Messalonskee senior Nikki Salvadori didn’t let the pandemic hold back her track and field career
Messalonskee senior Nikki Salvadori didn’t let the pandemic hold back her track and field career. She proved that with a flourish recently when she broke two school records in a regular season meet.
“It feels great to know that even with all these restrictions in place, I am still able to achieve such high standards,” Salvadori explained in referring to her two school records: a 9.36 55 hurdles run and a 5-foot-2-inch leap in the high jump.
Salvadori’s outstanding performances in the events gives her momentum going into tomorrow’s KVAC Championships at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
The Eagles are few in number both on the girls’ and boys’ indoor squads, which would seem to be another difficult aspect of the current season.
Salvadori, though, has turned a perceived negative into an unquestionable positive situation.
Because of the lack of teammates, Salvadori said she has benefitted from more one–on-one instructional time from coaches.
“I miss having the big team we used to have,” Salvadori explained. “However, I do enjoy having more time to complete more reps and more focus on my skill [development] from coaches and teammates.”
In addition to help from team coaches, Salvadori also took the initiative to take private high jump lessons at Personal Training International in Massachusetts. She’s pleased with the results of that decision.
“My high jumping skills have definitely improved drastically since last year,” Salvadori said.
Spectators were not allowed in the meet where Salvadori set her two school records. Still, even in that case, Salvadori managed to find a bright side.
“I am fortunate enough,” she explained, “to have a few close friends on the team like Kiley Meader and Tieran Croft who did get to see [me set both records].”