Part of a series of stories featuring Rocket seniors who are graduating this spring.

By Paul Helgren, Associate Athletic Director for Communications

TOLEDO, Ohio – Jordan Doore knew something was off.

A distance runner for the University of Toledo track and cross country teams, Jordan had battled through numerous injuries throughout her career. But as she was preparing for the 2018 cross country season she began to notice something was not quite right with her body. She was accustomed to the wear and tear of competitive running, but this was something else.

"I started to experience some pain and numbness in parts of my body. I didn't know what was going on," said Doore, a senior who will be graduating with a degree in environmental studies this May. "Then it got worse. The numbness spread throughout my whole body and I had no energy. I was constantly on the verge of passing out, and was unable to finish workouts. I knew something was really wrong."

Doore went through a battery of tests and was eventually diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), a syndrome that affects the whole body, stemming from the body's inability to regulate normal functions, such as blood pressure and heart rate. Symptoms flare up when all she does is stand up. There is no known cure but it can be managed with medication.

"It was a relief to finally get a diagnosis, but at the same time I still felt terrible physically," said Jordan. "Mentally it was tough as well. I deal with a disorder that you can't see and most people have never heard of."

Despite this setback, Jordan was determined to continue competing. She was back on the track for the 2019 outdoor campaign. She set her personal best with a time of 4:49.44 in the mile at the RedHawk Invitational on April 20, and had a solid time of 4:54.33 in the 1500 meters at the 2019 MAC Outdoor Championship Meet on May 11. "I wasn't the most fit, but I was determined to run," she said.

Jordan's determination has been an inspiration to her teammates, according to head coach Andrea Grove-McDonough.

"There were lots of reasons that Jordan could have stopped running. Certainly most people would have called it quits," said McDonough, who took over as the director of cross country and track & field at Toledo in July of 2019. "But we are so grateful that Jordan continued to be a part of this team. She is a great teammate and a great role model. She comes to practice every day with a great attitude. She always seems to be in a great mood. I have never once heard her complain."

Of course, life is not exactly easy for Jordan. On some level, she deals with challenges nearly every day.

"My daily life can be difficult," said Jordan, who has aspirations to be a coach someday. "The medication helps, and I need to follow a good diet and always stay hydrated. Sometimes there is nothing I can do combat symptoms, so all I can do is take a nap and sleep it off. I try to listen to my body and do as much as I can when I feel good and rest when I don't."

Not being as active as she wants may be the toughest part for Jordan. She is happiest when she is busy. In addition to being an honor roll student and a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree, she served four years on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), including as president this past year. Jordan is one of two Rocket student-athletes who serves on the MAC Council of Student Athletes (COSA), and is very active in church and volunteer activities. All the while, she has continued to compete as a student-athlete, though her senior year has not been altogether smooth, either.

This past fall, Jordan sprained her ankle early on in the season but came back to compete at her last cross country meet at the EMU Open on Oct. 26. She rehabbed and came back to compete in the indoor track season, not knowing that the Akron Invitational on Feb. 8 would be her final competition wearing the Midnight Blue & Gold; the Coronavirus pandemic wiped out what would have been her last chance to compete in the outdoor track season this spring.

So as she approaches graduation this May and her final days as a Rocket, Jordan looks back on a challenging four years with no regrets.

"Nothing has gone as planned for me in my college experience," said Jordan. "But I've definitely learned from it. It's been a great experience for me at Toledo. I know that something good can come from anything."


Jordan Doore (right), along with with Emma Sampson of the women's swimming & diving
team, recently represented the University of Toledo at the MAC Council of Student Athletes
in Cleveland.

Previous Stories on Rocket Graduates
April 10 - Mariella Santucci Made the Most of Her Collegiate Experience
April 8 - Grant Godfrey is Ready to Pursue His Dreams
April 6 - Obi Anunike Made His Own Impact with the Rockets