Park Ridge’s Nicole Thomas acknowledges she didn’t know a lot about track when she showed up for the first practice, but before she knew it, she was on the starting line to run the 400 meters.
“I started sprinting it and [coach Danielle Centurione] told me to slow down,” Thomas said. “She didn’t realize I could actually run it that full-out fast. Most people, when they run it the first time, they start out fast and then slow down and die at the end.
“They were like, ‘Slow down!’ And I was like, ‘Why?’ ”
Thomas hasn’t slowed down yet.
The Record Female Athlete of the Week won the 100, 200 and 400 at the NJIC Patriot League meet May 2. She also teamed with Megan Gasnick, Rachel Spagnola and Alli Uh to win the 4-x-400.
Her success – she broke the school record in the 200 in just her second varsity race – is even more impressive when you consider she’s also playing forward and midfield for her traveling club soccer team.
“I’ve gone from school to a track meet, and I’ve gone straight from a track meet to a [soccer] practice,” she said. “Those days get very tiring, but I love doing both sports.”
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