Morgan Nokes delivered a head-turner performance at the NCAA Regional Cross-Country Championships. The Utah Valley University standout powered through the Mountain Regional course to finish 7th with a blazing 20:13.0 – this secured her ticket to the Nationals in Columbia, Missouri. But why is her performance drawing so much attention despite not landing on the podium?

The answer lies in her journey off the course. Just eight months ago, Nokes gave birth to her son, Theo. Balancing motherhood with elite competition is no small feat, yet she is navigating both roles with remarkable finesse. That’s why the video of her wearing her Mountain Regional finisher’s medal while holding her baby captured so many hearts. On top of that, she was named WAC Female Athlete of the Year earlier this season, further cementing her rising profile.

In the clip shared by FloTrack on Instagram, Nokes’ excitement is unmistakable. Over the background audio, she can be heard saying, “I’m a mommy… I’m a mom.” Her husband, Joey, responded with a burst of pride and affection—“Mamasita!”—perfectly echoing the sentiment of Nokes’ earlier Instagram post: “I’m grateful for my support system and my husband, who is chasing dreams with me.”

Her coach, Scott Houle, has also been firmly in her corner. When she first told him she was becoming a mother, his reaction was nothing but supportive. “I want you to come back, though. I want you to keep running,” he told her. Those words that erased any lingering doubts and helped her commit to returning after missing the 2024–25 season.

Throughout her collegiate career, Nokes has consistently set herself apart. In the 2023–24 season, she claimed her first victory at the UVU Invitational as a Wolverine, earned second place at the UCR Invitational, and took fourth at the Paul Short Run at Lehigh. She was also the WAC Indoor 3K champion at the BYU Indoor Invitational and the 5K champion at the Mountain States Games. Later, she qualified for the NCAA West Preliminaries and national semifinals in both the 5000m and 10,000m. Her excellence extended to the classroom as well, earning her College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.

As the video of her latest finish made waves online, fans flooded the comments with admiration.

Morgan Nokes garners praise for her NCAA Nationals spot

It takes extraordinary strength and willpower to do what Nokes has done, prompting one viewer to declare, “She’s a superwoman.” Fellow runner Emily Infeld chimed in with, “Rockstar mama! 💪💪,” and Kiera D’Amato quickly followed, cheering, “Let’s go, Morgan!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️.” Their support only adds to the momentum Nokes is carrying into Nationals.

Former collegiate athlete Amy Luczak also applauded her achievement, acknowledging the challenge of juggling sports and school – let alone motherhood. “This is ridiculously incredible–as a former collegiate swimmer, it felt impossible at times to juggle academics and athletics–let alone raise a precious baby (who, BTW, is the cutest smush ever),” she wrote. Luczak congratulated Nokes, called her performance incredible, and promised to cheer her on in her next race.

Fans echoed similar sentiments. One commented, “Mom, student and athlete 🤯. That’s hard work 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽.” Another added, “🙌 way to show it’s possible!!” The consensus was clear: Nokes is proving that determination can rewrite expectations—maybe even create a kind of superpower of its own.

But what do you think of Nokes’ performance? Can all this support help propel her even further in Columbia?