When the starting gun fired, it was very difficult to get a hold of Mary Churchill. Don’t even try taking a photo. When on the line, concentration is key if you want to start the race well. In that crucial moment, she is both nervous and excited — she could not even sleep the night before because of the butterflies in her stomach.
To calm herself down, she remembers that every time she passes someone, one more point is gained for the team. Focus. 1, 2, 3… Go! Her mind stops thinking; she only has two goals — win and have fun.
Mary Churchill came into the world as her parent’s sixth child in Middletown, Connecticut. Her father had always been a runner and never skipped a day. Unlike her father, Churchill hadn’t really been interested in running until she started high school. Churchill never saw herself as a runner. In fact, her passion was gymnastics.
Suddenly, during her freshman year of high school, shock consumed her like a bucket of ice cold water: the gym where she practiced had been closed for repairs. That meant no gymnastics for a year. Despite this setback, Churchill is a person who always looks for the positive side of each problem, so she decided she would try running. The rest is history.
The day Churchill and her twin sister arrived at their school’s cross country practice for the first time, they realized that it was possible for the team to go to the state meet that same year.
“When my sibling and I realized that [the team had the opportunity to go to the state meet] we were very motivated,” Churchill said. “We took it seriously as we were very competitive, and we decided that every year we would make the team bigger.”
Her dedication to the team illuminates the type of person she is: positive, with a purpose, enthusiastic and as many describe her, caring.
In college, her life took a turn. She got into her school’s first division team, which gave her the opportunity to be a student-athlete. It was definitely hard, as she had to juggle studies, practice, labs and social time. However, there were also many benefits.
“Before university, I had never been in an airplane,” Churchill said while explaining the opportunities that the sport gave her. “They took us to different places across the country for meets and trips like spring break.”
Finally all her efforts paid off as she was selected to represent the United States in the World Championships in the Netherlands because of her accomplishments in the 50k race.
Immediately after college, she started coaching and teaching. As for now, Churchill hasn’t taken a day off in 25 years. Her connection and enthusiasm towards her students influences her to be the best version of herself.
“Teaching and coaching at the high school level makes me feel young,” Churchill said. “The students are curious and eager to learn, which makes it very fun.”
Also, she knows that running makes her a better person in general.
One of the reasons Churchill moved to the SD campus was because of the great environment to run. Then, she started her new journey teaching Biology. The passion that she had for it is represented by the way she does it.
Mila Dawson, a sophomore at San Domenico, has a clear view on Churchill’s methods.
“She creates a safe space and an environment that welcomes curiosity,” Dawson said. “Her energy makes the entire class excited for whatever she is going to explain next.”
Mary Churchill states that biology and running go hand in hand. The sport connects her to nature — and indirectly, to her own body’s challenges, which amazes her. Because of her endurance, she likes to test the limits of her mind as well.
Her years of knowledge have made her the SD cross country team’s coach.
Rosie Srnová, a senior at San Domenico, has been on the team for three years and has known Churchill for a long time.
“She always tried to make me feel included and made sure that I understood what was going on when I first joined the team,” Srnová said. “She was such a supportive person for me.”
Churchill’s relationship with nature, sports and her students have made her a crucial part of the school and its community. In reflection, she said, “I never thought I would be running for so long when I started, but the whole journey was worth it.”
