Salute to Seniors: Hannah Sanderson (Belfast HS)

Name: Hannah Sanderson

School: Belfast Area High School

I've had many memorable meets. It's very hard to pick just one. I think the most memorable race would have to be the outdoor 4x800 state race in 2018. My team (Zoe Deans, Kelsey Mehuren, Emily Jolliffe) and I raced to secure a second place finish and broke the school 4x800 record. It was our last race together as a team, considering I was a junior and they were all seniors. It was a bitter sweet race, a perfect end to our legacy. Of course my senior year I got to race with all new girls who were amazing but those three (Zoe, Kelsey and Emily) guided me through my first three years making it a very memorable moment.

My biggest competition would have to be the York team. They were always extremely competitive and hard to beat. Came up short to many titles because of them. Very hard workers and kind girls!

My greatest accomplishments would probably be breaking the Belfast records in both the indoor 4x800 and outdoor 4x800. The records were established many years ago and it was a huge victory to set new records that future athletes will be able to work towards. 

If I could redo parts of my track career I would cherish the moments with my teammates. I learned to work hard in harsh conditions, keep a positive attitude and have fun with my friends. They always supported me even on bad days. I will never forget our laughs on the back of the bus and Applebee's trips after meets. 

I think the most difficult obstacle was realizing that nobody is perfect. You will not always run how you want. You may not be the best on the team. You may not get recognized for your hard work. You have to realize that it's okay. Work hard for your PRs and for your accomplishments and never give up because of a setback. For example, my best friend fell during hurdles brushed it off and ran a PR in her 400 because she wanted to make up for it.  Be resilient. 

I will miss the memories with my friends. Everyday they made practice so much easier. They would calm nerves before races, push me at practice and were always there for me picking me up from the finish line. 

Advice I would give to other athletes is to work hard on tough days. The work you put in is what will help you run that last stretch of the race. The amount of work you put in is the amount that you will get out of it. If you want to get better then work for it. 

My coaches helped me learn to work hard. "Put it all on the line." When you feel like giving up, push harder. Belief can go a long way. Believe in yourself.

I plan to attend the University of Maine at Orono. I will be going in Undecided. 

I'd like to say thank you to my friends. I will miss seeing them everyday. Thank you to my parents for being at every meet and cheering me on. Thank you to my coaches for believing in me. Finally thank you Belfast Area High School.

 High School