Name: Lisandro Berry-Gaviria
School: Mt Ararat High School
What was your most memorable race/meet?
The 2019 cross-country state meet where my team won our first XC state title in 25 years. Winning states was a goal that we all had had for a while and it was incredible to see it all finally come together, it's a memory that I will definitely treasure forever.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your 4 years?
Primarily Will Shaughnessy from Brunswick, who is a great friend and training buddy to me as well as a competitor, but Gabe Coffey, Alec Troxell, and John Auer are also guys that I've had a lot of fun competing with over the last few years.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
My best individual accomplishment was probably qualifying for NXN twice. Team-wise definitely was winning states this past year.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your xc/track & field career in high school?
The only thing I would change is that I would choose to race at indoor New Englands in the 2-mile this past February. I had my sights set on running fast during outdoor so I skipped it, and then the season got canceled. So I really regret not having given myself the chance to compete with the best in New England and go out with a bang.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Definitely injuries because I'm extremely injury prone. I struggled with a chronic hamstring tendon injury for all of my freshman year, and had Achilles tendinitis during my junior year indoor & outdoor track seasons. But in a way, having long-term injuries has helped me become a lot stronger mentally once I've gotten past them, so that's a silver lining.
What will you miss the most?
I think I'll miss the overall spirit of high school running the most. It's competitive and intense but also fun and carefree on a day-to-day basis. It just has that really magical feeling which you only get four short years to experience, and I wish I had savored it more while I had the chance.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
Make sure you're living in the moment and not taking anything for granted. As I've learned the hard way, the future is never a guarantee, so it's best to stay grounded in the present and try to run like every season is your last.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
Coach Fournier and Coach Laverriere have both helped me become a much better mental runner as well as a better person and leader. I'm forever grateful for the time and effort that they put into coaching my teammates and me. My experiences with them have definitely inspired me to be a high school coach someday as well.
How do you feel about missing your senior season due to the coronavirus?
I had a lot of big goals this season that I never ended up being able to accomplish. Part of that is my own fault, but it's still been a bitter pill to swallow. However, I can't feel too sorry for myself, because many people have lost a lot more to this pandemic than just a high school sports season. This is something that's bigger than running or school, so it's important to keep things in perspective.
What are your college plans?
I'm excited to be running cross-country and track and majoring in economics at the University of Notre Dame. Go Irish!
Who would you like to say thank you to?
As well as Coach Fournier and Coach Laverriere, I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to my middle school coaches Stu Palmer and Heather Hollenbach, who got me into running in the first place. I'd also like to thank my parents for always supporting my running career despite how crazy I am about it. Thank you to my teammates and friends, especially the special group of guys that brought a state championship back to Mt Ararat this year, it's been an honor. And thank you to the Maine running community as a whole for an unforgettable four years!
Is there anything else you'd like to add?OTC 1-2-3!
