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10/10/2013 12:00 AMWhen someone gets cut from a team, he or she can either give up or step up and senior distance runner Elizabeth Stern undoubtedly belongs in the latter category.
Elizabeth was cut from North Haven's girls' indoor track her freshman year, a setback she says was "really frustrating." So Elizabeth began pounding the pavement by running multiple miles every day and the result was vastly improved times that not only earned her spots on both track squads, but made her a varsity regular in cross country, as well.
In fact, Elizabeth has consistently been the Indians' No. 2 or 3 finisher as a senior captain this season and will also captain outdoor track in the spring.
"I was not content after I got cut and I knew I had to do something. So over the summer, I went to the track in the morning and ran at captains' practices at night and, when I went to indoor tryouts my sophomore year, I came third in the time trial for the mile," Elizabeth says. "I was happy I did that for myself. I lot of people get deterred when they're cut and they never progress, but it made me a better runner."
Elizabeth recently posted her all-time best mark for a 5K by running 22:09 at East Rock Park. Her personal record at North Haven's home course of Wharton Brook is 22:10. Elizabeth admits to getting nervous before meets, but then settles down mentally while competing by simplifying things and focusing solely on "picking off one runner at a time."
Elizabeth will bring that strategy to the SCC Championship at Hammonasset State Park on Thursday, Oct. 17 with a goal of placing high enough to earn her first All-Oronoque distinction.
"I want to make the All-Oronoque team," says Elizabeth, who was the cross country team's Most Improved athlete last fall. "I was shooting for it last year and just missed it by one or two spots so, hopefully, this year I can get it."
North Haven cross country and girls' outdoor track Coach Carl Jackson is certainly rooting for Elizabeth to achieve that feat. He praises Elizabeth for proving a reliable point scorer and the way she leads the Indians' young group of runners.
"Elizabeth has progressed quite a lot and is contributing a lot to the success of the team. She's usually our No. 2 runner and that's a pivotal spot because it freezes out other teams from scoring points and ultimately helps us score points," says Jackson. "Elizabeth puts in a lot of time in the offseason. She did the sign-ups at the middle school and led the captains' workouts in the summer. She's a strong leader who the younger kids respect and who goes through every detail so that nothing is left undone."
Elizabeth feels proud that her team is having a solid season with its influx of new athletes, saying, "it makes me happy to see them improve and see minutes coming off their times."
Something else that made her happy was when girls' outdoor track won the West Sectional meet last spring, a victory aided by Elizabeth's 4x400 relay placing second and her 4x800 taking third. That triumph culminated one of Elizabeth's numerous positive days as an Indians' athlete and she's thankful to have had a hand in North Haven's success.
"It's a great feeling. I never though I'd be doing this, but it's been so exciting," says Elizabeth, a member for the National and Art honor societies. "I just love the rush I get from running, from winning, and helping out my teams."