Superstar Secord Athlete, Maddie Eaton,
May 17, 2024
Maddie Eaton began her spring track and field season this February with a strong performance, securing second place in the mile at the Saginaw Valley State University High School Invitational in Michigan.
Clocking in at 5:14.34, Eaton finished second out of 63 runners, fueling her determination for the season.
“I went into it feeling not the most positive and I was ‘No. You have to believe it. It is mind over matter.’ And I ended up second. Ever since then it has been focus on my training and I go into each week and work my hardest,” said the Grade 11 student at Laura Secord Thursday.
Her efforts have clearly paid off. On Thursday, she won the senior girls' 800 meters and the 2,000-meter steeplechase at the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association Zone 4 track and field meet at Centennial.
“It was that extra kick in the butt. I am always trying to motivate myself but that was a definite push.”
Last year, the 16-year-old from St. Catharines, who has been involved in track and field since elementary school and joined the Thorold Elite Track Club in Grade 8, competed at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations meet in the 1,500 meters, finishing 18th. In Grade 9, she participated in the OFSAA 300-meter hurdles, placing 13th.
Her goal last season was to reach nationals, but early in the season, she faced challenges.
“I was thinking what event I could do to get there and my coaches told me to try steeple (chase).”
This turned out to be a great choice, as she qualified for nationals in the steeplechase, ultimately placing ninth after entering the event ranked 13th.
“That was when I realized I was better at distance so I decided I would head towards that route.”
Although her favorite event is the 1,500 meters, she chose to skip it during the high school season to focus on her other two events.
“I didn’t have enough time between the two events to do the 1,500,” she explained.
Eaton credits her success in the steeplechase to Thorold Elite coach Steven Fife.
“He really pushed me and motivated me to work on my form. I had hurdle form before that and he told me I had the form down and I just had to work on the distance and I would be good.”
She also drew a lot of inspiration from her mom, Lisa Eaton.
“She was so proud of me and knew I really wanted to get to nationals. That was another push and made me believe in myself more.”
This season, her goals include qualifying for OFSAA again, hopefully in both events.
“I have already qualified for nationals for steeplechase so now it is just getting my 1,500 time down a little bit more to get qualified for that,” she said. “I want to work hard and get as many PBs as I can in the season.”
Coach Fife appreciates having Eaton on the Thorold Elite team.
“Maddie has been a leader on the distance team for three years. She has amazing spirit, always very positive, is a great team player and an excellent ambassador for other girls in running.”
