BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — In hockey it might be considered a hat trick, it’s a possibly triple crown in horse racing and in basketball, it’d be a trifecta.

To Mifflin County High School product Kylee Cubbison, the accomplishments from her junior year at Bowling Green State University were considered mere achievements in reaching her goals.

From cross country to indoor track to outdoor track, Cubbison certainly enjoyed successful for the Falcons in her three sports. Transitioning from the outdoor season in cross country to indoor track to outdoor track seemed no issue for the distance runner.

“I’m really happy with how the year went,” Cubbison said. “I accomplished a lot of my big goals for the year and season.”

For outdoor track, Cubbison had her sights set on not only helping the Falcons win the overall team title but she wanted to qualify for the NCAA Division I East Regional. She achieved both and then some.

For the first time in school history, the Bowling Green women won the team titles at both the MAC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the same season.

“Winning indoors and outdoors as a team was a really cool moment,” Cubbison said. “Then to do it in the same year.”

She also defended her crown by winning the 1,500 again. That was Cubbison’s big three – at least her goals for her three sports.

On May 29, Cubbison was one of six individuals to represent the Falcons at the NCAA East Regional in Jacksonville, Fla. In the 1,500-meter race, she placed 24th in the first round, securing the last qualifying spot for the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately, a trip to Eugene for the NCAA Championships, hosted by the University of Oregon, was not meant to be as Cubbison placed 22nd in the quarterfinals two days later.

Despite not making the cut, she couldn’t have been more pleased with the results.

“I was really excited to make it there and go to quarterfinals,” said Cubbison, whose goal was merely to qualify for the East Regional.

Falcons cross country earns best GPA in Division I

For the second season in a row, the women’s cross country team has recorded the best team grade point average in Division I with a 3.97 mark. It also marks the 13th time in the last 14 seasons that the program has earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team honors.

Of all the teams in the country regardless of division, including NAIA and junior colleges, the Falcons ranked second in team GPA only behind Division II University of Mary (3.98 GPA). Cubbison, a health science major, has a 4.0 GPA. Not surprisingly, she was also included on the Cross Country Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team.

Ready for a vacation

After finishing at the East Regional, Cubbison took a two-week vacation before beginning preparations for the cross country season. “I get to rest and recover,” she said of the time off. “Mentally, it kind of lets me reset. But, it still goes by quick.”

She will take some time away from the sports. Perhaps focusing on other hobbies besides running.

“I like spending time with my family and our dogs and cats,” Cubbison said during an interview on the school’s athletic website. “I also enjoy building Legos. I’ve been building Legos since I was a kid and continue to add on to my collection.

“I am a big fan of the Office,” Cubbison added. “I’ve seen every episode and can watch them again and again.”

Competing in cross country and track and field which are so centric to time, Cubbison found herself making the most of hers.

Despite the grueling college track season, which sees the Falcons competing at different meets around the country, Cubbison says individual achievements morph into the program’s success.

“We’re spread out a lot during the season, but still have individual and team goals,” she explained. “One of the best things about this team is that we come together to support each other. We’re really good at that; people on this team bring a lot of energy.”

As far as personal bests in cross country, Cubbison finished the Tommy Evans Invitational 5K in 18:04.8 on Sept. 1, 2023. Her best time in the 6K is 20:34.5 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals on Nov. 15, 2024.

During the indoor season, Cubbison appeared in five meets, competing in the 3,000 and the mile. She set new personal bests in both at meets that were only weeks apart. She ran a 4:42.53 in the mile at the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 1 then came back with a 9:25.00 in the 3,000 at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet on Feb. 14.

“Obviously I am also proud to have won the 1500m at the MAC Championships and to have helped our team achieve the best team finish since 1998,” Cubbison said. “I am equally as proud to be on the BGSU Dean’s list.”

As far as time goes, the Falcons’ cross country schedule typically kicks off in August, so Cubbison is counting down the minutes. At least, that’s how times goes by.