I started xc in 6th grade, I always ran 5ks but my friend Molly Kenealy convinced me to sign up for school running.
Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
I feel that there have been so many people who have helped push me to become who I am, Hadley Mahoney and Emma Young have always helped push me from the start. Over the years there have been countless girls who have been great competition and who I love running with
What was your greatest accomplishment?
Winning 6 straight team state championships.
How has track and field impacted your life?
Track and field has brought me so many friends from areas of the state who I never would ve met and it showed me how therapeutic and rewarding running can be.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
The most difficult obstacle I had to overcome was having a very small XC team, we had to reach out and do a lot of recruiting to get even 7 girls for our defending state championship team.
How do you prepare for competitions?
I try to not think about the race at all, I usually have at least one goal for myself but I like to eat a Go-Go Squeeze and chat with people to try and distract myself and remind myself that it's just a race and it'll be over soon.
What influence has your coach had on your high school career?
My coaches through xc and track have helped me see my potential in running and showed me how fun the sport can be. Coming into high school during covid I secretly wished that covid wouldn't allow xc season to happen so l wouldn't have to run but my coaches showed me that the sport is unique and you can find the fun in hard work.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of track and field?
I play lacrosse and love to go on walks and hikes with friends or my dog.
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What are your college plans?
I will be running XC at Northwestern University outside of Chicago.
What are your long-term goals?
I hope to continue running for a long time, in college I want to be a part of a team that sends a group of girls to XC nationals. Beyond that, I hope to join a running club after college and keep competing for fun!
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would like to say thank you to the Maine running community and everyone who has supported me and everybody else throughout the years. I will miss running in Maine so so much but the memories it has provided me and the lessons it has taught me are things I will carry with me forever. To all my friends l've made along the way, I am very grateful to have met and ran with every single one of you.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
Set goals and work hard! Even if they don't seem achievable they can be with hard work and perseverance but most importantly with having fun. As a 21:09 5k runner freshman year, I never would've thought that by senior year I would have run a 17:56 5k and be committed to running in college. Have fun and never let the stress take away from the joy and community that this
sport brings!
