Sophia Renzi

Connor Megis running on the Tad Gromley Stadium tack in city park as part of practice on Friday March 28 at 8 am.

At Loyola University New Orleans, one senior athlete turned a last minute decision into a record breaking moment, proving that sometimes the best opportunities come from simply taking a chance.

For Conner Meigs, steeplechase wasn’t always part of his plan. In fact, it started as a joke.

“I actually didn’t do it until last year,” he said. “I’d done track for two years before trying that event.” 

Like many runners, he stuck to more traditional races, focusing on distance and endurance. But throughout the season, something caught his attention.That curiosity eventually turned into action – but not in a serious way at first. 

“At the very end of the season before a conference meet, I asked my coach kind of as a joke, ‘What if I did the steeplechase?’ And he was like, ‘You know, you could,’” Meigs said.

With little preparation, he was suddenly in a race that is widely considered one of the most physically and technically demanding events in track and field. Despite the short turnaround, he exceeded expectations with only a couple weeks to practice. 

“It actually went okay. I think I got fifth at that meet,” he said. 

But more importantly, Meigs found something he didn’t expect: a genuine love for the event. 

“It was really fun. It was very different.”

That difference is what made the steeplechase stand out. Unlike other races that rely purely on speed and endurance, this event combines distance running with barriers and water jumps, forcing athletes to think as well as run.

 “Every other event is just like you run as hard as you can until you’re done,” he explained. “But  there’s actually a level where you feel like you can get better at it without just having to run.”

After that first experience, he knew he wanted more. Coming into his senior season, he approached the steeplechase with a new mindset. 

That commitment required months of preparation far beyond what most people see on race day. Physically, the work starts long before the track season begins. 

“It kind of starts all the way back in the summer,” Meigs said. “You’re building up your aerobic base and constantly increasing mileage.”

The work you do over the summer, cross country in the fall, and indoor track it all compounds,” he explained.

But while the physical preparation is intense, the mental challenge may be even greater. 

“It’s hard. It really is just hard,” he said. “There’s so many points in a race where it just hurts bad and you’re just like, ‘This sucks.’”

Still, he has learned to push through those moments. That mindset didn’t come overnight; it developed over years of competing.

 “I’ve been racing for eight years now. I had to adapt certain mindsets and outlooks over time,” Meigs said. 

When it comes to the most difficult part of the steeplechase, his answer is immediate: the water jump. Part of the challenge is the lack of proper practice facilities. Without access to a real water jump on campus, the team has to get creative. 

“We use a barrier next to a sand pit that lets us practice form,” he explained. “But landing in sand and landing in water are pretty different.”

Even with that limitation, he has embraced the technical aspects of the event, especially the hurdles. 

“That part is fun to me,” he said. “There’s always a purpose to every jump. If I mess one up, I want the next one to be better.”

Behind his success is a strong support system that has helped him grow both as an athlete and as a person. He credits his coach for giving him the initial opportunity. 

“He didn’t have to put me in this, but he gave me a chance,” he said.

Meigs teammates have also played a major role, especially fellow runner Jace Lukowski. 

“He’s a monster,” he said. “No matter how hard the race is, he just gives it everything. It’s super inspiring.”

That sense of shared effort defines the team culture.

 “Nobody wants to be up at 6 a.m. running, but everyone shows up; we’re all suffering together. That’s what makes it worth it.”

Family has also been a constant source of motivation. His father, a former cross country coach, introduced him to running, while his mother helps him stay mentally prepared before races.

 “She talks to me through stress and nerves,” Meigs said.

And now, after years of hard work, he’s reached a new level, one he’s proud to share. “My brother used to ask after every meet, ‘Did you win?’” he said with a laugh. “Now I can say, ‘Yeah I actually did.’”

From a last minute decision to a record breaking performance, his journey proves that sometimes the best opportunities come from taking a chance and sticking with it.