Salute to Seniors: Bailey Stoddard-Baughman Scarborough HS


When and how did you get into track and field?

I started track in 7th grade. Everyone told me I had to run track because I was always the fastest on the soccer field. I also did cross country as a kid and loved running.


Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?

Definitely Tayla from Windham. She does both hurdles and triple jump which I also do so we are always competing against each other. She always pushes me to run faster and jump farther!


What was your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment was qualifying for nationals in my first year doing hurdles. I started them just for fun and had no idea how much of an impact they would have on my track career.


How has track and field impacted your life?

Track has brought a lot of things into my life. It brought me friends and confidence. It also gave me many coaches and mentors who have pushed me to be the best I can be. It also gave me something to be driven and passionate about.


What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?

The most difficult obstacle I had to overcome was probably having to balance my time with events. My practices often overlapped and at meets, my events were usually running at the same times. This taught me how to manage my time and how to stay calm and focused when I need to most.


How do you prepare for competitions?

To prepare for meets, I always eat the same dinner the night before. Also, on the bus to meets, my friend and I make each other bracelets and write our goals for the meet on them.


What influence has your coach had on your high school career?

In my senior year, my hurdles coach completely changed my season. Once he saw that I had potential in hurdles, he helped me in every way he could to be the best I could be. He pushed me to do things I had no idea I could do and he is the reason I will be hurdling in college. I am extremely grateful to have him as a coach.


Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of track and field?

Outside of track, my hobbies include going to the gym, hanging out with friends, going to the beach, and traveling.


What are your college plans?

I will be attending Suffolk University to study biology and run track.


What are your long-term goals?

In the long term, I am hoping to go into the field of medicine. I have volunteered at Maine Medical Center and I love the hospital atmosphere.


Who would you like to say thank you to?

I would like to say thank you to all Coach Curry, Coach MacQuinn, and Coach Rice. I would not be where I am today track-wise without any of you. I also want to thank all of my teammates for cheering me on and helping me grow as an athlete. Lastly, I want to thank my mom, sister, and boyfriend. They are at every meet cheering me on and taking videos of me competing.


What advice would you give to younger athletes?

The advice I would give is to not be afraid to try new events. They might seem scary at first, but you never know what you could be really good at.