Salute to Seniors: Alexis Dickinson
What was your most memorable race?
My first 100m in 7th grade; I had just started running track for fun and chose the 100 because it was the shortest. I was wearing a pair of regular training sneakers and had no intention of being serious about track. After the gun went off though, I immediately fell in love with the feeling of racing and felt a desire to get better.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most?
Breaking the 55m dash record stands out the most to me. All season I had been eyeing that record, I knew it was going to take a lot of training and hard work, but I put in the time and was psyched to accomplish my goal.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
If I were to change anything, it would be putting in more work outside of practice. This year I started doing core work on my own and really saw a difference, I think that it would have benefitted me to start doing that earlier.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
One of the hardest things for me was to get enough food in me on the day of a track meet. I always got really nervous, and especially in the mornings, it was difficult for me to eat anything. Running four events on an empty stomach never went well though. After trying all kinds of different power bars and snacks, I finally found something that worked for me and finishing all four events became a lot easier.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my team and coaches so much next year. Our team is really close and we're always there for each other, some of my best friends and memories are on the track team.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
My advice for younger athletes is set small goals for yourself and keep them in mind to help push yourself at practice. Whether it's cutting off hundredths of a second or jumping and throwing a few more inches, it feels great to know that your hard work paid off.
What advice have your coaches had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?
My coaches (and family) have always told me to just run the race and to do my best. When I was feeling nervous, they always encouraged me. Knowing that there were people watching who would support me, no matter what, comforted me. This insight has spread into other parts of my life too; when I'm nervous about a test or anything else, I know to just do it and to try my hardest.
What are your college plans?
In the fall I'll be going to Bates College where I'll be running indoor and outdoor track.
Who would you like to say thank you to?
I would like to say thank you to my coaches, teammates, and family for providing me with an amazing support system; from celebrating my highs to helping me through my lows. They've helped me to become the person and athlete that I am today, and I can't thank them enough for that.
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Want to be featured in our Salute To Seniors series? Drop me a line: Dveilleux@milesplit.com and answer the questions above! Congratulations to the class of 2012 on all their hard work and success.