State Track Preview: Peabody 'surprised'
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — McClain sophomore Felicity Peabody surprised herself when she earned a trip to the 2011 OHSAA State Track & Field championships, after placing in the regional meet last Saturday.
She shouldn't have been.
Peabody, who will run in the 400-meter dash, has not only battled though rain, cold and heat this spring, but she overcame a respiratory illness that sidelined her for a few meets.
"She got sick the week before the McClain invitational. She didn't even run in that, so we tried to get her back for the league meet, and she only did two events there," McClain girls track coach Lori Jones said. "It was a real struggle for her, because all she wanted to do is run, but couldn't due to some breathing problems. I think that speaks volumes for her because she was able to push through that. I know she struggled with it because she wanted to get the points she's used to getting and she couldn't."
Peabody, who thanked her coaches for always having faith in her, conquered her roadblock of sorts by winning a South Central Ohio League title, two district titles, and running well enough in the regional meet in Byesville to earn a spot in the state meet.
Her journey to the regionals really kicked into full gear at the SCOL meet when she won the 400m dash with a time of 1:01.40. At the district meet, in Washington C.H., she finished with a final time of 1:00.78. At regionals, in the finals, she had a time of 1:01.29.
"It's a great opportunity to make it to state. I never expected to make it this young," Peabody said. "My first thought when I realized I made state was I get a T-shirt, and that is pretty cool. I didn't really expect to do as good as I did (at regionals). I was counting the people and realized I was fourth, so I knew I made it."
Coach Jones talked about how Peabody maneuvered past all obstacles this season.
"She obviously had some expectations for herself, and I think she knew she'd be at the top of the league this year, and like I said, with the breathing problems and sickness, it was a surprise. We knew she was capable of this all season, but she was kind of surprised.
"When it came to district time, she picked up another event. Last year, she didn't even make the finals in the 400, so this is huge for her. She doesn't show a lot of emotion, but after the regionals she was so excited. It's a big accomplishment after battling back from her sickness. She works hard and is a very good runner."
Peabody began running track because she wanted to be with her friends. She also has played golf and basketball during her athletic career, but she said track is her favorite sport.
"My friends were all running track, and they all just quit. Now I'm the only sophomore girl. I like the coaches, the people and it keeps me in shape," Peabody said. "Track is my favorite because I'm OK at it."
To run in this event not only takes practice, but each runner has a moment where it is just them and their thoughts before a race. All the practices and hours spent on the track come down to a single moment in time, where the field gun goes off and it is up to the athlete to perform at their highest possible level.
"At the beginning I am like 'don't false start,' and then when I am running, I don't think about anything," Peabody said. "When I'm done, it all catches up to me, and I just don't want to have a bad time.
"I try to get out really fast, then I just try to hold form throughout. It gets rougher at the end, and sometimes I do lose form, but I try to keep it all the way. My main thing is I just try to get out quick."
Peabody said winning a league and district titles were high points of the season, but there were other memorable moments as well.
"My favorite is after a track meet, especially if I did good, there is no more stress of having to run. I can just relax and watch the rest of the track meet," she said. "It means a lot, all the hard work from the season shows I made it to state, and I can't think of anything better because it feels so good to make it this far."[[In-content Ad]]
She shouldn't have been.
Peabody, who will run in the 400-meter dash, has not only battled though rain, cold and heat this spring, but she overcame a respiratory illness that sidelined her for a few meets.
"She got sick the week before the McClain invitational. She didn't even run in that, so we tried to get her back for the league meet, and she only did two events there," McClain girls track coach Lori Jones said. "It was a real struggle for her, because all she wanted to do is run, but couldn't due to some breathing problems. I think that speaks volumes for her because she was able to push through that. I know she struggled with it because she wanted to get the points she's used to getting and she couldn't."
Peabody, who thanked her coaches for always having faith in her, conquered her roadblock of sorts by winning a South Central Ohio League title, two district titles, and running well enough in the regional meet in Byesville to earn a spot in the state meet.
Her journey to the regionals really kicked into full gear at the SCOL meet when she won the 400m dash with a time of 1:01.40. At the district meet, in Washington C.H., she finished with a final time of 1:00.78. At regionals, in the finals, she had a time of 1:01.29.
"It's a great opportunity to make it to state. I never expected to make it this young," Peabody said. "My first thought when I realized I made state was I get a T-shirt, and that is pretty cool. I didn't really expect to do as good as I did (at regionals). I was counting the people and realized I was fourth, so I knew I made it."
Coach Jones talked about how Peabody maneuvered past all obstacles this season.
"She obviously had some expectations for herself, and I think she knew she'd be at the top of the league this year, and like I said, with the breathing problems and sickness, it was a surprise. We knew she was capable of this all season, but she was kind of surprised.
"When it came to district time, she picked up another event. Last year, she didn't even make the finals in the 400, so this is huge for her. She doesn't show a lot of emotion, but after the regionals she was so excited. It's a big accomplishment after battling back from her sickness. She works hard and is a very good runner."
Peabody began running track because she wanted to be with her friends. She also has played golf and basketball during her athletic career, but she said track is her favorite sport.
"My friends were all running track, and they all just quit. Now I'm the only sophomore girl. I like the coaches, the people and it keeps me in shape," Peabody said. "Track is my favorite because I'm OK at it."
To run in this event not only takes practice, but each runner has a moment where it is just them and their thoughts before a race. All the practices and hours spent on the track come down to a single moment in time, where the field gun goes off and it is up to the athlete to perform at their highest possible level.
"At the beginning I am like 'don't false start,' and then when I am running, I don't think about anything," Peabody said. "When I'm done, it all catches up to me, and I just don't want to have a bad time.
"I try to get out really fast, then I just try to hold form throughout. It gets rougher at the end, and sometimes I do lose form, but I try to keep it all the way. My main thing is I just try to get out quick."
Peabody said winning a league and district titles were high points of the season, but there were other memorable moments as well.
"My favorite is after a track meet, especially if I did good, there is no more stress of having to run. I can just relax and watch the rest of the track meet," she said. "It means a lot, all the hard work from the season shows I made it to state, and I can't think of anything better because it feels so good to make it this far."[[In-content Ad]]