<p style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Colorado's Class of 2014 makes their decisions...</strong></p>
Dana Maydew's top high school memory, so far, comes from the State 4x400 that clinched Niwot's first-ever team title.
Dana Maydew's top marks:
200 meters - 26.70
400 meters - 58.87
800 meters - 2:21.40
300 meter hurdles - 48.18
Long jump - 15-11.5
Clemson is a long way from Colorado. Do you have family connections in South Carolina, or is there some other pull that's drawing you to Clemson?
Clemson is a very long way from Colorado but I want to explore new opportunities. It’s a dream of mine to go to a place where I can see different things and have new experiences. Clemson seems like the perfect place to do that. They have great athletic facilities as well as an outstanding engineering program! When I went to visit Clemson the people were very welcoming, and I felt like I was home the minute I stepped on campus. The track team welcomed me with open arms and I just wanted to be a part of this team!
There are very few people in the MileSplit database who have results in as many different events as you do. Do you have a favorite of all those events?
I love track just about as much as every other runner out there, but I have found that I can compete at a fair level in almost any event. It’s exciting to try new events because the Niwot coaching staff is phenomenal! I would have to say that my favorite events are the relays and the hurdles. I can run in all of the relays from the 4x100m to the 4x800m, but the 300m hurdles really catches my attention. I don’t have very much experience with the hurdles yet, but I have a drive and a passion to do better!
How competitive does it get making the girls relay teams at Niwot?
It is very competitive to make it on one of the relay teams at Niwot! Within our team we have tons of healthy and fast competition! Everyone pushes each other to run faster so we all have very similar times! I think Coach Mo thinks a lot about picking which girls can run on the each of the relays. Many of the girls are fast enough, but to be on the relay teams, you have to be consistent and committed, and put in the work!
Has the Clemson coaching staff talked to you at all about what event or events they see you specializing in college?
Yes, we have been talking about running the 400m hurdles and the 800m in college. These two things seem to be my best events so they are likely what I will run. We may find that I could be doing something totally different though, you never know!
What's your favorite memory from high school track and field to date?
My favorite memory from high school track and field would have to be last year at State. The 4x400m relay was my fourth event, and eight race of the meet, with preliminaries. Everyone was a little tired because State is a long three days. I had the pleasure to anchor the 4x400m to finish off the meet. Before going into the race, the girls and I decided that we were going to win the 4x400m. Coach Mo was impressed with our proposition, but he just wanted us to place. Once the stick was passed around it finally got to me in second place. I saw the Durango girl about 15 meters ahead of me, so I hunted her down on the first curve. On the back stretch we were neck and neck, when we came around to the 200 mark I decided to make my move. I passed her on the curve for first place. It all felt surreal! I was bringing it home in first place, at State! I crossed the finish line in first, securing the State team title and winning the 4x400m! I can honestly say it was the happiest moment of my life because we had been working so hard all season long for the State title, and Niwot had never won a team title ever in the 40 year school history!
Is there any one thing you have your heart set on accomplishing this spring?
This spring I have a lot of goals, but my biggest is to win the girls State team title again this year! I will do anything I can to make this happen, even if it means giving up my open events to better support the relays! It’s my senior year and I already have an exciting future ahead of me, so I just want to go out there and run my heart out!
**********
Niwot, of course, runs a lot of meets in a fairly small strip of tracks up and down the northern Front Range. The St. Vrain Invitational and the Boulder County Championships would be two excellent opportunities this spring to catch up with Dana Maydew and her Niwot relay teammates.