PA Salute To Seniors: Devon Towell - West Chester East HS
What was your most memorable race/competition?
My most memorable races are Districts this year, and Henderson Invite last year. Hendy Invite last year was my breakthrough race, and my friend Tori even painted a picture of it. 
Districts this year was memorable because I got to share it with so many people. My sister was there (she'll be breaking onto the PA track scene next year), my cross country coach was there, we had 15 or so qualifiers (most ever) so my team was there, and even more came out to watch. My friend Chris (kudos for staying even though he had JProm) is an A+ boy Scout and knotted up my spikes so I was super stressed out before the race, but all's well that ends well, and I ran probably the best race of my HS career to come in 3rd. Having all of my coaches and teammates there, getting good luck snapchats from my friends at home, and hearing my teammate Logan qualified for States right before my race, not to mention running a PR, made the whole meet incredible for me.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
I faced my biggest competition at Outdoor States this year, because the AAA girls open 800 was stacked. However, even though the field was incredible, the biggest competitor was the wind, and I would say it beat me.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
Placing 3rd at Indoor States this year stands out the most. Like at Districts, we just had a ton of qualifiers, and the whole event was shenanigans. I hadn't had a very good Indoor Season (the snow got in the way), or a very good indoor states last year, so that race was extra special. After the best pre race pep talk from my coaches, I came out of the second heat to get 3rd. I was jumping up and down all squealing and thumbs upping my mom, it was just awesome.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your athletic career in high school?
As it has all ended up pretty well, I would change nothing. But, I wish I could have done indoor my freshman and sophomore years, and not have floundered around as a sprinter my freshman year. And I would have done one full season of Cross County.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
I guess learning to see myself as a good runner. But I haven’t really overcome that yet, so call it a work in progress.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my coaches the most. They have put up with my dramatics for the past four years. Kareem climbing trees and dancing, Costin talking about those no good boys, Whit's general silliness, Coach Stephen and his "nuts", Skip's endless "You should do Cross Country", Coach Kent trying to get me back to sprinting... I'll also miss the laid back atmosphere of West Chester East. If it hadn't been for the school records board, and the "breakable" record (2.19.7) I never would have switched up to the 800.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
My advice would be to not let track take over your life. It has always been a really big deal for me, that if I got injured, I would have something else to do with my life. It is so easy (for me at least) to fall into the PennTrack (best website ever) trap, constantly reading about people "better than you" and researching statistics. Some days, I just have to take a step back, and breathe. I try really hard to define myself outside of my sport. I am "Devon" not "track girl" and I think that has allowed me to not overstress about competition, and just run my best.
Also, one thing Coach Stephen has always said is "stabilize then drop". It was a hard lesson for me, that you can't just PR every race. I take weeks to stabilize at a certain time, then when I am about to totally give up hope, I PR. That quote has gotten me through some rough patches in my career, and I am sure I'll be preaching it at my sister next year.
How have your coaches influenced your performances and your life goals overall?
My coaches have changed everything for me, since without them I never would have switched up in distance. I think they turned me from a loud mouth into a real competitor. Coach Kareem trained me until (some days) I cried, Coach Costin taught me how to dream big, Coach Skip showed me that I always have support, and Coach Stephen showed me the value of patience. All of these contribute to my racing and results. Also, before I met these coaches I never thought I would go to an Ivy League School in NYC and run Division 1 Track, but they have changed my expectations of myself, both academically and athletically.
What are your college plans?
I am going to Columbia University (with several awesome PA runners) and planning to major in applied math.
Shout-Outs?
-The biggest shout out goes to my parents, who have not missed a meet in like 3 years. They talk track with me, my dad runs with me (and lets me beat him in the sprint to the finish), they cheer for me, console me, and support me.
-Another shout out to all my non track friends (Rachel and Tori), who listen to me even when they don’t know what I’m talking about, and come to my meets
-A huge shout out to my 4x8 team. At Chesmonts I dropped the baton (Pennsbury 4x8 style), and not one of them was upset. We didn’t run it at districts, but they still cheered for me as I ran my individual events. Keep up the holy war, and stay awesome
-To the guys XC team, who is going to be amazing next year (top 2 at states) and the girls XC team, who will probably all beat my XC times.
-To Natalie Deacon, my inner school district “rival” who has inspired me to be my best on and off the track, and led the most reassuring and calming prayer at states.
-To Trey Crump, who makes the whole team laugh with his American Flag short shorts, inspires me with his endless dedication to the sport, and practiced with me before states.
-To Ms.Vincent, my stat teacher, who was cool with me missing her class all the time because she loves track
-And finally to my best track friends Dom, Dages, and Chris. Chris stayed after track with me for hours stretching, let me beat him in a few memorable sprints, and babysat my shoe one night, Dom cheered for me every race, and let me hold her blocks at Districts, and Dages kept things from being arbitrary.
Want to be featured in our Salute To Seniors series? Drop me a line: don@penntrackxc.com and answer the questions below! And if you can, point us to a pic or two or include them with your email. Make sure you have the right to use it, please.