Somers' Donovan takes third at states

SOMERS, N.Y. - In her third run at the indoor state championships, Haylie Donovan stood in last place with 50 yards to go in the 300-meter run.

“I pushed and was able to pass everyone at the end,” said the Tusker.  Only the second heat of three, though, Donovan shifted into neutral and opted for faith. 

“I closed my eyes and prayed that I would keep my position,” recalled the runner.  

Not quite. The clock showed two girls with faster times in the final heat, but third place still had the senior looking up.

On the bleacher incline, her parents were the main focus of the picture. 

“My mom was turning around for my dad, putting three fingers up and was screaming, ‘third place, third place,’” extolled Donovan.

Of course, the ascent took time to get off the ground. 

“I had a rough start and wasn’t getting the times I wanted,” revealed Donovan.

So the runner doubled down. 

“I got focused on upping my training and the mental part of track,” she said.

The result was first place finishes in the sectional and the counties. 

“I got the outcomes I wanted,” said Donovan.

The same goes for the qualifiers. 

“I ran my best race of the season,” said the first-place finisher.

An effort that wasn’t quite twice as nice, because runners have to race two heats on the day. 

“It’s pretty nerve-wracking,” Donovan asserted.

She had an ace up her sleeve nonetheless. 

“Typically, I do better in the finals,” said Donovan.

A good race in the prelims, she provided the proof. 

“I went into the finals and ran a personal best,” the gold medal winner beamed. 

Wire to wire this time, distance wasn’t the only thing that provided separation. 

“I was just running, didn’t feel anyone on me, and I put my all into it,” she explained.

Onto the states in Staten Island, the team skipped the ferry, but the seas were still a little choppy for the All-Stater. 

“Unfortunately, I didn’t PR,” Donovan lamented.

Her podium position definitely softened the final count, though. 6th place last year, she said, “It was a really awesome feeling, because this year I was higher up. It gave me a lot of confidence.”

But the end result isn’t her only source of strength.  

“Sometimes, I do lack confidence. I clearly get in my head,” Donovan admitted. “Coach Vigliante will come over to let me know what I’m capable of. He’s very supportive, and I wouldn’t want any other coach.”

She’ll have the encouragement again this spring, while the agenda remains the same. 200 and/or the 400, Donovan said, “I’m hoping I can win states.”

Next year, on the other hand, she’s already preparing to cut the cord. At SMU, where Texas dominates in track, she understands what she’s getting into. 

“I know I’m going to get smoked by all these girls,” Donovan admitted.

Far from waiving a white flag, the future Texan is just being real in hopes of measuring up. 

“I have to make sure I don’t get discouraged. I stay confident and focus on myself, not anyone else,” she clarified.

Even so, Donovan has already laid the groundwork, and it probably won’t be the last we hear from her.