Name: Rebecca Lopez-Anido
School: Orono High School
What was your most memorable race?
Freshman year Class C States 400m race, I don't remember my time or place but I just remember how fast I felt coming around the last 200m. I think about that feeling all the time, how strong and fast I felt. I also remember smiling.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
There are so many different runners that have challenged me throughout the years and have made me a faster, better runner. Tia Tardy, Kassidy Dill, Hannah Steelman, Ashley Anderson, and Camille Kohala are all amazing runners that I feel so lucky to have had push me over the past four years.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment has been how far I have come mentally. My mental strength and attitude during races and training have come along way since freshman year.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I would change my off season training. I never really trained a lot between soccer and indoor track or between indoor track and outdoor track. I think I could have avoided various injuries if I had come into my seasons more in shape.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Injuries. Injuries have not only affected me physically but also mentally. Overcoming my injuries and changing my mentality after them have been the hardest obstacles that I have overcome. Injuries come with the sport, everyone gets injured at some point. However, it is not the injury that defines you its how you bounce back from it.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my team. I will miss Coach Dexter, Coach Libby, and my teammates who have always been so kind and encouraging.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
Smile and you will run faster.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coaches are the reason why I fell in love with track and running. They have taught me to smile when I run, to relax when I get nervous, and to keep going when I get frustrated.
What are your college plans?
I will be attending Wesleyan University where I plan on running and studying environmental sciences. I will be doing xc for the first time ever!! And I will also be doing indoor and outdoor track.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would like to thank Coach Libby and the Red Riot youth summer track club for introducing me to and making me fall in love with the sport of track and field when I was seven. I would also like to thank Coach Dexter for always believing in me and for being the kindest funniest coach ever. And I would like to thank Coach Nadeau and Coach Tyler for making running on snow and ice enjoyable. Lastly I would like to thank my wonderful teammates for all of their laughter, dedication, and passion.
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Do you know a class of 2017 track and field or cross country athlete? We'd like to salute them! Have them answer the following questions plus send 2-3 photos (can not be from another website or publication) to dveilleux@milesplit.us
