VESTAL, N.Y. – Monday was a special day for Emily Mackay and the Binghamton Division of Athletics. She returned to her old college, Binghamton University, for the first time since competing in the Paris Olympics. Mackay was the guest speaker at the 20th Annual Celebrating Women’s Athletic Luncheon (CWAL), which attracted over 900 people.
Mackay stands out as the event’s first alumna speaker. She is a five-time All-American in track and cross country, making her mark as one of the top middle-distance runners in the U.S. Last summer, she qualified for the Paris Olympics in the women’s 1,500 and made it to the semifinals. Earlier in the year, she won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships.
Her running journey started at Union-Endicott High School, where she set New York State Section 4 records in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters. She also qualified for the 2014 Nike National Cross Country Meet.
In 2017, Mackay transferred to Binghamton from Oregon State. By 2020, she earned her first All-America honor by placing 14th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. She ended her college career with a sixth-place finish in the 1,500 at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
After finishing college, she signed with New Balance Boston in June 2022. Since then, she’s made impressive strides in her career. In 2023, she became one of only 13 American women to run the 1,500 in under four minutes, with a personal best of 3:55.90, which ranks third in U.S. history.
On Monday, events began at 9 a.m. with a ceremony where local dignitaries praised Mackay. She also held her first in-person press conference since before the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Mackay expressed her excitement, saying, “I woke up with so much gratitude. I have so many great memories from my time here. The community means a lot to me, and I’m thrilled to see familiar faces.”
After meeting community members, it was time for her big speech at the CWAL event. She shared her journey from being a less motivated athlete to becoming an Olympian. Mackay realized the importance of dedication after watching her teammates and decided to match their commitment.
“I stopped settling for good and started trying to be great,” she reflected. “I became close friends with my teammates, spent more time training, and focused harder on my studies. I went from being a B student to getting straight A’s. Each success pushed me to improve.”
As she wrapped up her speech, Mackay encouraged everyone to commit fully to their goals: “Put your all into everything you do and don’t fear failure. Making the Olympics was just the beginning for me.”
Before her, current Binghamton women’s soccer player Isabella Martillo spoke about the challenges and victories of being a female athlete. She emphasized the importance of resilience and lifting up future generations of women.
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger also addressed the crowd, thanking them for their ongoing support of women’s athletics and expressing excitement over having Mackay back on campus.
Mackay’s appearance added to the prestigious lineup of past speakers at the CWAL, which includes many notable athletes. This event has raised over $500,000 for the BBAA Scholarship Fund, supporting student-athletes at Binghamton University.
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