Some runners dream of a debut like the one that Kate Hall had two weeks ago: Two victories, two school records and a 55-meter dash time faster than last year’s winning Class A state title mark.

And that’s as a freshman in her first high school meet.

For the Lake Region sprinter, it was more than beginner’s luck. Hall has been racing hard since she was 10. She also has battled health challenges with just as much drive.

When Hall was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease five years ago, her father, Eric, said he and his wife worried only for Kate’s life. The diabetes means her pancreas does not work properly. Celiac disease means Hall has an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in many foods, and she is at risk for intestinal problems because of it.

“It will do damage if she doesn’t stay on a special diet,” Eric Hall said. “It can be overwhelming, but she took the bull by the horns when she was diagnosed. She started the insulin shots herself at age 10.”

Hall took her confident approach on the track into the hospital exam rooms.

Advertisement

She constantly monitors her blood-sugar level, while a pump attached to her back helps keep that level where it should be. When she competes, Hall disconnects the pump. When she feels her blood-sugar level is low, she checks it with a finger prick. She tests it before every meal and activity, sometimes six to eight times a day.

At track meets while other athletes are focused only on stretching and staying hydrated, Hall must also manage her diabetes.

“It was really scary the first week. After a couple of weeks, I thought, ‘This isn’t so bad if I keep it under control.’ The past year it’s been better than ever,” Hall said.

The added precautions didn’t slow her down.

After drawing the attention of middle school coaches for two years, Hall burst on the high school track scene Dec. 30 with her double win at the USM Relays at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.

Hall took the fastest time out of 42 runners in the preliminary heats into the 55-meter dash final, where she won in 7.36 seconds, topping last year’s Class A state championship winning time of 7.40. She also edged out the fifth-place finisher from last year’s Class A state championship, Gorham senior Sarah Perkins.

Advertisement

Then Hall beat out 39 long jumpers with a winning leap of 16 feet, 10.5 inches.

“She was new to me. I saw her run in the trials and thought, ‘Wow, that girl is really fast,’” said Gorham coach John Caterina. “She is already someone to watch. She seems already like the fastest kid in the state.”

Hall’s performance broke two Lake Region records, bettering Sarah Hale’s 55-dash mark of 7.51 seconds set in 2006 and Sara Thompson’s 2005 long jump record of 15-4.5.

As for what’s next, the conference records are not far from her reach: 7.25 in the 55-dash and 17-3 in the long jump.

And with Lake Region’s second meet Friday, Hall’s coach thinks anything can happen.

“Kate is a great talent in the long jump. I think that is where her success will be,” said Lake Region Coach Mark Snow. “Depending on how things go Friday, she might break the junior division record, or the senior record. I didn’t realize she was as fast as 7.36.”

Advertisement

Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:

dfleming@pressherald.com

Twitter: Flemingpph


Correction: This story was revised at 12:55 p.m., Jan. 12, 2012, to state that Kate Hall was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, not Type 2.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.