Worcester Telegram: "Kralian’s Track Comeback Finds Success"
Worcester, MA --- Mara Kralian set 10 school records in track and field at Grafton High, but when she started college at Westfield State last fall her plan was to give up running so she could concentrate on academics.
Kralian’s Track Comeback Finds Success
December 23, 2009
Jen Toland, Staff Writer
Mara Kralian set 10 school records in track and
field at Grafton High, but when she started college at Westfield
State last fall her plan was to give up running so she could
concentrate on academics.
“I got pretty bored,” Kralian said, “and I
really missed it.”
In January, Kralian transferred to Worcester State where she was
reunited with Mat LeMaire, her high school coach,
and over the last 12 months she’s been getting back to being
her record-setting self.
“When she contacted me to tell me she wanted to get back
into it, I was excited,” said LeMaire, in his third year as
the WSC women’s indoor and outdoor track coach. “Her
potential now is even more than it was in high school and
it’s great to have the opportunity to work with her for a
couple more years.”
During indoor season, Kralian competes in the 55 (or 60), 200 and
long jump. In the spring, it’s the 100, 200 and long jump.
She owns the Lancers records in all of them. She set the school
mark in the 60 at last week’s Harvard Open.
“It feels good every time you break one,” Kralian
said.
Kralian hadn’t trained at all last fall, so it took her some
time to get back in shape — all of last indoor season, she
said. Still, she was the New England Alliance champion in the 200
and earned All-Division 3 regional honors in the 55.
Last spring, Kralian earned All-Division 3 New England and
All-ECAC recognition in the 100, while setting three WSC records. A
business administration major, Kralian earned a 4.0 grade point
average and received the Freshman Female of the Year award from
Worcester State’s athletic department.
In WSC’s first two meets of this indoor season, Kralian, who
was voted captain of the squad, broke school records in the 55 and
long jump that had stood for more than 10 years.
“Thing are going really well,” she said, “and
hopefully I can just continue to improve.”
LeMaire had the chance to work with the U.S. Olympic jumps coach
over the summer and he has incorporated what he learned into the
Lancers training program.
“I think the lifting we do and the plyometrics really makes
a difference,” said Kralian, whose long jump mark is 5.45
meters.
Kralian participated in cheerleading and tennis as a freshman at
Grafton. She joined the track team as a sophomore and had immediate
success. She ran the third leg of the 1,600-meter relay team that
competed in the Nike Nationals. Her sister, Rachel, ran the second
leg.
Worcester State concluded the semester last week. Kralian is
awaiting her grades — she expects mostly As. She is working
at a mortgage company over break and looking forward to Worcester
State’s next meet, the Tufts Invitational, on Jan. 16.