Former Comet Madison Magda prepares to continue running career at Kalamazoo College

JONESVILLE — Running is one of the most varied and unique sports that athletes participate in on the collegiate level. From distance to short-metered sprints, the myriad number of ways an athlete can participate creates a diverse environment that is not so easily found in other sports.

Former Jonesville Comet runner Madison Magda will be taking a leap forward and will become the first collegiate athlete in her family. Madison Magda sets her sights on running for Kalamazoo College this fall. The class of 2022 graduate made her commitment to the Hornets in the spring during her final season of track events. Magda ran cross country and track for the Jonesville Comets, and her journey to her upcoming collegiate athletic goals took roots early in her career as a Comet.

Magda started running for Jonesville in elementary school before she joined the cross country team in middle school.

“My teachers would say that it didn’t matter what I was competing in, it just seemed like running was what I was happiest doing,” said Madison.

“We could tell that running was what she wanted to do, said Lindsay Fucile, Madison's mother. “She had other sports she had participated in throughout the years, and she always went back to running. Now, she is going off to college to run and we are very proud of her.”

After finding success that continued to drive her passion for running, she decided her junior year to explore options that could allow her to continue running when she got to college.

Magda ran a variety of track events for Jonesville but she believes that distance running is the one event she would choose to run for the Kalamazoo College Hornets.

“I don’t think I would have as much fun doing any other running event,” said Magda.

Madison's collegiate aspirations were directly related to her building a relationship with the Kalamazoo College running team and coaches. “I wasn't really thinking about running anywhere else,” said Magda. Madonna University, Michigan State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan and University of Michigan were also options for Madison outside of collegiate athletics.

After beginning her recruiting journey with Kalamazoo College, Magda and her family took a visit to Kalamazoo to meet with teammates and coaches. Magda said she immidiately felt comfortable on campus and the coaches reminded her of her Jonesville running coaches, including Joshua Perrin and Pete Konieczki.

The campus atmosphere was a large selling point that drove her to commit to Kalamazoo. The smaller class sizes compared to Western Michigan were also a major factor. Kalamazoo's running coaches recruited Magda and showed a strong interest in her being a part of their teams. That level of support from the Hornets helped Madison see the opportunity as something that she could explore.

The academic programs were also a highlight for Madison and her family. “Academically, they have a different program than most universities,” said Adrienne Magda, Madison’s stepmother. “If she is a biology major, she won’t have to worry about taking classes not related to her major. They have study-abroad opportunities for all students on their campus. Talking with her coach when we had our visit, he made it clear that Academics come first. They seem to really care about their athletes.”

Madison looks to explore undergraduate studies in biology before moving on to pre-med studies. Magda's aunt is a nurse practitioner, which helped spark her interests in a career in the medical field. "I like being in a place where I can help people and that's really what I want to do," said Magda.

Madison Magda is excited to take the next steps in her academic and athletic career. "I'm really excited to make new friends and to have a new family with my cross country team," said Madison. Madison looked back fondly on her time competing for the Comets, crediting the Jonesville coaches for creating a great atmosphere that made the runners want to return to compete each season. Madison has battled through medical concerns during her running career. Madison has asthma and has had great support from her family, coaches and teammates that have helped her during her career.

“I don’t think I would have been where I was at the end of my senior year if it wasn’t for my teammates, family and coaches. They all helped me battle through with medical issues and helped me accomplish my goals.”

Madison's immediate family want to thank Jonesville for all the support during her high school journey. "Her Cross Country Coach Perrin and Track Coach Koniecki were a big influence on her," said Jesse Magda, Madison's father. "They helped her fall in love with the sport and helped push her so she could make it to the next level."

All of her parents expressed how excited they were to see Madison start her new academic and athletic career with the Hornets. "We are excited to watch her grow and see where this journey takes her," said Lindsay Fucile.

Madison Magda earned several accolades throughout her running career with Jonesville. Madison was the 800-meter conference champion in track and helped lead the 4x400-meter team to a conference championship. Magda was an All-Region cross country runner, and she qualified for the D3 State Championships her senior year.

Madison ran against more than 100 other runners at the state finals, which are held at Michigan International Speedway annually. She finished with a final time of 22:46. Madison finished with All-Conference, All-Region and All-Area Dream Team honors her senior cross country season. Madison also helped the girls cross country team win the Big 8 championships.

In addition to her athletic accolades, Madison was a National Honor Society and Student Council member at Jonesville. Magda finished her senior year with a 3.9 GPA.

Kalamazoo College competes on the NCAA Division III level of athletics. The college is a private liberal arts institution. It is one of the highest awarded private colleges in the state of Michigan. They offer 30 majors and are known for offering a unique academic plan for their students that includes study abroad opportunities. The Women's cross country team has competed in the NCAA DIII championships. The team is led by head coach Kyle Morrison. The Hornets compete in the MIAA.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Madison Magda prepares to start running career for Kalamazoo College