Coachability, dedication and consistency are three characteristics that transformed promising Mansfield University women's track and field high jumper Madison Fox from an athlete with potential to a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contender and a top-10 school record holder by the time the indoor season came to an end this winter.

Fox kicked off her rookie season by hitting a PSAC mark of 1.50 meters in the high jump at her first collegiate meet. Her ability to improve and stay consistent was showcased in the Mounties second meet at the Houghton Early Season Classic where she registered a jump at 1.56 meters (3^rd place), notching her career-high and the fifth-highest mark in indoor program history.
 

Fox would go on to total six top-10 finishes on the season, including an excellent showing at the conference meet where she reached the podium by placing eighth with a mark of 1.54-meters in Edinboro's indoor facility.

Fox's notable finishes included fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.50 at the Susquehanna University Invitational, seventh with a jump of 1.47 at the Susquehanna University Challenge, third with a mark of 1.46 at the Highlander Invitational and fifth with a jump of 1.50 at the Southern Tier Collegiate Open.

A two-sport athlete just down the road at Loyalsock High School, Fox is just as successful in the classroom, as she earned Dean's list and English Outstanding Freshman Award.
 

Fox and the rest of the Mountaineer women's track and field team had their spring season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however she will return at full strength when the next season resumes.

Check in with the rising Mountaineer sophomore jumper as she talks about time off, practice during the pandemic, what athletics has meant to her, her favorite quote and more.

What has athletics meant to you?
 
A: This sport means family to me. Although track and field could not be a more individualized sport, the family bond is still present. We wake up early for lifts, together. We are jumping at the finish line, together. We struggle through sore muscles, together. We lift each other up. We grow together. We celebrate one another… and that's exactly what I believe family is about.

How has sports helped you grow into the person you have become?
 
A: Sports have taught me to find comfort in pushing myself beyond my limits. They've taught me I can always lead better, jump higher, and train harder even when my mind tells me I can't. 

How has not playing sports during these difficult times been for you?

A: This time away from sports has made me realize the urgency of being present in the "now". It taught me to never take for granted putting on that red and black uniform. The saying, "you don't know what you have until it's gone" took on a whole new meaning this year. 
 

What quote inspires you and is preparing you for a return-to-sports in your life?
 
A: "Make each day your masterpiece." – John Wooden

As a team leader, what message have you given to the team, especially the young players, during this time?

A: Being who you are down to your core is everything. As a leader, our ambition is what sets us apart and that's why I encourage people to act, train, and respond in ways that reflect their character.