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OAKLAND – Maryam Hassan always wanted to lead, and has always inspired her younger teammates. The Cresskill senior is one of the North Jersey’s best jumpers and is equally capable as a leader.
Hassan won the long jump Saturday at the County Seat Invitational with a 16-6¼, continuing to be a great example to her teammates. It is important for Cresskill to see its leader perform well, so even though the mark was not her best, Hassan saw the gold medal as a clear victory.“I was exhausted,” Hassan said, referring to fatigue from Friday’s Bergen Meet of Champions. “I dropped out of the triple jump because I couldn’t do it, but as I explained to [teammate] Bella [Moss], that doesn’t mean you’re giving up on something. This is just another meet to get a seed time for sectionals and for people to try out events.”
The true key is simply the way Hassan interacts with her teammates. When one-on-one with a younger teammate, Hassan was both encouraging and forceful, giving a lecture, yet praising. It is a skill Hassan has always had and honed.
“As a sophomore I looked to lead the freshmen, and now I think my age has caught up to my maturity, so I try to set an example for everyone,” Hassan said. “I didn’t do my best today, but it’s important to just reset your mind and not focus on the negative” — which Hassan hopes her comrades see.