An all around perfomer

As championship season approaches, we will take a second to look at one of Maine's young rising stars. Tia Tardy a sophomore from Lincoln, Maine is one of the states overall best female athlete with her events ranging from the 200m to 5k on the track, and the high jump and long jump in the field. Ever wondered what some of Maine's best do to prepare? What they do off the track? Well here is our interview with Tia Tardy, who is on her way to making a name for herself in the record books.

Track is a grueling sport that can grind on you over time. How do you handle that grind, and how do you deal particularly with a bad day?

Well I enjoy running, and I don't generally see it as a grind. I love going out for a run whether it's in the morning, afternoon, or night. The only time I really get overwhelmed is when I have a lot of other obligations I am trying to fit in as well. When I have a bad day, I try not to let it get to me. Everyone's going to have a bad day, but they will make us stronger. If one day i'm just not feeling good, I make sure that the next day I am working even harder.


How has your family supported you through your rise to Maine stardom?

My family has been a HUGE help. They have supported my running to the best of their ability, and they dedicate most of their available time to coming and supporting me at my meets. They are awesome, and I couldn't ask for anything more from them.


Who is the person who is your biggest supporter other than your coach or family? How has their support help you get to where you are?

Without naming names, there is one person in particular that first recognized my potential. They have encouraged me through their friendship and expertise, but I have been lucky enough to have had several people with a great deal of coaching/running experience guide me.


In middle school, did you see any of this coming? And now that you are where you are, what are you hopes for after high school?

In 5th grade, one of the only sports teams you could join was XC. I initially wanted to play soccer, but after realizing that I had to wait until 6th grade, I decided to join the XC team just for that year. It was really intimidating to be running with a bunch of older kids. The first day of practice I surprised myself and was keeping up with them, and before I knew it, I was passing them. I went on to win all of my meets that year. That was kind of the turning point, and I decided to stick with XC. I made myself a goal that I would win all of the meets next year, so I went out and I did it. Then my 7th grade year, I made another goal. I had made it this far, why not just win all of my meets for the next 2 years? I worked extremely hard, and I did it. At the end of my 8th grade year, I had a 240 record, including a few school records. That really encouraged me to stick with running in high school. My hopes for after high school are to run collegiately. It would be amazing to compete at that level.

What other interests do you have outside of track and field?

I love the performing arts. I currently play the flute for my school's jazz and concert band, and I sing as much as I run, if not more. I have been in every play and musical that I could, throughout Junior High and High School. In the summer I dedicate about four weeks to going to three very good music camps.

What is it that you hope to study in college, and do after college?

I love the sciences and have been considering a profession in the medical field. I would also love to carve out a 2nd career in entertainment.


What do you hope you can do or give to the next generation of track and field athletes from Maine?

Track and field offers personal success to anyone through hard work and dedication. I would like to inspire other students, who may not have found their niche yet, to try it, and realize their personal best. Seeing someone feel good about the results of their own efforts or more motivated to do better is exciting and inspiring.


If you had to pick one opposing athlete, or any high school track athlete in Maine that you respect the most, who would that be (it can be more than one)?

During XC friends Hannah Steelman and Kassidy Dill ran impressive times, and showed a lot of growth. They really showed me the results of team training. During Indoor this year, Becky LopezAnido kept me on my toes and had some really great runs. Those three girls are a joy to compete with. Kate Hall inspires me through her character and dedication.

Tardy's 2015 Season Rankings Statewide