PA Salute To Seniors: Dan McSurdy, North Schuylkill HS

 

Daniel McSurdy, North Schuylkill

 

Most memorable race/competition?
I always had a lot of competition in District XI, but my most memorable race had to be the 300 hurdles at the Schuylkill League Championships in 2011. My sister Kaitlyn was one of the top 300 hurdlers in the state from 2009-2011, and she fell on the 6th hurdle tearing her hamstring, and I tried running over right before my race to see how she was, but couldn't. I won my 1st league title 5 minutes after that happened. She gave me the motivation to pull through and win it for both of us.

 

Where did you face your biggest competition?
I faced my biggest competition within my league with Blue Mountain's Ricky Jones. We were always back and forth, winning by inches each time we raced.

 

Out of all of your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
Without a doubt getting my only state medal in the 300 hurdles this year, I got the same place my sister got (5th) from the same exact lane (lane 7).

 

If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your athletic career in high school?
I'd definitely work harder in practice, I always worked hard, but throughout the years I took some days off that I shouldn't have.

 

What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was my broken leg this year. I missed half of my football season, and once I got cleared to participate I was in track mode right from the start. I started hurdling and did starts as much as i could to so I could earn a state medal, which I did, earning PRs in every event this year.

 

What will you miss the most?
There's no doubt in my mind that I'll miss the hype at the state meet, but the thing I'll miss the most is just having a good time with everyone in our league, fooling around at the meets and then running against each other.

 

Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
NEVER take a day off. Each day you take off is taking a huge step backwards at reaching your full potential. Work hard everyday, and don't let your ego get the best of you.

 

How have your coaches influenced your performances and your life goals overall?
My head coach, Lafey Hope, always told me stories about when he ran and when he first started coaching, and it motivated me to do everything possible to meet my expectations for him and myself. Coach Darrah also told me stories and gave me different kinds of workouts to do to become a better overall athlete, whether it was doing speed work, block work, hurdling drills, etc. He always motivated me before my races to try and get a PR every time I ran.

 

What are your college plans?
I'm going to attend Keystone College to earn a degree in Business and Landscape Architecture. I'll also be running track and field for Coach Badway.

 

Shout-Outs?
Biggest shout out goes out to my sister Kaitlyn. We've overcome so much adversity in our lives and worked with each other all the time. We always sat down and criticized each other's races so we could point out on what we needed to work on.

The other biggest shout outs I give are to my mom and frank, brother Jake, and all my other family members for believing in me to achieve my goals. Also my dad, pap, gram, aunt Gail, and uncle Tom for looking over me through the years making me want to achieve everything I did.

And of course my teammates Jordan Shinkus, Brendan Shearn, Ethan Motsney, Matt Gownley, and all the others that each worked hard every day and encouraged everyone else to do their best.

 

 

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