RELATED CONTENT: Maine College Commitments
Cheverus High School sprint star Victoria Bossong has been accepted to Harvard University to continue her academic and athletic career in the fall of 2021. Bossong has won 11 state individual titles so far in her career and has established herself as one of the best sprinters ever to compete in the state of Maine.
For Bossong, choosing Harvard was an easy choice.
"Harvard is the greatest university in the world," she said.
Victoria plans to be a part of the neuroscience program at Harvard and is excited about the vast opportunities for learning as well as the variety of internships that will be available during her studies at the surrounding Harvard affiliated hospitals.
"Harvard is a place I will excel because I will be surrounded by talented intellectuals and inspiring athletes while having copious resources to assist me throughout my journey," she said.
Bossong also seriously considered Princeton and Stanford.
"Track is indubitably very important in my life, but academics is definitely a priority as well," she said. "I wanted to make sure the college I chose would foster them both."
On the track, Victoria has set state records indoors in both the 300m and 400m, while she has also set the fastest 400m outdoors.
At Harvard, she will run for head coach Kebba Tolbert, who has Maine ties. Tolbert attended Colby College and was roommates with current Falmouth coach Jorma Kurry. Tolbert is well respected within the sport and has coached multiple All-Americans and National Champions, including Gabby Thomas, Autumn Franklin, Jade Miller, and Anne Eggerth.
Bossong's future teammates had high praise of Tolbert, telling the Cheverus senior that he cares about them not only as athletes but also as people. He emphasizes the importance of nutrition, hygiene, sleep, recovery, attention to detail, mental toughness and spirituality, they added, all of which elicit a successful student-athlete, both on and off the track.
Victoria said she looks forward to working with Tolbert: "I am excited to work with him and can't wait to see what the next four years bring!"
With last spring's outdoor season and the current indoor season being affected by COVID-19 restrictions, Bossong hasn't had the chance to compete in nearly a year.
But she said she'll be looking for invitational meets to run at this winter.
"It's been difficult not having the opportunity to compete and improve my times, especially during my last year of high school," she said. "But when I am given the chance, I'll be back on the track stronger than ever."
