always have a special place in my heart,” said Kingfisher cross country coach Kerri Lafferty.
“She was a very special runner because she was so mentally tough and competitive, which makes for a great runner.”
St. Cyr later signed with OBU and spent the last three years running for that program.
While still in school, St. Cyr isn’t competing this season, but her collegiate coach – Ford Mastin – felt she was a good fit as Shawnee was searching for a new coach.
“He recommended me to Shawnee schools and is the one who pushed me to take the job offer,” St. Cyr said.
She’s in the building stages with the program.
St. Cyr currently only has four runners, not enough for a full team at a meet.
Her Lady Wolves competed at the same meet last Friday as KHS…at the 2022 Titan High School Cross man Daley Rice - was 102nd out of 179 runners.
The meet offered the opportunity for St. Cyr to catch up with her former coaches, Lafferty and Shiloh Kannady.
St. Cyr said she’s still deciding if her career path will take her down the coaching route.
“It’s possible,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed it, but I’m still figuring that part out.”
Lafferty feels St. Cyr has what it takes to mold a new generation of runners.
“I could not have asked for a better leader the year we won,” Lafferty said. “Whether the girls like it or not, she pushed them to be better runners.”
That, she said, translates into the profession.
“She is going to be an incredible coach if she decides on it because she knows what it takes to win and how to prepare her runners, both mentally and physically,” Lafferty said.
“Shawnee is lucky to have her.”