State Champion spotlight: Sarah Shoulta Waterville
Waterville senior Sarah Shoulta repeated as the Class B state champion in the 55m hurdles & the pole vault, and also ran a key leg on the winning 4x200m relay. More importantly Sarah led her team to its 5th consecutive Class B state title. We caught up with Sarah to ask her a few questions about her preparation before the meet, her mindset on race day, what it meant to lead her team to the state title, and the transition to a new coach.
What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?
Leading up to the state meet, I spent my time thinking about what I needed to do. I needed to have a good race to get my team points to help take the team title. I learned that there was a girl who was seeded ahead of me and I really wanted to defend my title of 55m hurdle champion. I specifically worked on my start before the meet because I knew that that was my greatest weakness in my race.
How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?
I love the pressure of a championship meet. I feel like when I am under a lot of pressure is when I do my best. This year was a little different then the years in the past because of how close to Greely and Orono we knew that we would be. Every point mattered and that pressure can make or break athletes.
How did you feel after the 4x200m knowing you had won 2 individual titles, a relay title, and lead the team to a 5th straight state title?
My dad had a close count on the points in the stand so I knew how important the 4x200 was going to be for us. We couldn't let Greely get more points then us on the podium. We watched them race the heat before us and that gave us a time to beat. A time I knew we could get. I wanted to finish off my senior year indoor season with 3 first places and I couldn't have done it without the 3 other girls. I have never wanted anything more. When that gun went off, I ran the fastest split of my highschool career.
Coming into the season what were your goals and did you achieve them?
Coming into the season I wanted to win hurdles and pole-vault. I wanted to defend my name in those events and I think that I pulled it off. I mainly wanted to have a great end to 4 years of indoor. I wanted to continue the legacy of Waterville that the alumni started 5 years ago.
What was it like transitioning to a new coach in your senior year?
Getting a new coach senior year made me nervous at first. I wanted to keep winning state titles and I was questioning how things would go without Wilson. We had to form a bond with Coach Alexis as quick as possible. Coach was in a really tough place and I think he did an amazing job. He led us to a state title. Having to form a bond with him was a glimpse of getting a new coach in college. I'm happy that I was a senior when it happened so I could help him through the tough times.
Shoulta's Progression
55M Hurdles
- 2015 Indoor 8.77
- 2014 Indoor 8.76
- 2013 Indoor 8.95
- 2012 Indoor 9.14
Pole Vault
- 2015 Indoor 9-6
- 2014 Indoor 9-6.25
- 2013 Indoor 9-6
- 2012 Indoor 8-0
2014-15 Season Results
55m Hurdles
8.77 | 1st | Prelims | 2015-02-16 | Class B Indoor State Championship | |
8.79 | 1st | 2015-02-16 | Class B Indoor State Championship | ||
9.02 | 1st | Prelims | 2015-02-07 | KVAC Championship | |
8.93 | 1st | 2015-02-07 | KVAC Championship | ||
9.55 | 1st | 2015-01-24 | KVAC Colby meet #3 | ||
9.01 | 5th | Prelims | 2015-01-09 | Dartmouth Relays | |
8.91 | 10th | 2015-01-09 | Dartmouth Relays | ||
9.03 | 1st | 2015-01-02 | KVAC Indoor Track & Field League Meet # 4 | ||
9.45 | 1st | 2014-12-13 | KVAC: Colby Meet #1 |
Pole Vault
9-6 | 1st | 2015-02-16 | Class B Indoor State Championship | ||
9-0 | 1st | 2015-02-07 | KVAC Championship | ||
9-0 | 1st | 2015-01-24 | KVAC Colby meet #3 | ||
9-0 | 7th | 2015-01-09 | Dartmouth Relays | ||
9-0 | 1st | 2015-01-02 | KVAC Indoor Track & Field League Meet # 4 | ||
9-0 | 2nd | 2014-12-30 | KVAC Indoor Track & Field League Meet # 3 | ||
9-0 | 2nd | 2014-12-20 | Bowdoin Relays | ||
9-0 | 1st | 2014-12-13 | KVAC: Colby Meet #1 |