Detroit Mercy track & cross country is welcoming the Koss sisters to the team. Meghan and Kirsten Koss are a sister running duo that have joined the University of Detroit Mercy’s freshman class this year to pursue their passion for running and continue their educational journey.
Growing up as sisters, Meghan and Kirsten shared a lot of things, but the biggest thing was their passion for running.
Meghan and Kirsten’s passion for running started at an early age. They began running for enjoyment in elementary school. In middle school they decided to turn their hobby into a sport and began running competitively. They continued to run track and cross country in high school, where they both performed outstandingly, ultimately getting them into elite competitions like championships.
Now, the Koss sisters have brought their outstanding talents to the University of Detroit Mercy.
Although they are both runners, they run in different fashions. Kirsten is a long-distance runner while Meghan is a sprinter. Kirsten partakes in both cross country and track, while Meghan sticks to only track.
Kirsten’s two main events are the mile and 800 meters. Her best kept time for the mile is 5:24 and for the 800m it is 2:19. For cross country, her best 5k time is 19:31 and her 6k time is 23:51. As for Meghan, her main events are the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. Her personal record for the 100m is 12.36 seconds, and for the 200m it is 25.26 seconds.
They are a duo on the track, but off the track they are a trio. The Koss sisters are not twins; they are in fact triplets. You will only see Meghan and Kirsten running around the University because the trio split up for college. Their third triplet, Katherine Koss, attends Michigan State University. Unlike Meghan and Kirsten, the sisterly passion for running did not pass onto Katherine. She is not partaking in running, or any sports for that matter, at Michigan State, but her siblings described her as an intelligent and talented hard worker as she is dedicated to her studies.
When Meghan and Kirsten aren’t running, they are prioritizing their studies. Meghan is in the PA (Physician Assistant) program and Kirsten is in PT (Physical Therapy) program.
Due to Meghan and Kirsten’s demanding schedules that consist of having to balance running with school, the Koss sisters are typically separated from the crack of dawn until the end of their day.
“My day starts with an early practice (6 a.m.) which consists of running a couple miles or a workout,” Kirsten said. “Then I spend late afternoon in class.”
Her sister has a different schedule.
“For me, it’s a little bit different. I start my day off with classes and then towards the middle of the day I have practice,” Meghan said. “Then I end my day lifting weights in the gym.We basically don’t get to see each other until the evenings.”
Though the Koss sisters are outstanding athletes, they are only human. They struggle at times with running, but with their motivated and hardworking mindsets they are determined to keep going.
“Be patient; it’s not always going to go your way but if you stay positive, eventually over time it will get better,” Kirsten said. “What keeps me feeling positive and motivated is thinking of my support systems like my teammates, coaches, and family.”
Meghan has her own motivators too.
“Don’t give up, it might seem hard right now but, in the end, it will be worth it when you get what you were working for,” Meghan said.
The sisters also share some inspiring words they would have said to their younger selves struggling with running.
“Advice I’d give my younger self is I’m glad that she stuck with it,” Kirsten said. “It’s hard at times but sometimes when you are in the hardest moments, you work the best. Don’t give and keep going, and make sure to have self-confidence in yourself because that’s where it starts.”
Meghan’s advice differs a little.
“I would say to believe in myself because I know what I’m capable of, and don’t give up,” Meghan said. “When I was little, I would give up very easily. You just have to stay determined and focused.”
Guy Murray, the track and cross-country coach at Detroit Mercy, first met the Koss sisters while they were both touring the University during their sophomore year of high school, which eventually became their school of choice.
Coach Murray is joyed to have the Koss sisters on the team this year.
“As expected, it has been positive with an immediate impact,” Murray said. “Both are quite hard workers and very good competitors. I work with Kirsten daily and she had a great fall with cross–country. She was our top runner in her debut and bounced back from a mid-season illness to help us improve on our predicted finish at the Horizon League. Coach Johnson works with Meghan and expects a similar debut Friday for her. She hasn’t taken a back seat to anyone and based on time trials, her debut will be as good as Kirsten’s.”
With the cross-country season over, the Koss sisters have already been preparing for track season, and they plan on making it a great season packed with new personal records and accomplishments.
“For my upcoming track season, I would like to set as many personal records as I can and compete to the best of my abilities,” Meghan said.
Kirsten has similar things in mind.
“Goals I had for cross country this past season was just to try my best,” Kirsten said. “I wanted to have fun and enjoy all the hard work I was putting into the season. For track my goals are to qualify for Horizon League with the team in my events. Also again to just have fun, relax and enjoy all the running I do.”
