The student news site of Naperville North High School

The North Star

The student news site of Naperville North High School

The North Star

The student news site of Naperville North High School

The North Star

Time Out with Maria McDaniel

As Maria McDaniel finishes her last season on the state’s top-ranking girls cross country team, she takes a moment to share what running has meant to her

By Staff Writer John Conway

John Conway interviewed a seasoned girls cross-country veteran, NNHS senior Captain Maria McDaniel. Since freshman year, she has grown under the stewardship of Head Coach Dan Iverson and has learned to love her teammates as family. Coming off last season with a state championship, McDaniel hopes to leave her team on an equally strong note.

Q: What is the best thing about your sport?

Story continues below advertisement

A: The best part of my sport is that our girls cross-country team is a family. We support each other 100%. There is no JV and varsity distinction. We are all varsity. When you do something really hard with each other, it bonds you for life, like running those hills at Blackwell when you are already tired from a temp run. That bonds you for life.

Q:What is the worst thing about your sport?

A: The worst part about my sport is that my last season as part of the girls XC is coming to an end. I have been on this team for four years and loved every minute of it. I have learned so much about running and life from this team and Coach Iverson. When I think back to my freshman year, I was pretty naive, but I have learned so much, accomplished things that I never dreamed possible, and it is all coming to an end in the couple of months.

Q: How far do you want to go with your sport?

A: I really want to continue running in college at a competitive level. I am not sure where yet, but I am heading up to U of Minn this weekend for an official visit.  From what I have seen so far, I really like their program and their coach.  It reminds me a lot of some of the things that we have done here at NNHS.  I am also looking at a few schools in Michigan and possibly one in Illinois.

Q: What is the most important contribution you have made for your sport?

A: The most important contribution that I have made for my sport occurs every day at practice. This year, I have really felt that the girls have looked to me for direction and valued my experience. For example, we had a new girl join the team this year and participate in her first Mile Time Trial. I could tell she had never done anything quite like this so far, so I just began encouraging her and ran her final lap with her so she wouldn’t be alone. Many of the teammates joined in on this and we even sang the Huskie fight song at the end. One of my favorite cross-country moments this year for sure.

Q:How have you evolved as an athlete over the years?

A: I have evolved as an athlete in the last four years in that I have accomplished things that I never thought I could come even close to doing.  Running a mile in 5:07 and running three miles in 17:04 are two examples of that.  If you had told me four years ago that I would be even near those times, I would have laughed out loud and told you that was impossible. But sports, epecially cross-country,  have taught me that nothing is impossible if we just set our mind to it, work hard, and stay focused.

Q: What coaches or mentors have inspired you over the years?

A: Coach Iverson for sure. He sincerely cares about each and girl on his team. He is a gifted writer and speaker and that has motivated me a lot. Starting with freshman year, I have met some amazing teammates who have also inspired me. We have had many types of leaders on the team, and I have learned so much from them. We have the quiet, action oriented leader who set the bar high for us all. We have had the “fun” leader who did an awesome job of keeping the rest of us loose in tense situations when we were all nervous. I have also known leaders who weren’t afraid to take risks and show me that it is okay to fail once in a while. You will never know what you can accomplish if you don’t try things and take risks.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All The North Star Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
Time Out with Maria McDaniel