College of Charleston track & field competes April 24-25 at the Southern Conference Championships in Boone, N.C. looking to improve upon a seventh-place finish last season.
Just like last year, a freshman is leading the way.
Last season, Emily Smith became the second athlete in school history to win an event at the SoCon Championship, earning top honors in the High Jump by setting a mark of 5'10", which qualified her for the NCAAs.
This season, Jelain McArthur is poised to make a run in the same way, having already set school records in the Long Jump, Triple Jump and the 100m Hurdles. The Laurens, S.C. native is, as Smith was last season, just a freshman. Looking at her numbers though, she doesn't look like one.
She is the first one to mention that a lot to do with her success is Smith.
"The coaches room us together on away trips and so we just talked about what worked for her and what I can try to instill in me as I go from meet to meet," said McArthur. "I try to add what she tells me and use my own goals to put everything together. When I'm down and need encouragement I know I can go to her because she's been through similar things. She has helped me a lot."
McArthur competes like a veteran and her performance on the track shows it. Two of the top -10 school performances in the Long Jump belong to her, as well as the top three spots in the Triple Jump. If that weren't enough, the 100m hurdles is littered with her name as she takes the top seven spots on that list.
Not to be outdone in the classroom, the Physical Education major sports a GPA of just under a 3.5.
Just how does she juggle the demands of being a freshman and a student -athlete and maintain the level of success she has had so far in both areas.
"In high school my mom just instilled in me a good work ethic and I just put everything aside when I am in the classroom. I focus on the grades. On the track I give the same all. I want to succeed in both, so I just put my all in both areas and hope for the best."
McArthur credits her mom with not only getting her started in the sport but for being her biggest influence and role model.
"It [track career] started for me in the seventh grade back at the YMCA where my mom used to work. In summer camp I used to run with my friends in the gym and people would keep telling me how fast I ran. My mom encouraged me to run track, so I told her I'd give it a shot. In seventh grade they asked me to be on the varsity team and I just took off from there."
"My mom has been my biggest role model in every aspect of my life. She's raised me to the best of her ability and taught me to be the best that I can be. I just want to make her proud."
McArthur faced her share of adversity early in her collegiate career, as her grandmother passed away before the UNC Indoor Track Classic Jan. 23.
"You basically just channel the pain from the loss and let it to fuel you to want bigger and better things that she would want you to have. And you know that she is behind you every step of the way. I just use her to help motivate me."
She did just that, setting the school record in the 60m Hurdles and the Triple Jump.
She still uses the loss to motivate her and is a reason she has been able to maintain her level of success on and off the track. That combined with insights from a former freshman, McArthur stands ready to lead the Cougars new heights.
