It’s easy to think of running as less of a “team” effort than other sports, but I know for a fact that I could never run my best without the help of my teammates...
Meet the Bishops: Get to know a little about Darcy Picker of the Ohio Wesleyan women's cross country and track & field teams.
Name: Darcy Picker
Class year: Junior
Major: Exercise science
Minor: Biology
How/Why did you choose Ohio Wesleyan?
When it came down to my final two school choices, I think that the coaches were the main reason that I chose OWU. I was being recruited by coaches from both schools, but my conversations with Coach Boey and Coach Carlson made me feel like part of their track/xc family before I even committed. I could tell that they are both so passionate about what they do, and that they genuinely cared about me not only as an athlete, but also as a person. I was still a bit nervous when I made my decision, but when I called Coach Boey to give him the news, hearing the enthusiasm and excitement in his voice assured me that I had made the right choice!
How/Why did you choose your major?
Although I didn’t know what career path I wanted to take, I found the subject of exercise science to be really interesting. I have always loved science, especially biology, and as I gained more experience as a runner, I became fascinated by physiology and the science of exercise.
Why did you choose to compete in sports at Ohio Wesleyan?
I love track and cross country, so I knew that I wanted to run in college. I was looking for a team with the same competitiveness and family-like dynamic that I experienced with my high school team, and that’s exactly what I found here.
What is your favorite memory on an Ohio Wesleyan team?
There are definitely too many to choose from, but the Cheesecake Factory tradition is a really good one. The women's cross country team goes there at the beginning of every season. We pile our phones on the table, enjoy some great food, and laugh our butts off! It’s always a great time for getting to know new members, and we get to bond over something that all of us runners have in common: we really love to eat!
What is your number one goal, personal or team, for this season?
My number one goal for this season is to truly race as a team. It’s easy to think of running as less of a “team” effort than other sports, but I know for a fact that I could never run my best without the help of my teammates. By striving to run and move up together, pushing and pulling each other along, we run so much faster than we could alone!
What are your plans after graduation?
Not sure yet, but I’m considering pursuing a graduate degree in exercise physiology.
What is your theme song?
Raised on Country – Chris Young.
by Madison Bridger '21
