Rising Stars

Rising Stars

 

 

Interviews conducted by Dan Medici & Darryl Wilkinson
 

In anticipation of the upcoming state meets, we caught up with a couple of athletes who we consider to be ‘rising stars’ in their respective events.  To qualify as a rising star, athletes must be non-seniors who have limited postseason success in past years, but who should find themselves on the podium (and maybe even on top) come Monday. 

 

 

 

Michael Cuesta: Cuesta, a junior from South Portland, has PRs of 43’1.25” in the triple jump and 20’3.5” in the long jump, which are both over a foot better than he did last year.  He placed 2nd in the long jump and 3rd in the triple jump at Southwesterns.  Cuesta has a little bit of postseason success from last year, having placed 7th in the triple jump at last year’s outdoor state meet.  However, this year he is the favorite to stand at the top of the podium.  

   

D&D: What are your goals for this year?

 

Cuesta: My goals are to continue my work ethic and be one of the top jumpers in the state and New England.  I’d like to break 20’ (note: we asked Cuesta this question before Southwesterns) and 44’ by the end of the year.

 

D&D: Speaking of work ethic, what did you change about your training that helped you get to where you are now?

 

Cuesta: I have been studying film of myself competing and focusing on specific areas for improvement; it’s really helped out a lot.  Last year in outdoor, I really pounded away at technique to get the most out of my abilities.

 

D&D: How is it having other great jumpers on your team?

 

Cuesta: Honestly it’s a great mix of excitement and competition.  It’s a nice thing to have a handful of good jumpers to score points at meets, but in the long run we push ourselves to be better.  Having your own teammates right on your heels or inches in front of you is great for bonding.  It’s better to have teammates who are all around the same ability than being way out in front of everyone.


 

Melissa Kessel: Camden Hill’s sophomore Melissa Kessel recently won the 55m dash (7.79) at class B KVAC championships and finished fourth in the 55 hurdles (9.17).  These are both big PRs over last year.  Kessel was 9th in the hurdles last year at states and didn’t run the 55.  This year, she is Class B #3 and #8 in the hurdles and 55 dash respectively, so she could make the podium in both events.

 

D&D: What are your goals in the upcoming state meet?

 

Kessel: My most important goal for this year's state meet is just to put everything on the line and leave nothing behind. I'm hoping to place in at least one event, but more importantly, run the best race I have ever ran and to be satisfied with the season when it comes to an end.

 

D&D: What do attribute your success to this year?

 

 

Kessel: This year has really been a transition year for me. Last year coming in as a freshman, I didn't have nearly as much confidence in racing that I needed to be completely successful. This year, I have focused on putting full effort into my workouts, and being confident in myself when going into meets. Focusing on specific events and pushing myself as opposed to other people pushing me has helped me become more successful this season.

 

D&D: What are you planning on doing on the days leading up to states to help prepare you to run your best race(s) possible?

 

Kessel: I'm just going to continue with my normal practice schedule and keep striving for that goal I hope to accomplish on Monday. I'll be paying extra careful attention to injuries this week in order to be in my most healthy state for the big meet. At this point in the season, mentally preparing is the key to success at the state championships, and that's what I will be focusing on this week.


Sam Rusak: Scarborough’s Sam Rusak is a freshman who has been a huge contributor for the Red Storm all year.  Rusak’s best events are pole vault (12’11”) and high jump (5’10”), both of which are tops in the state among the class of 2017.  Rusak will contend for the W in pole vault, as his mark is just 7” from the top seed.  Scarborough Coach Derek Veilleux has compared Rusak favorably to former Scarborough pole vaulting star Brad Nakanishi.  Rusak also has a chance to score in the high jump, which might require a 6’0” clearance.

 

D&D: As a freshman, how does it feel knowing that you'll be competing against athletes who are 2-3 years older than you?

 

Rusak: I don't think about the age of the other athletes I just focus on the event I'm doing and try to do my best.

 

D&D: How are you so successful in technical events like pole vault at a young age?

 

Rusak: Scarborough has a great program. The coaches put a lot of time into the program. I love the sport and put 100% into all of my training.

 

D&D: Can you talk a little about your training?

 

Rusak: I train or compete 4 hours a day for 6 days a week. I rotate through all my events throughout the week. The most important part of my training is learning all the different techniques for each event. It takes a lot of time and effort but it's something I love.

 

D&D: What are your goals for the state meet?

 

Rusak: My goals are to place in all of my events. I'll be up against a lot of great athletes so my goals need to be high. My pole vault goal is to vault above 13'.


Tony St. Angelo: Falmouth Sophomore Tony St. Angelo has risen up the long jump ranks this season.  After jumping 18’5” during the 2012-2013 indoor season, St. Angelo has improved his PR to 20’4.5” this season and has consistently been in the 19’-20’ range all season.  His jump puts him sixth in the state, fourth in class A, and first among the class of 2016.  St. Angelo will compete against class A competition for just the second time (USM Relays) all season as Falmouth competes in the Class A state meet for the first time.


D&D: Considering you competed in WMC all year, how do you feel going up against unknown competition in the state A meet?

 

St. Angelo: Well it's definitely competition that we haven't seen this year. But our main focus as a team should be on competing to the best of our ability and score points for Falmouth.

 

D&D: What did you do differently this year to improve your long jump distance by over 2 feet since last spring?

 

St. Angelo: This year I have really worked on long jump more than I did during the outdoor season last year. And with help from our new jump coach this year, Mr. Nadeau, it has really become one of my favorite events.

 

D&D: How do you feel WMC's went for you last weekend? And do you think you have a better jump in you for states?

 

St. Angelo: WMC's was a great meet! It's always great to be able to compete with all the schools in the conference. It would be nice to get a new personal record in states this coming Monday.

 

D&D: What are your goals for this year and for the rest of your high school career?

            St. Angelo: This year my main goal is to improve my marks in both long jump and high jump. And for the rest of high school it would be to keep improving my times and continuing to improve each track season.

 

Emma Egan: A sophomore from Yarmouth,  Egan is one of top 55m runners in Class B having run 7.67 this season. That mark has her ranked 3rd in Class B. A year ago Egan focused on the 400m & HJ, placing 5th in the indoor state meet with a 4-10 clearance. This year she has been focused on the 55m, LJ & HJ, in the high jump Egan has been one of the most consistent jumpers in the state having jumped at least 5-0 in her last 6 meets. She enters the state meet with a best of 5-2, and is coming off wins in both the junior  HJ & 55m at the WMC Championship. She also set a personal best 15-11 in the long jump.

 

               D&D: What are your goals for this year and for the rest of your high school career?

                  Emma Egan: As far as this year goes, I would like to clear 5'3 by the end of the outdoor season. As far as the   rest of my high school career my highest goal for high jump is to continue adding a few inches each year and maybe beat the state record. As far as sprints go, I would like to continue working on shaving away at my 200 and 55 by working on my quickness and starting blocks. I am also looking forward to running the 100 in outdoor.

 

             D&D: How did your conference meet go for you?

            Emma Egan: The Western Maine Conference meet went very well in my opinion. I ended up winning both the junior high jump and 55 and coming in 4th in the open long jump. I always love conference meets because so many teams I don't get to compete against in my regular season and seem to rise to the challenge and get faster times and higher jumps. Overall, I think this season as a whole including the Western Maine Conference meet has been the best season I have had overall in my high school career, because of all the great people I met who share my competitive spirit and love of the sport.

             D&D: What do attribute your success to this year?

             Emma Egan: I think my success this year mostly comes from the training that my coaches and personal trainer have been doing with me. Adding in a personal trainer for the first time has been very helpful as far as strengthening goes. I also think I have gained lots of success in high jump from summer training sessions with Dick Fosbury. I can also thank all of my competition for really pushing me this season to get new PRs in all my events.