All-state distance runner Megan Randall is back in Greater Bangor.
The former Bangor Ram standout who ran at Michigan State University last season transferred to UMaine last winter, and is already making a big impact in her first season as a Black Bear.
At the John McNichols Invite in Indiana last weekend, Randall lowered her 5-kilometer personal record to 17:49 and was UMaine’s top finisher in a field of 182 participants and 18 schools. The result earned her the distinction of America East Female Performer of the Week.
“It’s a great group of girls,” Randall said of her teammates. “It’s an environment in which we push each other but also support one another. Everyone does.”
It’s a homecoming for Randall, who as an upperclassman at Bangor finished runner-up in the 2021 state cross country championships, broke the school record for a 5K and helped lead the Rams to the 2021 and 2022 Class A girls outdoor track and field state titles.
A standout in the 400 meter, 800 meter, mile, 2 mile and 5k races, Randall was part of the Maine Track and Cross Country Coaches Association all-state team two years in a row.
“Megan is that runner who’s always doing that little bit extra,” Bangor coach Roger Huber said in 2021. “She’s not afraid to put in the work, and when she races she races. She’s competitive but she’s not obnoxiously competitive.”
After spending her first semester in college on Michigan State’s cross country team, Randall realized she was homesick, and wanted to be on a smaller campus. She decided UMaine would be a better fit after learning it provided her major in Communication Sciences & Disorders, and speaking with head coach Adam Ward.
“Coach Ward’s very passionate, and designs personalized training plans for us,” Randall said. “He focuses on all the details, and wants to keep us healthy.”
Last semester, Randall commuted from home to class, but this fall she’s sharing an apartment with a few of her teammates. She’s relished the opportunity to spend more time on campus, and has also really enjoyed going to meets with the team.
“Traveling is so fun,” Randall said. “It’s a great way to race against other teams you wouldn’t normally see, and bond as a team. It’s a great team atmosphere.”