Athlete of the Week: Senior Maddy McFarland in Track

For you, what was a highlight of your most recent competition?

Ran my best indoor 60m hurdle time.

What makes your sport special and different?

It’s individual accomplishments, but also you earn points to win as a team.

How long have you been into this sport, and what were the early days of your participation? 

I started seventh grade at Peet Junior High. I started out with hurdles right away and loved it. I also did high jump at the time but no longer participate in that.

How did/do you cope with any setbacks/losses you’ve experienced in your sport?

Getting second place last year at state in 100m hurdles was definitely still a great accomplishment, but I wanted to win it all. This has motivated me to work harder this season.

Who has been particularly influential in helping your growth in this sport?

My head coach Chris Wood has influenced me by training me to be the best I can be but also always there for when my mental game is not there. He is always there to talk about anything.

What do you do to prepare yourself before a game?

Before a meet I make sure I get at least eight hours of sleep and have a good supper. The day of I make sure I eat a good breakfast, lunch and stay super hydrated.

How do you work on improving your skills in this sport?

I stay consistent with going to practice and sometimes in my free time I do some extra training.

What’s a personal skill that you are targeting lately?

Working on perfecting my hurdle form.

Do you have plans to play this sport after high school?

Yes, I will be attending North Dakota State University to run track.

What’s the most rewarding thing about your sport?

Seeing all the hard work pay off.

What has been a highlight for you/your team so far this season?

Unfortunately, we haven’t had many meets yet, but a main highlight for our team is a lot of the younger girls have been contributing to our team so far.

As you see it, what are the biggest tests remaining for you/your team yet this season?

Competing against the higher level athletes/schools and trying to fit people in the best races to score points for our team. Also, to stay healthy!