Following injury-plagued stint at Oregon State and extensive training during pandemic, former Union-Endicott standout is thriving once again in New York, earning All-America honors in cross country and track, and emerging as a legitimate indoor title contender as a graduate student-athlete

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

At the start of the women’s 3,000-meter race Jan. 28 at the Boston University Terrier Classic, Emily Mackay had no idea who she was racing.

It wasn’t until she looked around, the realization hit – she was the only collegiate in a heat of all professional runners. 

“I was like, ‘Holy crap,’” Mackay said with a laugh. “I was very excited but also some nerves, and just a little hint of doubt, ‘Can I actually do this?’ Am I ready to do this right now?’ But I was excited to test my limits and race in a heat of pro athletes.”

Turns out Mackay was more than ready.

In her first 3,000 race in nearly two years, the graduate student-athlete from Binghamton University in New York finished in third place, running a personal-best 8:54.45, shattering her previous 3,000 best of 10:00.84.

Annie Rodenfels, representing adidas and Boston Athletic Association, edged Puma Elite athlete Taylor Werner by an 8:52.84 to 8:52.86 margin.

As mind-boggling an improvement as Mackay’s time was, her performance was right in line with what she’s been accomplishing throughout this indoor season.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Binghamton head coach Annette Acuff said. “I expected her to run around 8:55 and she ran 8:54, which was a pretty good guess.” 

If you’ve never heard of Mackay (Mc-KYE - rhymes with eye) or can’t pronounce the name of the school (BING-ham-ton), you’re not alone.

The city in upstate New York is regarded as “The Carousel Capital of the World,” showcasing six of the remaining antique carousels in existence. It’s an appropriate setting for Mackay, who has been on a unique ride for the past six years.

It’s taken years for the New York native to slowly develop into one of the top college distance runners, but she currently holds the nation’s fastest mile time of 4:32.55 from Jan. 22 at Penn State, ranks No. 6 in the 3,000 (8:54.45) and is 14th overall in the 5,000 (15:44.93), along with producing a 2:06.21 effort Jan. 15 in the 800 at Lehigh. 

This Friday at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University, Mackay will have another opportunity to add to her already growing resume and legacy as she’s entered in the elite women’s mile. 

“It’s super exciting because my coach and I thought I could run those times for almost a year now, and actually to finally get out there and actually do it, it feels very validating. I’m incredibly excited with where I’m at and excited to be running those times I’ve dreamed of running for a couple years now.”

Mackay’s path has been a long and windy one, but it’s been a journey defined on embracing the process. 

“It’s quite a long story, years of development,” Acuff said with a laugh. “It was a matter of helping her to build her fitness back, and also her confidence.”

Mackay landed at Binghamton following a brief stint in the Pacific Northwest.

A 2016 graduate of Union-Endicott High in New York, Mackay signed with Oregon State University. But the summer before heading to college, Mackay suffered micro tears in the flexor plate of her second metatarsal (the toe next to the big toe).

Mackay said it would get very swollen after running and painful to walk. Lasting until December, Mackay never really found her footing, literally, at Oregon State. Coupled with homesickness, Mackay made the decision to head back to her roots.

“I decided to be somewhere where I’d be happy if I wasn’t running and that’s what made me transfer back home to Binghamton.”

Once she arrived at Binghamton, Mackay began working with Acuff, who has been with the program for 22 years.

A former Division 1 runner herself, Acuff’s first mission was to help Mackay reestablish her passion for the sport. A former soccer player up until the 10th grade, Mackay said her favorite part of the sport has always been the community aspect.

As a junior In high school she was part of a memorable 1,500 meters at the New York State Outdoor Championship, where she was barely edged out by now adidas professional runner Sammy Watson by a 4:25.24 to 4:25.32 margin.

That race also included New York legends Kelsey Chimel, an All-American at North Carolina State, and On Athletics Club professional Sage Hurta, the reigning Division 1 indoor mile champion representing Colorado.

“I always had so much fun getting together with my teammates for a run,” she said. “It was my favorite part of my day and something I always looked forward to doing after class.”

Mackay, who took some time away from the sport, arrived at Binghamton a bit beaten and broken, but ready for a new beginning.

“I can’t say enough great things about coach Acuff. We’ve had a great relationship, and she has believed in me,” Mackay said. “I think that has been the most important factor in getting me back into running competitively.”

With time needed to develop more endurance, Acuff had Mackay focus on the 800 and then slowly move up distances. By the end of Mackay’s sophomore outdoor track season in 2019, she was running a 4:29.73 1,500. That indoor season, more development followed as she lowered her mile time, clocking 4:46.38.

With still some lingering frustrations on building up her mileage, the sudden onslaught of the pandemic and cancellation of college athletics gave Mackay something she needed most – time.

“Endurance was always the thing I needed to work on building the most over speed and strength, and not being able to run the higher mileage was frustrating,” she said. “I feel like during COVID-19, it was almost easier for me to stay focused on running without all the other distractions, and I was able to take time to focus.”

A green light to compete and a focus on cross country over track for the 2021 winter season, Mackay was able to put her hard work on full display. She won the American East Championships in 17:27.1 to become Binghamton’s first female student-athlete to earn a berth at the Division 1 Cross Country Championships.

She went on to earn All-American status as she finished in 14th place in March at the NCAA Championships in 20:34.5 in Stillwater, Okla. Focusing on the 5,000 during the spring, she placed seventh at the Division 1 Outdoor final in June in a personal-best 15:42.38.

With more confidence, endurance and overall fitness, Mackay has already put together a memorable indoor season.

“With her aerobic fitness improving so much, and I firmly believe, as her coach, it’s made a tremendous difference in her mile speed,” Acuff said. “She’s just a lot more fit. She’s always had the leg speed.”

Mackay’s performance at the Boston University Terrier Classic was extra special for her, as she was paced by former high school rival and fellow New York Section IV runner Abbey Wheeler.

While still five weeks away from the Division 1 indoor championship meet March 11-12 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala., Mackay remains encouraged about her times. 

“It’s very exciting for me because I just recently started seeing success in the longer distances, but it feels good to be able to go back to my roots and have success in the middle distance as well,” Mackay said. “It gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the season that I do have the speed and endurance and strength.”

Described as an individual with a bubbly personality and great sense of humor, Acuff said Mackay is someone who has been very easy to work with and carries a genuine enthusiasm and passion for the sport.

Next for Mackay, she’ll find herself surrounded by more exceptional competitors in her third appearance this season at Boston University, seeking another personal best in the mile.

“For this girl to go from like pretty competitive in the middle distance to willing to challenge herself in cross country and the 5,000 on the track, and then also still want to run well in the mile and 3K, it doesn’t matter the distance, she’ll do what she can and improve and challenge herself with that distance,” Acuff said. “Which I think is what makes her a pretty great distance runner.”