Name: Connor Coffin
School: Scarborough High School
What was your most memorable race/meet?
I'd say my most memorable race was freshman year cross country at the South Portland course. Being a freshman I didn't have many expectations and I was racing against seniors: Shamus Malia, Andrew Goodwin, and Xander Keiter who had a lot more experience and were top runners in the state. I ended up somehow winning the race and I will always remember that race because of how much confidence it gave me.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
Definitely my brother, Tristram. We both push each other in everything we do and being twins we get compared a lot which gives us a lot of drive and motivation when competing against each other.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment was probably getting 4th at the XC state meet my sophomore year. Also going 9:59 in the 3200 my freshman year is very memorable as well.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your xc/track&field career in high school?
The one thing I wouldn't have done was switch from Personal fitness to Gym in the first semester of my senior year. Long story short I wouldn't have gotten injured by my brother, who also switched into that class at the beginning of the year..
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
The most difficult obstacle I had to overcome were injuries. Throughout my whole high school career I dealt with injuries that set me back a lot. I felt like I couldn't catch a break. Every time I thought I was getting back to 100% something would come out of the blue. Almost every season I had some sort of diversity from injuries to sickness. The one that stands out the most to me is the most recent one, my broken foot that I suffered in the fall. Missing cross country my senior year for me was very hard since it's my favorite season and our team had championship aspirations. I feel like although there is a lot of bad with being injured you can also learn some good with your experience. For example, I have learned over the years to be more patient and I appreciate running even more when healthy.
What will you miss the most?
I'm gonna miss the distance squad. Justin, Cam, Barry, Losacco, Casselius, Bryce, and Pulvino. It's going to be weird not running with them next year.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
Don't take running for granted. Although it may seem that running is a low injury sport, injuries are actually very common. I'd say enjoy each run, practice, and race because you never know when your season could come to a halt from an injury, sickness or a pandemic.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
I have been really fortunate to have two great coaches. I would like to give a huge thanks to Coach Harmon and Coach Veilleux for all of your time and effort you contribute to the team. You both have been people who I look up to and it amazes me how you always get the most out of your runners. Thanks for four great years.
How do you feel about missing your senior season due to the coronavirus?
I was very disappointed when I heard the news. For me I was looking forward to this season not only to wear the Scarborough jersey one last time and to have one last season with my teammates but also because I missed cross country this year and wasn't 100% in indoor track because of my injury. So I never had a full season this year which sucks.
What are your college plans?
I will be attending Springfield College and plan on majoring in exercise science.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would like to thank my parents and my grandparents for supporting me and coming to all of my meets over the years. I would also like to thank Shamus Malia, who was captain my freshman year. He showed me the ropes and took me under his wing. Without him I probably wouldn't be the runner I am today. I would also like to thank Harrison Osborne, Noah Drapeau, Anothony Gatti, Justin Castaldo, Erik Larkin, and Kyle Jordan for being great teammates and friends over the past four years.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Lastly, I would like to thank Coach Kelly and Coach Ross for getting me into running. They both have supported me throughout the years beginning with summer track. Without all of their hard work and passion for the Scarborough running community I wouldn't be in the same position as I am in today.
