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12/06/2023 11:39 AMFrom his first steps, Nico Boyle saw competitive running as something he could truly sink his teeth into, and through that unwavering desire and dedication, he bit into some satisfiable personal accolades this past cross country postseason.
The North Haven senior boys’ cross country squad captain grew up with soccer and baseball, before first moving into the running lane as a freshman in high school with track, prior to joining the cross country team as a sophomore. This fall, after leading the Nighthawks to a division title, Nico was named the SCC Runner of the Year before he qualified for both the State Open and New England Regional championships.
“I saw that running was something I was good at, plus my teammates encouraged me, and I like being good at it,” says Nico, who finished 18th overall with a time of 16 minutes and 19 seconds at the State Open. “I had a very successful summer and preseason leading up to this year. I put the pedal to the metal, and my success stemmed from all of that. It really felt good, because I missed the State Open by about two seconds last year, and it was a tough hit. I had a lot of momentum coming off of the regular season. Making New Englands was my goal since the start of the year, and it was something no male cross country runner had ever done, so it was very special.”
In speaking to being recognized as the top athlete in an always-stacked SCC with so much competition flowing, Nico notes that he was not aware until conference championship race day, when several ballot casters informed him of their selections.
“Being named SCC Runner of the Year was a really nice honor,” Nico says. “I did not know I was in the running for it, but then a couple of coaches came up to me at SCCs and said they voted for me. The SCC is really one of the best conferences in the state for cross country as well.”
Nico adds that it was not just physical conditioning towards the sport, but it was also familiarizing himself mentally with the intricacies of cross country and its courses and how to differentiate his strategies when it comes to a run-of-the-mill dual meet and a postseason championship chase.
“I was not well versed in the sport at first, and so after my sophomore season, I started training and learning more about it and the proper nutrition for it. I began to accrue more knowledge and also helped my teammates, which I liked,” says Nico. “My approach to pacing depends on the meet. With small dual meets, I am more comfortable taking off and leading the race. In the postseason, I like to work off a guy in front of me and hit my surge in the middle to tire him out, and then take him at the end.”
North Haven Head Coach Carl Jackson explains that while he was an advising ear when it came to Nico’s objectivity for each campaign, Nico really took charge of everything, both with personal and team targets on his own as a squad steward.
“Nico is a hard worker and very motivated. He has taken on the responsibilities of leadership by setting an example for his teammates. For the past three years, he has made great strides to lead the team through the regular season and postseason,” says Jackson. “I am so proud to have had Nico as a member of the North Haven cross country team. As captain, he has proven himself to be a valuable member, going above and beyond what was expected of him, to help the team be successful. Throughout the many seasons working together, he always established a goal for himself, and then consulted with me to make sure it was attainable. His persistent dedication, and extra practices brought him success and a pathway to attain his further goals. It was a pleasure for me as a coach to look back at his successes and dedication over the past three seasons, and to watch him achieve all of his milestones.”
Nico heaps praise upon his teammates for achieving one of the best collective seasons in the program’s recent memory with the division title–explaining that it all flowed from letting the sweat drip in preparation during the long, hot, dog days of summer.
“Our team really had a great year,” says Nico. “We were the best we were in a long time, and we won our division. We had some really good summer workouts, and we had really great turnouts for them, as well. I think a lot of athletes improved in their abilities this year.”
The nature of running can certainly demonstrate a great deal of fickleness, though Nico has acquired a great mental attribute in staying on an even keel and persisting through all the peaks and valleys of life.
“It sounds cliche, but I learned to not give up and always keep at it,” Nico says. “With running, the goods are really good, but the bads are bad. One day, you can achieve a personal record time, but then you could be injured the next. No matter what, you just have to trust the process and know you will get better if you keep trying.”