Cassidy Hill Key Cog In Belfast's Quest For First Ever Team Title


Belfast Area High School senior Cassidy Smith is one of the top sprinters in Class B and will be an integral part of the Lion's quest for their first ever girls outdoor track and field team championship. We caught up with Smith to talk about her journey this season and the goals for her and the team this weekend.

MaineTrackXC: During the indoor season, you had an injury that prevented you from missing the state meet. Where was it and how did that impact the year?

Cassidy Hill: I was running my 200m in the KVAC championship the week before and about 50m into it, I pulled it. It probably wouldn't have been terrible, but I kept running it and finished the race. It's been taking a while to recover.I still even feel it during many outdoor meets.

MTXC: What have you been doing to rehab it?

CH: Right after the injury, I did some physical therapy, massage, and focused heavily on my nutrition, eating a lot of protein so that it would heal faster. I couldn't even walk on it for a few days after the injury. It took some time before I could begin lifting again to strengthen it. Since then, I have tried to be very careful with it; at the beginning of the season I sat out a few meets when it started hurting.

MTXC: The road back to outdoor wasn't easy then, correct?

CH: I have been working especially hard these last few weeks to make up for the time that I lost due to the injury. The injury actually increased my focus; I knew I had to work harder this year to stay competitive. I couldn't eat pizza, chips and fast food. All other areas of preparation for this season had to be at 100% intensity in order to make up for the injury. There are very great athletes in Maine, and I have had to work harder each year.

MTXC: You are ranked first in the 100, second in the 200, and 7th in the 400m in Class B this season. How would you assess your outdoor campaign?

CH: I think that this season has been very successful. Last week I PR'ed in the 100m and 200m. I plan on doing the same at states.

MTXC: What are the goals for this weekend?

CH: My goal since freshman year has been to break 26 seconds in the 200m so hopefully I will be able to do that this weekend. I would also love for our 4x100 relay team to earn a state championship.

MTXC: Your team is the favorite do you feel any added pressure, especially being one of the top seeds in most of your events?

CH: There is definitely additional pressure to perform better knowing that it could have such an impact. Our team has worked so hard this year, the community has been very supportive of us, and our coaching staff has been stupendous. If we do win the state meet, then it will be a first for the Belfast girl's team. I push myself hard anyway, but knowing that I could make a difference for all these others girls will push me to run harder.

MTXC: What are the team goals for this weekend?

CH: One of our goals would be to have all three of the girl's relay teams place first. We have spent a lot of time in the weight room this season and have had many hard workouts on the track running 300's or 150's. Our team gets along really well, and I think that has had a great impact on our success. We work hard, but we also have fun while we do it, making jokes and encouraging each other. All of the work we put in earlier in the season will determine how we do tomorrow, and I am confident that we are well prepared. Our coach, Dale Nealey, always tells us that we're gearing toward the state champion, so if we're tired and don't perform as well in the regular season meets, that's ok. We know that we will be stronger and faster at the state meet. He gives us time to rest and recover before the championship meets so that we will perform our best. I also credit a lot of my success to my supportive family. We are all very close and often workout together. They are at all of my meets cheering me on, and are very supportive no matter how I do.