2008 Woodie Awards
To the Max: Foster is the 'beast of the east'
Gerard Fitzgerald, Staff Writer
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Sports
When it comes to track and field, few people have made a habit of victory more than Red Storm sprinter Maxcine Foster.
Foster, a native of Westmoreland, Jamaica, began her quest for racing supremacy when her high school math teacher introduced her to the school's track and field coach. It was a seamless transition from equations to sprinting and a star athlete was soon born.
The rest may be history, but it wasn't all fun and games for Foster early on in her career. Before her mastery of the 400-meter race, she originally tried her hand at some shorter events.
"I started out running the 100-meter, I guess it was a little too fast for me," said Foster. "I didn't make the final at the boys and girls' championship, so my high school coach introduced me to the 400-meter which I love with a passion."
She said that her mother, along with the Jamaican track athletes who have shined before her, provides her with the inspiration to hang with the rest of the sport's brightest competitors.
Although there are certainly more impressive moments to come, Foster says that her most memorable event as an athlete so far was representing her country in the 2003 Pan-Am Games.
While representing Jamaica, she coasted to a second-place finish in the 400-meter relay with a personal-best time of 54.68 seconds. However it was more recently, when she realized for herself that she had some real talent.
"At the indoor 2007 ECAC indoor championship, I was so nervous, and scared of everyone in the race," Foster said.
"However [my coach] told me that everyone in the race is scared of me, so I should just run as fast as I can. With that motivational speech, I ran so fast that all I remember was being at the finish line first. That made me the fastest 400-meter athlete in the conference."
Outside of running, Foster's hobbies include learning the keyboard, and playing the drums at her local church. She also enjoys watching television, babysitting, and playing field hockey and volleyball to keep her competitive fire burning.
Foster, a native of Westmoreland, Jamaica, began her quest for racing supremacy when her high school math teacher introduced her to the school's track and field coach. It was a seamless transition from equations to sprinting and a star athlete was soon born.
The rest may be history, but it wasn't all fun and games for Foster early on in her career. Before her mastery of the 400-meter race, she originally tried her hand at some shorter events.
"I started out running the 100-meter, I guess it was a little too fast for me," said Foster. "I didn't make the final at the boys and girls' championship, so my high school coach introduced me to the 400-meter which I love with a passion."
She said that her mother, along with the Jamaican track athletes who have shined before her, provides her with the inspiration to hang with the rest of the sport's brightest competitors.
Although there are certainly more impressive moments to come, Foster says that her most memorable event as an athlete so far was representing her country in the 2003 Pan-Am Games.
While representing Jamaica, she coasted to a second-place finish in the 400-meter relay with a personal-best time of 54.68 seconds. However it was more recently, when she realized for herself that she had some real talent.
"At the indoor 2007 ECAC indoor championship, I was so nervous, and scared of everyone in the race," Foster said.
"However [my coach] told me that everyone in the race is scared of me, so I should just run as fast as I can. With that motivational speech, I ran so fast that all I remember was being at the finish line first. That made me the fastest 400-meter athlete in the conference."
Outside of running, Foster's hobbies include learning the keyboard, and playing the drums at her local church. She also enjoys watching television, babysitting, and playing field hockey and volleyball to keep her competitive fire burning.
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Martin Nutty
Martin Nutty
posted 4/29/08 @ 11:25 PM NA
Nice article on Maxcine. Other standout athlete you might want to cover on the Track Team is freshman Priscilla Frederick who competes in the High Jump
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