Salute to Seniors: Olivia Thurston

Salute to Seniors: Olivia Thurston Waterville, HS

 

What was your most memorable race?

My most memorable race was my junior year when I ran the 400 at the state meet during the Indoor 2010-2011 track season. I was seeded third in my heat and was very nervous. My coach and I talked about the race and talked about strategies that would help put me in first place. Before the race I had a reassuring talk with my coach and set off to run with the plan in mind. I had been holding back for the first lap the entire season so my goal was to go out hard for the first lap. When I crossed the finish line my time was under a minute and I couldn't believe that I was able to run that fast. I didn't even know what the previous state record was until they told me I had broken it. This race gave me confidence for the next few seasons to come, it showed that if I don't hesitate and give a race my all good things can happen.

 

Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most?

I don't have one accomplishment that stands out but I put a lot of time and effort into my studies and training. I am glad that I was a dedicated student and athlete because I had a good high school track career and feel prepared for college.

 

If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?

I had a great track experience in high school and I wouldn't change a thing. I learned a lot about how to train and also about making mistakes in races( like holding back during some parts in races) and learning how to overcome fear before a race. It was a great learning experience and I had great people to share it with.

 

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?


I had a couple obstacles to learn to overcome. One major thing is how to calm down before a race. Nerves can sometimes get the best of an athlete so learning how to relax and stay focused was a big obstacle. Along with that is fear to try something new like a new race or fear to three step during the 100 meter hurdles. As an athlete I sometimes was scared to give it my all and that made it difficult to improve.

 

What will you miss the most?


I will miss the waterville track team and the coaches that helped me along the way. Over four years you develop great relationships with your teammates and coaches. During some of the hardest times in track, whether it was a hard workout or nerves before a race, my teammates and coaches were always there to help me out. As I learned to hurdle and sprint it was nice to have friends, coaches and other good competitive teammates help me along the way.

Do you have any advice for younger athletes?


Train hard because the outcome is always worth it. Also enjoy the sport and have fun when you compete but also set goals for yourself so you can have something in mind to achieve.

 

What advice have your coaches had with respect to your performance and overall life goals?

My coaches have given me a lot of advice, a positive attitude will make all the difference. It will help you in track and in other things you attempt to do in your life. Believe you can do something and you can. If you are willing to work hard towards something and do your very best then the outcome is success.

 

What are your college plans?

I will be attending Colby College in the fall. I plan to run both Indoor and Outdoor track and am excited to compete at the collegiate level.

 

Who would you like to say thank you to?

I would like to thank my coaches for putting in so many hours to help and encourage me throughout my four years in track. I have be fortunate to have these wonderful coaches especially Coach Wilson. I would like to thank my teammates for providing me with a fun and enjoyable track experience as well as a competitive environment. We have one of the hardest working track teams and the fact that all my teammates work hard everyday and want to succeed in their events is really nice to have. And, I would like to thank my family and friends who have sat through countless track meets and cheered for me. They are always positive and support me in everything I do.

 

More Coverage

 

It was a great 2011-2012 in both cross country and track across the Great State of Maine. Many of our seniors will soon be on their way to start their college careers both athletically and academically so we wanted to salute them one more time in this special feature.