By Rebecca Kensil, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Dominique Hall, 17, a junior at Shrewsbury High School (SHS), reached her goal for the winter indoor track and field season, as she is now the All-State champion for the 300 meter.
Hall set her goal at the beginning of the season and achieved it with her time of 40.14 seconds during the All-State Championships held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston Feb. 23. Although this is her first All-State victory, she competed there freshman and sophomore year.
“I was used to the big competition, so I just knew it was my turn to take control and go out there and do well,” she said.
In addition to winning competitions this year, she broke records. She set the State Division 1 300-meter record with a time of 40.05 at the Reggie Lewis Center, the District E 300 meter record with a time of 41.52 at Fitchburg High School, and the SHS 4×200 meter relay record of 1:52.0 with teammates Gabrielle Auzenbergs, Lea Rocco and Jessica Morana.
She explained what she likes about the 300-meter.
“I feel like that's just my race. It's the race I knew I was cut out for,” she said. “I don's really like the shorter sprints like the 55 dash or the 100 outdoor. I feel like the 300 is the perfect distance. It really gives me enough time to work up to my top speed and hold on. It's just a race that I love to run.”
Next year she hopes to defend her position and lower her time.
“I can's wait until next year to defend that title,” Hall said. “I hope to crack 40 next season and get in the 39s.”
Her future athletic goals include attending a Division 1 college and competing at that level.
She credits her coach Nick Dipilato for her accomplishments.
“I guess I already had the talent, but he really put me to work and has helped me achieve my goals,” she said.
“I look forward to seeing her develop into the caliber of runner she potentially could be,” Dipilato said.
After States, Hall placed third at the New England Championship. Then she placed 13th at Nationals, which is not affiliated with high school athletics. At that level, there is no 300-meter race, so she ran the 200-meter instead.
“There was so much energy there,” she said, of competing at Nationals. “I was honored to have gone there because you'se running with the top runners in the country. It's just a great experience.”
Her running idol is Allyson Felix, a U.S. runner who won the 2012 Olympic gold medal in the 200-meter race in addition to gold medals for the 4×100 and the 4×400 meter relay. Hall said she sometimes thinks about running at the Olympics, but is taking her sprinting one step at a time.
“I try to not to get too ahead of myself,” she said.
Also an honor student, she balances track and school work. After the 2-1/2 hour daily practice, Hall naps for an hour and then starts homework. As for her career ambitions, she hopes to become a forensic psychologist and has signed up for AP Psychology to prepare.
“She is more than just the athlete,” Dipilato said. “She's very mature. She's very dedicated, very hardworking, very goal-oriented, which serves her well in whatever she does.”
To watch Hall speak about her dedication to the sport, click on the link –
