MANCOS – For Mancos athlete Teagan Archer, science and running overlap.
The sport combines the mechanisms of following mileage formulas and accounting for one’s own cardiovascular VO2 max, a measure of how much oxygen you use when exercising.
Archer has delved into science with projects and experiments, many of which took form in science fairs. Her father and cross-country coach Brady Archer facilitates a science fair and encourages expansive thinking from all his students. His daughter has taken the scientific method and run with it.
Yet, as in any scientific endeavor, the unknown variables that crop up throughout the testing may throw off the final results or at least lead to unexpected findings.
For Archer, the results have been remarkable during her first couple of seasons of high school.
She jolted to the front of Class 2A from her first days running high school cross-country – earning 20th place in her first state appearance and then 17th a year later while leading the Bluejays to back-to-back top-10 finishes in the state championships.
Archer also enjoyed qualification in track and field in both years, making the 4x800 relay, 1,600, and 3,200 meters her freshman year, then the 2-mile again a year later. Her 10th-place run in the 3,200 from her freshman season landed her the highest finish among the various state appearances.
“I remember how much I loved my team from my freshman year, how much they welcomed and accepted me – the running was really secondary,” Archer said.
Junior year wasn’t as kind to Archer, but in the midst of challenges on the trails, it gave her an opportunity to evaluate one of her biggest findings in years of running.
“I learned that I had to get to the root of ‘why’ I enjoy running,” said Archer, “because there are definitely some days when you don’t enjoy it as much.”
“It wasn’t about the competition or because I was good at it – I had to find the true reason, and that was to find a place to clear my mind and feel connected to my cross-country community. I’ve learned that I feel like I’m able to show up as my true self when I’m around my teammates.”
Much like her joy on the running trails, Archer has found similar thrills in the classroom.
Archer has collected an impressive haul of accolades from her scientific pursuits, including being recognized with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Award and Women Engineers Award at the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair. The awards fall in line with her passion for product design and development, an ambition that she looks to continue in college.
“All the projects that I’ve done since I started science fair in sixth grade have been oriented toward product design. Learning how things were made, and how to make them better, I really felt like that was my passion,” she said.
Many of her interests tie in with her love for the outdoors, including one of her innovations, which included research of a backpacking cooking pot that would transfer the heat differential between the water inside the pot and the cooler air outside to generate energy that could be used to charge electronic devices.
“It all starts with asking questions of what problems other people have in their life, and trying to find an answer for it,” she said.
As she prepares for college next year, Archer has collected certificates in drone aviation through Mancos Explore Pathways, a process that gained her experience and diversification of her wide range of skills.
“When she was young, we encouraged to ask any questions that she had,” said cross-country head coach Brady Archer, “and she’s always been inquisitive, looking for why things work the way that they do.”
The carryover between sport and academia galvanized during Archer’s high school experience, especially when a project didn’t turn out as expected.
“With running and with product design, it’s OK to make mistakes,” she said, “and you take that moment and learn what you feel like you can do better, and leave the rest.”
She is the Bluejays cross-country team’s senior leader, ready to push herself to her limits, much like she has in the classroom.
In the process, Archer looks to a season of being the teammate that she appreciated having from her initial seasons in the sport.
“I want to be part of the strong support network for my teammates – to be with them through all the highs and lows – and enjoy the journey along the way.”
