Photography by Brandi Stage Portraiture | Makeup & hair by Bria Fowler of Elle Louise, LLC.
The word quit is not in Cory Ann McGee’s vocabulary.
Persistence has defined McGee from her earliest days in Pass Christian, when she ran with her dad and elder sibling, Shannon, on the beach. Never one to cut herself slack, she was determined to keep up with her big sister for as long as possible.
“We would run from one pier to the next as my grandfather would drive along Scenic Drive, ready to pick us up when we were tired and wanted a break,” she recalls. “Then we would go for ice cream! Running was a way to spend time together and enjoy the Gulf Coast.”
The potential McGee showed in those family beach races started manifesting in sixth grade, when her family was living abroad in Athens, Greece. Her first competitive race and introduction to international athletics was in Cairo, Egypt.
“I fell in love with the experiences my sport provided at a young age,” McGee says, “and knew if I continued to work hard, running could grant many opportunities to me in life.”
And grant it has — from world championship and Olympic appearances to a deal with footwear and apparel company New Balance. As soon as she began racing competitively, McGee racked up win after win.
“I have always loved to push myself, and running track was a way to see my hard work directly translate to results,” she says. “I fell in love with the idea of being one of the best in the world and began working toward that goal early in life.”
Although McGee’s priorities have shifted somewhat, as she settles into life as a newlywed, her drive and commitment to excellence are ingrained in her character — inspiring anyone who wants to achieve greatness in 2025.
BECOMING ONE OF THE BEST
A Pass Christian native, McGee has three sisters, who also ran track. After their stint in Greece, the family returned to the Coast in 2005 and weathered Hurricane Katrina when McGee was in eighth grade. Her grandmother lost her house in the storm, which claimed over 1,300 lives and caused $125 billion in damage.
“While our home was going through devastation, it was deeply important to me to represent my hometown and bring awareness to the tragedy happening along the Mississippi Coast,” she says. “I trained hard through the difficult time with the help of my family and close friends.”
That year, McGee won her first high school national title.
“This inspired my motivation to prove a girl from Mississippi could be one of the best distance runners in the world,” she says.
While at Pass Christian High School, McGee was the 2010 Mississippi Class 4A State champion in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter events and placed second at the Nike Indoor Championships in the mile, among her other accomplishments. Her winning streak continued at the University of Florida, where McGee secured numerous Southeastern Conference titles, as well as two runner-up National Collegiate Athletic Association titles while earning a degree in political science.
Her passion for running intensified during her time in Gainesville, where she claimed her first U.S. Junior title and made her first U.S. team, traveling to Moscow, Russia, to compete at the 2013 world championships — her first of four. In 2021, McGee proudly donned the Team USA uniform at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where she finished 12th in the 1500-meter event.
“Now, in addition to representing my home state, I was honored to represent the United States, McGee says. “This is my greatest honor and what has motivated me every step of the way over the last two decades.”
‘EACH RACE HAS A LESSON’
McGee tends to thrive in high-pressure situations, which is where she feels the calmest and most in control. Nonetheless, track and field is full of bittersweet moments, of which the talented runner has experienced her share.
“One part of the sport I love though is there are many ways to feel proud of your results,” she says.
For instance, while McGee didn’t make the 2024 Olympic team, she set a new personal record during the trials.
“Ultimately it was the most competitive U.S. championship 1500-meter race in history,” she says. “I feel honored to be a part of a race where five of the top 10 all-time U.S. women’s 1500-meter times were run. It was an incredible race and one I will never forget.”
The seasoned athlete deals with disappointment by being kind to herself and giving herself a day to be upset if needed. Then, she gets back to work.
“Each race has a lesson, so I try to quickly evaluate what I did wrong and how I can be better, then apply that in the future,” she says. “It is easier to sulk, so I challenge myself to be proactive and not take my bad days personally.”
McGee’s other strategy when things don’t go her way is to laugh it off.
“If you let it become personal, it can take a dig at your confidence,” she says, “so I protect myself from negativity and move on.”
McGee runs between 70 and 89 miles each week when her training is in full gear, and the grueling workload is enough to tax even the most dedicated professional. On days she lacks motivation, she counts on the women she trains with to hold her accountable.
“Running is similar to most things in life, where the happiest and most fulfilling moments are a culmination of the work required to get there, McGee says.
“As with anything worth having, it’s much sweeter and more rewarding when it is shared with others who were on the same journey.”
‘IT’S COOL TO CARE’
Some of the best advice she’s ever received came from her father, who once wrote to her, “Champions train even on the days they do not want to.” He offered these wise words at a time when other interests were emerging for McGee and she occasionally found excuses to skip a run.
“My dad has a great way of knowing me better than I know myself sometimes,” she says. “This simple concept helped me get through a lot of days in my career where I did not always feel like doing what needed to be done.”
Although she has lost relationships due to her intense focus, McGee found that as she got older, she connected with people who were just as enthusiastic about their own interests. Her advice to others is “It’s cool to care,” even if vocalizing your passion and goals is not necessarily popular and apathy is more relatable.
“It isn’t always easy, but it is worth it,” McGee says. “You can’t even be great at one thing if you do not care about anything.”
ON A NEW TRACK
Now a married woman, McGee plans to relocate from Boulder, Colorado, to Boston this winter. She and her husband, PJ Sullivan, wed last March in Santa Barbara, California, and are excited to live together after a six-year long-distance relationship.
When McGee is not competing somewhere in the world, she’s cherishing down time with her family in Pass Christian, which she calls “my favorite place of all.” In the short term, she plans to find her footing in her new home and spend more time in one place.
“I have grown accustomed to traveling nearly 250 days of the year,” McGee says. “It will be really rewarding to prioritize slowing down and embracing a new chapter of life.”
The accomplished runner defines success as finding your calling and being willing to test your limits. Upon reflection, she feels most proud of having self-belief in moments when circumstances were not in her favor.
“There were injuries and setbacks,” McGee says, “and I am really grateful to my inner voice for being positive and telling me if I try my best, that will be enough.”