If you ask sophomore cross country runner Kalin Gregoire’s teammates what makes her so fast, you would get the impression that she isn’t.
“She is S-L-O-W,” junior Bella Ziolek said.
“She really is the yellow starburst of the bunch,” junior Keira Fitzmaurice said. “She is slower than Snapchat loading in the math hallway.”
Gregoire responds to these jokes only with laughter, and the phrase, “I love ‘em all.”
Because of course they’re jokes. The truth is that Gregoire is the fastest Lady Lancer to grace the halls of LHS in a long time.
This season, she has won the Manchester New Balance jamboree, had the fastest time ever for Lancer Nation on the Souhegan Relays course, and ran a 5K in under 20 minutes on the Old Home Day course, which is the first time this has happened in over 10 years.
According to her coaches, one defining trait pushing this sophomore to record times is her determination.
“She’s feisty,” said girls cross country coach Mr. Burgess. “She won’t give in to anyone.”
And that feistiness certainly translates into speed on the course, as Gregoire is currently ranked 34 in the state and is climbing. Her goal for the season is to push Lancer Nation to New England’s and run a time for a 5K close to 19 minutes.
Although to some, running may be considered a grueling and unpleasant sport, Gregoire’s feelings are only positive, leading to a good influence on and off the course.
“I’ve never met someone who is a good runner and is negative,” Gregoire said. “And I’ve met a lot of runners in my time.”
But Gregoire has faced her fair share of adversity, from a bad race at Souhegan last year, to problems with her ability to breathe.
“I was really angry because I wanted to do well, but I just couldn’t breathe,” Gregoire said. “It pushed me to do well this year, so I could be where I was two years ago.”
Gregoire has pushed herself to a new personal record on Pinkerton’s course at this year’s Mack Plaque, where she ran a 19:23.
Just 8 seconds slower than Pinkerton’s top finisher. A speed she didn’t know she was running until she finished.
“I knew I was going fast and was close to the front runner, but I didn’t realize how fast,”
Gregoire said. “But when I saw the time: pure happiness.”
And there to share in her happiness were some of Gregoire’s greatest supporters, her teammates.
“They’re good at keeping me positive and happy because we joke around a lot,” Gregoire said.
And Gregoire definitely returns the sentiment and the support to her teammates.
“Even if she feels like she’s not having the best day or race, she never fails to make me and everyone else smile,” sophomore teammate Jill Doris said.
Fitzmaurice said Gregoire is not only a great runner but “a great teammate” as well.
“She always pushes everyone on the team,” Fitzmaurice said.
Gregoire often tries to push them with speeches.
“They know they can do it,” Gregoire said. “I just remind them.”
As the season winds down, Gregoire’s drive and determination will come in handy as cross-country faces off against big rivals, including a trip to the Brown Invitational in Rhode Island.
And as the gun goes off at each of these events, Kalin will be thinking about what she always does.
“Nothing,” Gregoire said. “You’re empty because it’s easier than thinking about being in pain later or anything. It’s better to just be empty, be nothing.”
Bang.
