PEABODY — For the first time in more than 20 years, the city of Peabody sat back in awe as one of its own competed on the grandest stage possible.
And boy, were they in awe.
Under the bright lights of primetime television in the United States Sunday night — and the boiling heat of Tokyo on Monday morning local time — Peabody native Heather MacLean made it through to the semifinal round of the women’s 1500-meter at the Tokyo Olympics by running a time of 4:02:40 in the third and final heat of the night.
“I wasn’t nervous at all when she was in seventh, she’s a sneaky one and that’s her style,” MacLean’s mother Michele Maurice said with tears of joy in her eyes after the race. “I’m probably going to go home and just wait for Heather’s call, which usually comes around 4:30 in the morning. Not many people like getting calls that early, but that’s one call that I’m going to be ecstatic to take.”
Peabody residents from all over town gathered after the Peabody Summer Concert Series on the Leather City Common to take in the race, with a massive screen placed up on stage for all to see. When MacLean was shown on the big screen prior to the race, you could likely hear the cheers all the way across the entire town.
“Watching her tonight and throughout this whole experience is just surreal,” said Maurice. “It’s hard to grasp. She called me today and said, ‘I love you mommy,’ and the last thing I told her was to go and get it.”
A total of 45 (split into three heats of 15) of the world’s best runners representing 24 countries competed in the event. Ranked 23rd in the world, MacLean competed in the third and final heat — widely considered to be the fastest of the three. She entered the race with the fourth fastest time of the year.
The top six runners from each heat along with the next six runners with the fastest times qualified for the semifinal round on Aug. 4. The top five runners from each semifinal heat plus the next two runners with the fastest times advance to the final, which will be held on Aug. 6.
MacLean ran a smart race from start to finish Sunday, keeping herself in the middle of the pack for the majority of the race with a solid pace throughout. As the heat approached its final 400-500 meters, MacLean pushed herself a little harder and crossed the finish line in fifth place — guaranteeing her a spot in Wednesday’s semifinal.
MacLean almost didn’t make it to Tokyo. She finished sixth in her semifinal heat of the 1500 last month at the trials in Eugene, Ore. As only the top five from each semifinal plus the next two fastest runners would advance to Tokyo, MacLean’s Olympic dreams appeared to be over.
Not so fast.
MacLean and her New Balance Team Boston coach Mark Coogan protested the race results, claiming she had been tripped. The officials agreed and advanced her to the final. A second chance was all MacLean needed. Working her way from the back half of the field over the final 800 meters, she finished strong, chasing down a former national champion to finish third in 4:02.9.
Simply put, MacLean has established herself as one of the best professional runners in the country. She had a standout career at UMass Amherst from 2013-18. She was the first cross country All-American for the Minutewomen and won an Atlantic 10 title as a senior. She also added an indoor All-American mark in the 3,000 as a junior and several New England Championships. She is the first Olympian in the history of the UMass track and field program.
In January, MacLean posted the fastest time in the world in the mile (4:27.54) at American Track League Meet No. 1. She 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 led 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 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.”
Peabody’s last Olympian was swimmer Samantha Arsenault (now Samantha Livingstone), who represented the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She won a gold medal in the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay with teammates Diana Munz, Lindsay Benko and Jenny Thompson. The team set a new Olympic record in the event final of 7:57.80.
“There is a tremendous sense of pride in the community whenever we have an Olympian, and it’s wonderful to have another Olympian after more than 20 years since Samantha,” said Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. “This only happens once in a generation, so this is extremely exciting for Heather and her family and the city.”
As for what’s next, Bettencourt said a decision to hold a viewing party for the semifinal on Wednesday morning has not yet been made.
“It’s at a weird time, so we’re still thinking it through,” he said. “We’ll talk with the family and will certainly do whatever we can to promote Heather. Hers is an amazing story and we are all behind her all the way.”
Coverage for Wednesday’s semifinal will begin at 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
