Athlete Spotlight #9: Anne McKee

Athlete Name: Anne McKee

School: Kents Hill

Year of Graduation: 2016

2012 State Meet Finish: MSAID State Champion    

Best time in a 5K race and in which meet:  

My best time last year was 19:38 at Festival of Champions. Since the MAISAD (prep school conference) courses are very hilly, it was tough to PR after that.

Tell us how your summer training is going?:

My summer training has been great! I am running 6 days a week and starting to mix in some varied pace and tempo, as well as continuing overdistance runs. Though I measure by time rather than miles, I am averaging about 30-35 miles a week right now. I am actually writing from Green Mountain Running Camp in Vermont! It has been such a great experience so far. There are so many talented girls here to train with and it's nice to not to have to train alone all the time. It gets lonely running over the summer as many of you know.

What are your goals for the upcoming season?:

This year, I'd really like to work on pacing. I always seem to go out too fast and positively split the last two miles. I'd also like to get top 10 at Festival of Champions and try to go sub-19:00 at some point this season.

How long have you been running and how did you get started?:

I started running XC in sixth grade, though I had run a few road races/fun runs before that. My dad used to run cross country so I figured I'd try it out, as my 5th grade soccer skills were pretty awful.

Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?:

I am really hoping that my team will compete in the Machester Invitational this fall. In the prep league that I race for, I'd like to try out some of the out of state championship races like NEPSTA and NEPSAC, which are sort of like New Englands and can be very competitive. Individually, I'll go to the Foot Locker or NXN qualifier. Though I don't think I'll make nationals this year, I'd really like the experience of such a large and competitive race.

What is your favorite course to run in Maine?:

What is the toughest course to run in Maine?:

I think the toughest course in Maine is most definitely the Gould XC course which not many runners know about as only the prep league races there. It is around 3.7-4 miles and it is like running up and down a mountain. The course winds up and down a steep slope multiple times and hills twist and turn so it is impossible to see the top! It's also always really muddy so it's hard to get traction on the downhills.

What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?:

I am trying to compete very well at the Festival of Champions, as it is perhaps more competitive than states and it is my only real opportunity to run against all of the Maine girls. It is also such a flat course, so it would be a lot easier to PR on.

What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?:

I would have to say the USATF Region 1 (which is all of New England and NY) National Qualifier. I was really looking to qualify in my 13-14 age group for nationals which required a top 20 finish. The race was in Eisenhower Park, New York, and the course is extremely flat and fast. Toeing the start line I was more nervous than any race I had ever competed in. This was my last year to qualify and it was hard to tell where I stood against the other 120 girls on the line, as in previous years I was far off of the top 20. I ended up staying with the lead pack and getting 10th place and qualifying. It was definitely one of the happiest moments of my running career.

Favorite cross country memory?:

When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?:

I love doing anything outside.

Favorite quote?:

What shoes do you train in?:

I train in the Brooks PureCadence. They are zero drop and really comfortable. I also train on trails in the New Balance Minimus. It's starting to help me forefoot strike more, which is making my form so much better.

What shoes do you race in?: 

I race in the Brooks Mach XC spike for both XC and track. For road races I have the Nike Lunarglide.

What professional athlete would you most like to meet?:

What is something that most people don't know about you?

I love waterskiing! I also have been playing violin for 11 years.