Maddy Crowell wanted this year to be different.
Two years ago, the Charlottetown native failed to finish the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association cross-country championships.
“I think I pushed myself too hard. The atmosphere was really exciting,” the fourth-year Mount Allison student explained Wednesday from Sackville, N.B. “I just went out too hard and died halfway through it.”
She not only finished this year’s championships Saturday, but her seventh-place finish earned her a spot on the all-star squad.
“I was glad to have a chance to redeem myself,” Crowell said. “That was kind of one of the motivating factors.”
She finished the five-kilometre course at Michel Chartrand Park in Longueuil, Que., in 19 minutes, 34 seconds.
It wasn’t her best time, but she was pleased with the outcome.
“I knew I was in better shape this time, so I knew I had a better shot at a good placing.”
Crowell, also a member of the Mount Allison Mounties swim team, started running with her elementary school team in Grade 4.
“I definitely loved it right from Day 1,” she said.
It was something that came naturally to her, but something that required determination, dedication and time.
“You have to put in a lot of miles to really build up a good base for it,” she said.
Crowell is hoping to do some indoor races this winter and spring and possibly make the Canada Games track team in distance running for 2013 in Sherbrooke, Que.
*****
Madeleine (Maddy) Crowell
u Hometown - Charlottetown.
u Age - 21.
u Sports: Cross-country, swimming.
u University - Mount Allison.
u Studying: Majoring in environment studies with minors in geography and environmental science.
u Recent Result - Finished seventh at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association cross-country championship. There were 132 runners representing 42 institutions.
u Did You Know? - Crowell won the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) gold medal Oct. 28 for the fourth consecutive time. She led her university cross-country squad to four ACAA championship titles and has been honoured as a four-time ACAA all-star over her university career.
