Around the Horn with Anne Bajor, Methuen indoor track

By Chris Helms
sports@eagletribune.com

January 11, 2009 02:33 am

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Most three-season athletes will tell you it's very easy to get burned out.

Some might even admit that a bit more time off between seasons would be a good thing for their physical — and mental — well-being.

But that's not the case for Methuen senior Anne Bajor.

After battling stress fractures in both legs in each of the past two fall-winter seasons, Bajor is fully healthy and figures to have a big impact on the indoor and outdoor track teams after a respectable cross country season that saw the Rangers go 3-7.

"I've had interrupted seasons for the past two years, so I kind of did the 'getting a break' thing, but I didn't really like it because it was tough to get back in shape," the indoor track tri-captain said. "So I'm actually looking forward to having three full seasons this year. The winter season can get a little long, but spring seems like a fast and fun season."

The Rangers suffered a season-opening loss to Chelmsford (52-34) on Dec. 18, but Bajor, along with teammates Caitlin Pandolph, Jenni Pappas and Lily Mischo, ran well enough to take first in the 4x400 relay. Thanks in large part to the efforts of those four, Methuen improved to 1-1 on Dec. 22 with a decisive 69-16 victory over Notre Dame. Not surprisingly, Bajor was a key component as she ran the last leg of the winning 4x400 relay team. She also took first in the 1,000 with a time of 3:01.00, more than two seconds under the state-qualifying standard.

"She provides great leadership with the distance girls, has a great attitude, and is always very positive," coach Jennifer Kravitz said. "The whole team in general looks up to her. She's really talented and has a great work ethic."

We recently caught up with Anne to go "Around the Horn."

What's your family like?

"I have a brother named Paul who's 20. He's a Methuen High grad, but he's not really an athlete. My cousin, Sarah, graduated from Methuen High and she played field hockey. (She was an All-MVC selection in 2005). My other cousin, Eric, who's also a senior, was captain of the soccer team this year and also plays baseball."

How did you get into cross country and track?

"I pretty much just signed up in eighth grade. I think I missed the first day of practice because it was in August and I didn't know it started that early. The coach, who was my gym teacher at the time, called me and kind of made me come out. I just went because it was something to do, and that led into track, which I really, really like now."

What draws you to it over other sports?

"I like the self-competition. You have to always be improving. It can be frustrating because you're always thinking you could have done better. I like pushing myself to do better every time out, and it feels good to stay in shape. I don't like just sitting around. I've met a lot of friends through it, too."

Do you prefer any one event in track over the others?

"I seem to have the endurance for distance, but I still like speed, too. I don't like the 2-mile. A lot of cross country girls do mile and 2-mile, but the longest I like to do is the mile. I like the 1,000, and I'm looking forward to trying the 600. I really like competing in the 4x400 relay, too, even though a lot of the distance runners don't like it."

Why weren't you able to compete last year?

"I had a tibia stress fracture, and I actually had one, sophomore year, in my fibula, too. When I got it checked last year, they actually said I was getting one in the other leg, too. So they told me to calm down for a little while. Stress fractures are pretty common for distance runners, mostly because of the repetitive pounding. Plus, my stride is kind of funny because I land weird. I'm in physical therapy for an ankle thing and we're also working on correcting my stride. The stress fracture doesn't really get in the way at all now."

Did you still go to meets and practices to support the team?

"I didn't go to meets and got away from it because I was kind of down during indoor. I had to miss time during the cross country season, too, and I would go to every practice and meet because I was a captain and I tried to support the girls, but I couldn't do that again. Everyone understood where I was coming from. My distance coach, Kevin Alliette, was really good about it, too."

After missing indoor track last year, how did it feel to do so well in the first two meets of the year?

"That was good; it was a good way to start the season. It was rough, too, because we had a lot of practices off because of the weather, so we weren't too sure about how it would go. But it was a good confidence booster."

Any goals you'd like to accomplish by the end of this indoor track season?

"I'd like to make it to the All-State meet, which I did freshman year. With the injuries the past two years, I haven't been able to make it back, so as a senior it would be nice. As a team, I think we can do well in the conference. I'm not sure about winning it because we're still kind of rebuilding. The new coaching is really helping a lot, though."

Are you involved in anything else at school besides the athletics?

"I'm in a community service club called Key Club. We helped with the Festival of Trees, went carolling at nursing homes, and basically try to raise money for different organizations."

What are some of your hobbies away from track and cross country?

"I've been dancing for 12 years, so there's that. I've done everything — tap, jazz, ballet, modern. I don't do ballet anymore, actually, because of running. I used to do it competitively but stopped after freshman year. I also snowboard; I'm not good at all. It's really tough to pick up, but my brother is very, very good."

Any plans for next year?

"I want to go to Merrimack. My mom went there and really liked it, and my Dad works there. He's in building maintenance and has been there for about seven years. I applied to Salem State and Bridgewater State, as well. I don't know what I want to study. I know I don't like math or science, so I'm thinking I might want to do something in liberal arts. Maybe Psychology. Something with people, I like talking."

Anything else interesting about you that people don't know?

"I sing a lot. I really like singing. In the car, in the shower, all the time. I'm always singing. I try to do it seriously sometimes. Oh, and I rap. I'm good. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I've battled people. I don't know how, but I am good. I don't write, I just freestyle. Ask anyone at school, they'll tell you I'm good."

Time for favorites: Favorite sport to participate in, favorite sport to watch, athlete, restaurant, food, drink, store, movie, TV show, music, Web site?

"Football, I like to tackle people; tennis; Kevin Garnett; Not Your Average Joe's; Pizza; Diet Coke; Forever 21; there's so many, but I'll go with Forrest Gump; I don't really watch TV, but I used to like One Tree Hill; I'm all over the place, but I really like John Mayer; Facebook."

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