Michelle Louie ’24 from Los Altos, California is a sophomore in women’s track and field. Recently named a Division III All-American in the distance medley relay (DMR), Louie competes in multiple races, ranging from 60m to 400m. In this episode of “Seven Questions,” Louie talks about NCAA nationals, their Goals for the upcoming spring season and their favorite things to do away from the track.
Lexi Linafelter: Do you have a favorite event that you attend?
Michelle Louie: My favorite event is the 200 [meter]. It’s short enough that you can run at full speed and not so long that you end up exhausted. It was really fun to try it indoors this year – it’s a full lap and you feel like you’re flying through the corners because they’re so tight.
LL: What was NCAA Internationals’ most memorable moment in March?
ML: I remember finishing the relay and watching our last runner, Cassie Kearney ’22. All the runners who had already left stood cheering at the corner [and] We could see Cassie coming down the long route at the end. When she finished, she was obviously exhausted [and] we celebrated with her and jumped on the floor.
LL: What is your favorite thing to do after a meeting?
ML: Team dinners are always so much fun because everyone is so relaxed – tired and happy is how I would describe it. I have a fun ritual… I don’t eat dessert or sweets the night before a race, but the night after I go all out with dessert and treat myself.
LL: What is your favorite thing to do on a day off in Middlebury?
ML: In the winter it was super fun to go skiing with friends. When it’s warm I usually go to Bristol Falls or Falls of Lana. I really like just getting off campus and spending time outside.
LL: What are you looking forward to most about the outdoor season?
ML: The opportunity to compete against other NESCAC schools. We compete against many New England schools during the indoor season, but the spirit of competition at a NESCAC gathering is hard to beat. The energy of NESCACs is really, really exciting and I’m looking forward to it, especially since we didn’t have it last season.
LL: What are your biggest goals for the rest of the season?
ML: Be a really great teammate. I want to be as supportive as possible on the big days and bad days, in competition and in training. The supportive environment is one of the great things about being a part of it [the team], so I always try to do my best to keep this going. For the competitive season in general, my goal is always to set personal bests.
LL: Which canteen is your favorite and why?
ML: If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago I would have definitely said Ross – it’s such a nice atmosphere to eat with the high ceilings and huge tables. However, I now really appreciate Proctor, especially because of the pesto. I feel like that was a big game changer.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited slightly for brevity and clarity.
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