Emma Gallant of Cheverus is the epitome of a freshman phenom- she's one of the best sprinters in the state, and doesn't let her age deter that. She's the top 200 runner in Class A with her 25.7, and is the top 400 runner in the entire state with her 58.03. The fact that she's already experiencing this much success this early is amazing, to say the least. Gallant and her teammate, Emily Turner, are two of the best sprinters in the state and hope to propel Cheverus towards a possible state title on Saturday. I had the chance to catch up with Emma and talk to her about this season and the elements of which have comprised it.
Emma is humble, a rare commodity in runners who experience this much success. Regarding her overwhelming success this year, she said "I kind of just go and run and when I get off the track I'm just a normal kid". She also expressed her confidence in her ability going into the state meet though, saying "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else". Emma's ability to find a balance between not being overly confident, but still having faith in her ability was impressive. For somebody who's already been to nationals yet is just a freshman, this modesty deserves to be recognized.
Gallant expressed her thankfulness in having her teammate Emily Turner right by her side to run with. She said, "It's really nice having somebody like Emily, and I'm really going to miss her next year". She added that they push one another in workouts, and will talk before races. They're not just teammates, but friends too, with Emma adding "We want nothing but success for one another". The two are the fastest 400 runners in Class A, with Gallant's 58.03 and Turner's 59.97. This bond that they've developed has undoubtedly made them one of the best sprinting duos in the state.
In terms of goals for states, Emma said "I'm just going to go out and try to PR, and I think we're going to try to qualify for nationals in the 4x400". She added that they have to take four seconds off of their relay time in order to do so, but with Gallant and Turner, it's very much in the realm of possibility. Emma will be running the 4x100, 4x400, 100, and 200 in order to maximize points at states, and is definitely looking to sweep these events. Turner will be running the 400 and the 200, along with relays in order to maximize points as well. Cheverus is the top seed going into the state meet, and it would be the girls team's first state championship.
Emma made clear the importance of Cheverus girls winning the state championship. She said, "A state championship would mean a lot, because the girls track team currently does not have one. So, that would mean a lot for both the girls team and the coach". She said they're seeded to get the most points ahead of Scarborough and TA, and she has her fingers crossed. Cheverus is a powerhouse in the sprints thanks to Gallant and Turner, and is seeded to get 53 of their 77 expected points from the sprints and relays. This sentimental value of scoring their first state title will undoubtedly drive Emma to dig a little deeper at the state meet.
Beyond states, regarding New Englands and Nationals, Emma said she just hopes to "Progressively get better" and to "Take it as it comes". As far as times go, Emma said "I want to see if I can break 58 in the 400, one way or another". In terms of how fast she sees herself running in the following years, Emma said "If I continue to put in the work and the effort, which I plan to, I think I could drop a second or more in the 400 by next year". She added "I also hope I can just get better at the mechanics of running to continue to drop everything". She said by that she meant working on her starts, and that she hopes to "beat Emily's 56 or 57 by senior year". 58.03 is impressive, mechanics or not, and regardless of grade- Emma is somebody to watch out for these next few years.
Emma wasn't experiencing any of this success coming into high school. She said, "I was kind of expecting to come in as more of an underdog", and added upon that by saying "I wasn't completely shocked, but I am surprised at how successful it's been and it's done a lot for me so far". It will undoubtedly continue to do a lot for her, at states and beyond, for years to come. Emma's ability is already getting her recognized, and she has a lot of room left to grow as an athlete. Her abilities are propelling her towards greatness, and her name is one that you're bound to hear dominating the state for years to come.
