Meg Wilson, left, of Nashville has been friends with Kentucky high school track standout Sophie Galloway for about five years and is transferring from Miami to UK partially because of Galloway's recommendation.
Nashville track standout Meg Wilson won the Tennessee state indoor title in the 400-meter run in 2020 and long jump in 2019. She was state runner-up in the long jump two other times and also a two-time qualifier for the New Balance Indoor Nationals twice. She spent her freshman season at Miami (Ohio) — in part because she wanted to major in zoology — but now is transferring to join the University of Kentucky track program.
“I thought they had a good (zoology) program, or so I thought. Obviously, I wanted to run track and field and talked to the coaches who told me great things, I talked to some people on the team and obviously, they told me great things as well,” said Wilson. “I was pretty disappointed when I got there with the whole coaching situation and overall program. It was nothing like what I was told.
“I was just concerned for my future there. It was okay during indoor season and then went downhill. I had a bit of an injury, nothing major, but the coach was pretty cautious. Maybe the coach was overly cautious and did not want me to run at all. My jumps were not improving like I thought they would.”
She belonged to the successful Kinder Sports Track Club in Nashville. She told her coach there, Gary Kinder, she didn’t see herself “flourishing” at Miami. He agreed and mentioned Kentucky.
Her friend and Kinder teammate, Sophie Galloway of Marshall County, had “always talked great” about Kentucky. Galloway was a four-time Gatorade Kentucky Track Athlete of the Year who signed with Tennessee but changed her mind this summer and is now headed to Arkansas.
Galloway had considered Kentucky but wanted to go to school where she would not already know a lot of people. However, she praised UK assistant coach Kris Grimes, who works with jumpers. So did Kinder and Galloway’s parents.
“It just seemed the right place,” she said. “Competing in the long jump is going to be my main focus at Kentucky. Hopefully, maybe I can be part of the 400 (relay) crew. My times are not really there right now. Those girls are all pretty fast but I hope training with them will improve my time to where I can at least get on the relays.”
Former UK athletes just won five medals — including three gold medals — in the Tokyo Olympics.
“It is a big step up in competition. I know that,” Wilson said. “I am still pretty nervous about the whole thing. I never envisioned myself at an SEC school. I have always had a fear of being able to compete at this level.”
She said what former UK athletes did in Tokyo was both inspiring and intimidating.
“It was incredible to watch them and I am super excited to be part of the program but it comes with stress, too,” Wilson said. “I am willing to work for it but I know what a big step up this is.”
Galloway says Kentucky is getting a “good one” who has terrific athleticism.
“She is a great long jumper, but I think she is just as good or better at the sprints. She has been one of my training partners for the last four years, so we have pushed each other which was good for the both of us,” Galloway said. “She knows what it is like to train hard, and is very capable of doing well in the SEC. Coach (Lonnie) Greene and coach Grimes will love her.
“It’s kind of neat because she is going to be the Kindersport Kid in Kentucky now. However, I’m the most excited she is coming to Kentucky because I will get to see her at track meets.”
It also was not hard for this former Tennessee prep star to put on the UK blue.
“I didn’t really grow up a Tennessee fan. I don’t know why but I just never was,” Wilson said.
What about her major at UK?
“I have switched plans in life there too. I am a science nerd. I am stuck with general bio but I am also getting a minor in criminology,” Wilson said. “I am trying to find some new interests.”
