Name: Maria Gagnon
Team: Biddeford High School
What was your most memorable race/meet?
My most memorable race was at the Southwestern Championship meet in the 800m. I was able to get my final kick in and pass two girls which helped me to place.
What was your greatest accomplishment?
Winning the coach's award for the 2018-2019 season and being named Captain for the 2019-2020 season.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your xc/track & field career in high school?
I would have liked to have been able to comfortably compete in XC along with my other fall sport to help improve my times in my event.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
Finding the right pace for my event and knowing when to start kicking on those last two laps.
What will you miss the most?
The team dinners and practices.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
To stick with what you love and to treat practice like how you'd compete.
What influence has your coach had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coach believed in me in times where I didn't believe in myself. He always gave me that extra push which helped me to become a better competitor, and I respect him for that because without it I wouldn't have gained the love I have for the sport.
How do you feel about missing your senior season due to the coronavirus?
It's hard to really be upset about it because there was absolutely nothing we could've done but also it's really upsetting because I didn't even know my last race in the indoor season would be my last race for good.
What are your college plans?
I'm attending the University of Maine at Orono.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
Coach Quint, Coach O'connor, Coach Mantis, Coach Ouellette, my family, my teammates, and lastly my late coach Will Fulford. Thank you Biddeford High Track/Field for making the memories so sweet that saying goodbye is so hard.
