Magnolia Hougan is a senior at Berkeley High School who currently holds the schoolwide female mile record. She fell in love with running track in her freshman year. Her favorite song to play while running is “American Idiot,” by Green Day, because it has the ideal cadence for runners. “If I have the cadence in my head a little bit faster than that, then I know that I’ll be going at least 180 steps per minute,” she added. Before joining both track and cross country, Hougan struggled with anorexia, which impacted both her mental and physical health. Working to get stronger, faster, and chasing personal records supported her in improving her overall wellbeing. “Seeing the immediate results of when I am healthier, and stronger, that I can push my body to do more amazing things … It totally flipped my mindset,” Hougan said. Running changed her perspective on what it takes to make your body stronger for yourself and your sport. “I’m always going to remember how much it changed my life, how much it helped me, and how much it saved me,” Hougan said.
Athlete Profile: Magnolia Hougan
By Alana Cortes,
October 25th, 2024