Former Wisconsin Star Adjusting To Professional Running In Midst Of Pandemic

By Theresa Juva Brown for DyeStat

Already a six-time All-American and NCAA Division 1 indoor champion in the 5,000 meters, University of Wisconsin senior Alicia Monson looked forward to relishing in the final months of her collegiate career with her beloved teammates. 

But she wouldn’t get the joyous ending she imagined. 

In March, as the global Coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S., the NCAA canceled all spring sports. It later announced it would extend eligibility for seniors who lost their spring seasons, but individual schools would ultimately decide if they could afford to keep athletes an extra year. 

Wisconsin leaders said, “no.” 

“Before the announcement, I had been thinking about either taking the extra year or turning professional,” recalled Monson, who finished second at the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships last November.

“The announcement that Wisconsin seniors would not get eligibility back was tough to hear, but I was okay with it because it simply made my decision more concrete.”

Putting her disappointment in the rearview mirror, Monson, 22, recently signed with Total Sports US, an athlete management agency that will help her secure sponsorships and plan races when they eventually resume. 

Launching a professional running career during such a tumultuous time comes with a lot of question marks, she acknowledged.  

“The positions companies are in vary, and many people are struggling,” she said, but “in the long term people have hope that things will get better.”

For now, she is focused on staying healthy and keeping up with her workouts. She’s currently living in Madison, Wis., and sharing a household with two training partners. Like many runners, she’s had to adjust to new routines, like stretching in her living room and lifting in her driveway. 

She stays in touch with family and friends through FaceTime and text messages, but especially misses her infant nephew. 

“I wish I could safely visit him since he seems to grow up so fast — he can stand up by himself, and he's learning to walk,” she said.

Although life in recent months has been filled with a lot of uncertainty and frustration, Monson has done a remarkable job of handling it all, said Mackenzie Wartenberger, Monson’s coach and head coach of women’s cross country at Wisconsin. 

“Alicia has always impressed me with her confidence and adaptability — things that will be critical as we adjust to the 'new normal’ — and attributes that I believe will set her apart from her peers,” Wartenberger said. “I believe she is one of the most talented young distance athletes in the country right now — male or female — so if she can stay on course, I think the sky is the limit for her performance.”

Monson won the 2019 NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter title and was set to defend her crown when growing concern over the Coronavirus shut down the Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. on March 12. 

Although she didn’t get to cap her collegiate career the way she wanted, Monson said she is grateful for her accomplishments as a Badger, including building a team of strong women, and she remains optimistic about the future. 

She hopes to make her debut as a professional in the coming months as she eyes the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials next year. 

“Even though these are weird times, I'm excited for what's next,” she said. “I'm taking each day as a chance to reset, find motivation, enjoy those around me, and get ready for the year ahead.”