PEABODY — While many of her peers spent high school thinking about futures at college and athletic feats, Peabody’s Heather MacLean didn’t often have that luxury.
The fourth of eight siblings, Heather spent most of her days helping her mother, Michele Maurice, take care of things at home.
“I was the oldest girl so I felt like the second mom,” MacLean said. “My mom had a lot on her plate so I did what I could to help her. It was a role I was really young for. Normally I wasn’t thinking about colleges or sports. I was just worried about the day to day.”
So MacLean didn’t know at the time that she had untapped athletic potential on the track. Thankfully, by chance, she was able to discover some of that ability her junior year.
“It’s a funny story,” MacLean said. “I joined the track team once or twice before but I never stuck with it. I was always off watching my siblings. I didn’t have some of the resources to do it and our family had no vehicle at the time so I wasn’t able to do it. The cost outweighed the benefits for a time.
“Then junior year I was working at Market Basket with my best friend and she decided to join,” MacLean said. “I figured, ‘She’s my ride, I might as well join too.’ So I did.”
And MacLean instantly found a second home running track.
“Automatically I felt so accepted in that environment,” MacLean said. “I was always the type of person who had friends everywhere. I never felt like I only had friends in one group. On the team, that was the first time in life I felt I was a part of one group and it was so supportive. I fell in love. I started to do well and coaches saw promise in me.”
Flash forward to today and that promise has seen MacLean become one of the best professional runners in the country. After running at UMass Amherst in college, MacLean became a professional runner for New Balance Boston in 2018. And it looks like in 2021 she’s hit her stride.
In January, MacLean posted a world-leading 4:27.54 time in the mile at American Track League Meet No. 1. Last month she also won the 1500 meter at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, posting the best American time in the event this year, 4:06.32. She also leads the nation in the 800m this year following a 2:00.53 time at American Track League Meet No. 4. She was named U.S. Track and Field New England’s Athlete of the Month for February.
“I would say for starters the success comes from being a part of a great team,” MacLean said. “It’s been amazing working with (New Balance Boston) coach Mark Coogan. He’s brought me a long way. I have six teammates and we’re all so supportive of each other and build each other up. It’s a great support system.”
Joining that support system was something MacLean had dreamed of and it was well deserved for a runner that had not only come a long way off the track but battled injuries in college that led to a red-shirt season that allowed a fifth year at UMass where everything clicked and pro teams came calling.
“I had to grow up fast (in high school) and it has helped me a lot,” MacLean said. “I’m thankful for it. It allowed me to be more mature and resilient through injuries and sickness. I was more prepared because of those life experiences.”
And MacLean has plenty she’s still looking to accomplish, now shifting her training to the Olympic trials, which are slated for June after being postponed last year, in the 800 and 1500 meter.
“My goal is obviously to do very well at trials, that’s a big goal I’m setting for myself,” MacLean said. “It’s crazy that it’s so close. But also it’s about being happy and having fun while training. Mentally there are really good days and bad days. If you can get to a place where those bad days don’t seem so bad that’s where you want to be.”
