(KMAland) -- Throughout the month of August, KMA Sports is introducing the 2018-19 KMA Sports Hall of Fame class.
On Thursday, a two-time state cross country champion - and Iowa’s first 2.5 mile champ - Megan (Winkelmann) Ivusic was announced.
The former Nodaway Valley star won the Class 1A championship in 2002 before a Class 2A title in 2003.
“I remember being undefeated (going into state),” Ivusic said on Thursday’s Upon Further Review, “but it didn’t really hit me until I got to state. Once I got to state, we started the race, and I was ahead the entire time.”
Ivusic, who was also a four-time state track medalist, says winning two state championships has continued to have a major impact on her life.
“It told me anything I put my mind to I can accomplish,” she said. “I’m still running, but not the way I used to. I did the Dam to Dam (this year), and I ran 12.4 miles and was under three minutes from my top time. I haven’t been training, so it was nice to go back and show I’ve still got it.”
Ivusic says she had a clear mentor and role model when it came to running.
“It had to be my cousin Jodi,” she said. “I tried out for volleyball and basketball, and I got benched. I didn’t think I would be good at anything. I started running with her, and she told me I needed to try out for cross country or track.”
“So, I went out for cross country my 8th grade year, and I got second in my first meet. I decided, ‘Hey, I can do this!’”
Ivusic will be inducted into the KMA Sports Hall of Fame at a later date to be determined. She joins Shenandoah’s Missy Buttry Rock, the late Rick O’Rourke of Villisca and Suzanne Youngberg Rigg of Essex in the cross country wing.
Hear the complete interview with Ivusic linked here.
Previous announcements are linked below. Listen to KMA's Upon Further Review each day in August for a new Hall of Fame announcement.
Wednesday, August 1st - Dan Martinez, Red Oak (Coach)
Thursday, August 2nd - Ricky Williams, Riverside (Basketball)
Friday, August 3rd - 1989 Glenwood Wrestling (Team)
Monday, August 6th - Bill Blay, Griswold (Track & Field/Cross Country)
Tuesday, August 7th - Madison Frain Peterson, Creston (Softball)
Wednesday, August 8th - 2008 Lenox Football (Team)
