Name: Andy Clement
School: Falmouth High School
What was your most memorable race?
Definitely my most memorable race was the 4x200 in indoor of this year. We needed to beat Scarborough by at least 2 spaces to win the state championship. Our 4x200 team had been winning all year and we were seeded to win the event but we had not run against any of these teams because none of them were in our conference. When we won the event and saw that we had beaten Scarborough by 3 places our whole team went crazy because we knew that we were huge underdogs to win the state title but we were still able to pull it off.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
I would say that my biggest competition in the hurdles was probably my own teammate, Nigel Dunn. I never wanted to lose to him, as sort of a pride thing, and that was a huge motivator to come out every race and race to win. Also, Matt Arsenault of York was a big competitor of mine, although he would normally beat me in the high hurdles.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
I would say my biggest accomplishment was getting to be a part of so many great teams at Falmouth. I had the privilege of scoring in 6 different state meets over the years, and being able to contribute to those teams is something that I am incredibly proud of.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
I would have started doing all 3 seasons of running freshman year.
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What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Throughout my high school career I would get really nervous before a race, especially a hurdles race, but I knew that being nervous would make me tense and a tense muscle is not a fast one. It was sometimes a real struggle to keep my composure, but the one thing that worked for me was to close my eyes and envision the perfect race. This helped me calm down and relax.
What will you miss the most?
My teammates and all of the fun we had together.
What advice you would give to younger athletes?
It would be to start lifting weights early in your running career. I didn’t start until I was in junior year, and once I did, I saw a big improvement.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coaches have taught me that hard work and dedication pays off. I think the biggest way they have taught me this is by doing it in their own lives. Every single day they go out and run, despite the weather. They are perfect role models of hard work and dedication.
What are your college plans?
I will be attending Northeastern University with hopes of trying to walk onto the varsity team, but if not then I will join the club team.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would like to say thank you to my coaches, Jorma and Mr. Paul. They have been great teachers and their knowledge of this sport has been a big part of my success. I would also like to thank my parents for always coming to my meets to support me.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Try something new. When I first joined track I had no intention of running hurdles until one day when I decided to give it a try, and it wound up being the best decision I could have made.
More Coverage
Do you know a class of 2015 track and field or cross country athlete? We'd like to salute them! Have them answer the following questions plus send 2-3 photos (can not be from another website or publication) to dveilleux@milesplit.us
