PEABODY — It’s not every day you get to meet an Olympian, and last week the kids at the Fernando Braz Running Camp got that special treat when city native and former Peabody High star Heather MacLean visited before making her trip to Tokyo to represent the United States on the women’s track-and-field team.
At the Olympic Trials on June 21 in Eugene, Ore., MacLean ran a time of 4:02.09 in the 1500-meter to finish third and qualify for the Olympic team. The women’s 1500 will be run on Aug. 2 in Tokyo.
Last Wednesday, MacLean visited Braz Camp and spoke with the cross-country and all-sports athletes, describing her Olympic-qualifying 1500 three weeks earlier as a race where she let her mind and body take over and simply executed.
MacLean answered a number of questions from campers about her training and life as a professional runner. She remains amazed that her job is not to go into an office to “work” but to go for a run — twice a day.
“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.”
She congratulated the cross-country and all-sports athletes for dedicating a part of their summer to building their speed and endurance for success in the fall.
Before heading to UMass – Amherst, where she achieved All-American status three times, MacLean was a star runner for the Tanners — setting records in the 400, 600 and 800 and winning Division 1 state titles in the 600 and 800. Her personal-best time in the 800 is 1:59, while her personal-best in the one-mile is 4:25.
MacLean has become one of the best professional runners in the country, a career that has included becoming 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.
All of that led up to her qualifying time for the Olympics, and later this week the Peabody native will be seen taking part in the Opening Ceremonies at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday at 7 a.m. ET.
