This Week's Student Spotlight: Megan Young

School: Junior at Nanuet High School

Age: 16

To look at Megan Young, you may assume she's a ballerina or a dancer. You would not be too far off the mark, as she has been an Irish dancer for 10 years. But upon hearing her name, track star should automatically come to mind.

Young began Irish dancing at age four. She took classes in Pearl River, Woodlawn and sometimes ventured to Long Island to practice with her teachers Sean Reagan and Colleen Quigley. She traveled the tri-state area for competitions and danced as far away as Tennessee, California and Canada. In 2009, she competed in the World Championships in Philadelphia and went on to Glasgow, Scotland to compete.

"Both trips were amazing, but Glasgow was my favorite. I was thrilled just to have qualified and been there and I am so happy I was able to do so with my friends," said Megan Young.

At about the same time as she began qualifying for such competitions in dancing she also joined the Nanuet High School Track Team.  She made the varsity team in seventh grade and has been on the team for all three track seasons each year.

Young credits her stamina and leg strength to all the years of Irish dance training.

That dance training has paid off big time for her, as she has been a standout track star since entering high school.

As a Freshman, in 2009, Megan won the Rockland County Cross Country Championships and the New York State Class B Titles.  She qualified for and traveled to Portland, Oregon, to compete in the Nike Cross Nationals, placing 38th out of a field of over 200 runners.

"Looking back at Nike Cross Nationals, it will always be my favorite race. As a freshman, I didn’t understand how much it really meant to qualify and be there. I raced against the top girls in the nation and was given amazing opportunities to meet and talk to Olympic athletes. It was a great learning experience for me. I learned not only how to compete at the national level but how much I was able to accomplish in races like this. I’ve always been the most motivated to get back to this race," said Young.

An amazing accomplishment for any athlete never mind a freshman. Over the next few seasons Young continued to flourish but was thrown an unexpected curve ball. She experienced a growth spurt that changed the way she trained and competed.

"Megan went through a growth spurt where she grew about a foot. She had to adjust to her new body. It wasn't easy for her but she never gave up. She never said, I can't do this anymore," said Girls Track Coach Sheri Dempsey. "She's one of those types of kids who looks at a situation and figures out the best way to conquer it. And that's exactly what she did. And now she's back and running and competing where she was before."

In 2011, Megan was the New Balance Outdoor Nationals Emerging Elite 800m champ. But before she was eligible to compete in the New Balance race she had to qualify at the Spring States Meet.

"One of the most challenging races I’ve ever run was the 800 meters at Spring States 2011. It was difficult for me because I had grown six inches since the year before and I was battling injuries throughout the previous two seasons, so I wasn’t too confident going into the race. I had no idea what the race was going to be like, I was in the unseeded heat, and I expected nothing from it," said Young.

"My only goal was to run a good time, and that is exactly what worked for me. I won the 800 meters for Division 2 schools and couldn’t be happier, but what made it even better was placing 3rd at States with my 4x800 meter relay team the next day."

This race was clearly a confidence booster as she continued onto the New Balance race two weeks later and took the title in the 800m. She was only a sophomore.

Young's achievements, thus far, clearly outline how each year she continues to get stronger, more confident and more successful:  

Cross Country:

• 2nd team All County (2007)
• 1st team All County (2008 - 2011)
• All Section 1 selection (2008 – 2011)
• All State selection (2008 – 3rd team); (2009 – 1st team); (2011 – 6th team)
• Nike National Cross Country championships (2009 – 38th place)

Winter Track: 

• 3rd team All County (2008) 
• 2nd team All County (2009 & 2011);  
• 1st team All County (2010 & 2012)
• All Section 1 selection (2010 – 2012)
• All State selection (2012 – 3rd team)

Spring Track:

• 1st team All County (2009 – 2011)
• All Section 1 selection (2010 – 2011)
• All State selection (2010 – 3rd team)
• New Balance Nationals Emerging Elite 800 meter champ (2011)

Young is a star student as well. She excels in Math and Science and is always focusing on attaining High Honor Roll. Although she still has another year of high school left, one of her current aspirations is to continue running in college and is interested in possibly studying physical therapy.

Young has volunteered throughout high school at numerous Pearl River AOH events such as the Special Needs Christmas Party and Senior Citizen luncheons as a food server. As well as performing Irish dance routines with the Inishfree School of Irish Dance.

Over the summer she volunteers for the Nanuet Summer Track Program which Coach Dempsey runs. A program that introduces elementary school age children to track and the different types of track events. The high school coaches along with the track runners teach and coach the kids about track and eventually they get to compete in the events. This is where Young first began her running career under the guidance of coach Dempsey.

"Megan is an extremely hard worker who had a lot of success very young, but still continues to push herself," said Dempsey.

As the spring track season commences stay tuned to Nanuet High School Track standout Megan Young as she competes with the grace of a dancer making running look effortless.

Best of luck this season Megan! Keep up the outstanding work in school and on the track.