Salute to Seniors: Isabel Erickson - MDI HS

What was your most memorable race/moment?

At my first state meet as a freshman, I ran the 800 and was so nervous that I went out way too fast and died hard. After the race, I was so exhausted that I couldn't stand or walk and was really disoriented. The girl that finished just behind me carried me over to the shade, brought me water, and found one of my teammates. I had never met her before and never did again. To me, her kindness is indicative of the community and support between track and cross country athletes.

Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

I would have to say that my biggest competition during high school was my teammate Waylon Henggeler. We are very close to each other in workouts and races and have pushed each other to go faster than we ever could alone. The thing that I have most valued about our competition is that we have never stopped rooting for each other or being happy for the other person when they do well. It's a very supportive competitiveness.

What was your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest individual accomplishment was breaking the school record in the 800 at New Englands this spring. I'd been trying to break it since I was a sophomore and to finally do so in my last high school race meant a lot.I've also been lucky enough to be part of an amazing team and I couldn't leave out what we have accomplished together: three cross country state titles! It was a long and challenging road, and I'll never forget it.

If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

Sometimes I wish I'd run cross-country my freshman year, but I think that things turned out for the best the way they were.

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

I went through a lot of self-doubt my junior year, especially in track. I put way too much pressure on myself and ended up struggling a lot because of it. The summer after that year was really important for me as a runner because I wasn't racing and had a chance to take a step back and change how I looked at running and how I looked at myself. This year I've been much more patient with myself when I have had a bad race or workout, which has improved my overall mental state.

What will you miss the most?

My team. Everyone works really hard and there's a sense that you're running for something greater than yourself during practice and races. It's a great group of runners and a great group of people. We've been through a lot together and it's really weird to think that next year I'll be running without them. They're all inspiring and admirable people. They're also really goofy. I can't tell you how many times they've made me laugh so hard that I couldn't breathe and had to stop running.

What advice you would give to younger athletes?

Work hard and don't be afraid to set goals that seem crazy. You never know what might happen if you give yourself the change. Most importantly, remember to have fun and enjoy the time you have for high school running - it will go by quickly!

What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?

When I first started running, I was very unsure of myself and didn't expect to ever be any good. My coach, Desiree, believed in me way before I did. She encouraged me to expect more from myself.

What are your college plans?

I'm headed to Swarthmore College to study biochemistry. I'll also be running cross-country and indoor and outdoor track!

Who would you like to say thank you to?

I'd like to say thank you to my twin sister Olivia, who forced me to do track my freshman year and who I have always looked up to as a tough competitor, a smart racer, and most importantly, a great friend. I'd also like to thank the rest of my team for being the amazing people that they are.