Staff Writer

Scarborough High School senior Whitney Chamberlain is a state champion track star for the Red Storm girls’ track and field team.

However, not long ago, track was not her favorite sport.

“I used to say track wasn’t a sport,” Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain said her change in philosophy came from watching her older sister, Allison’s track meets. She said she decided to make a change from soccer to track around the time of middle school.

“She got me into it, and I just loved it,” Chamberlain said. “I love the energy and loved how track is a team sport but also individual.”

Chamberlain has enjoyed both individual and team success with the Red Storm. Scarborough has won the last three consecutive Class A state championships in girls’ track and field. Individually, Chamberlain has enjoyed recent success, capturing the state title in the 800-meter run this past winter at the Class A Indoor Track and Field Championship.

“I didn’t expect to win, but I wanted to,” Chamberlain said. “I wasn’t far off the mark from what I wanted to do [time wise]. It was definitely a cool feeling.”

Chamberlain said she keeps track of how fast she is going when participating in the 800-meter run.

“You have to go a little bit faster without killing yourself. I tried in the last 200 [meters] to go up on my toes because I think it gives me a little more push.”

Chamberlain has qualified to compete in the 800-meter run for the Class A Outdoor Track and Field Championship, which will be hosted June 6 at Thornton Academy in Saco. Chamberlain also participates in the 400-meter dash as well as the four by 800-meter relay team and the four by 400-meter relay team.

Chamberlain credits much of the team’s success to her teammates.

“We’ve had a lot of great performances this year,” she said. “Nicole Kirk and Rochelle Green have become great sprinters, especially this year. Christy Manning has been amazing. That has helped our team.”

She also gives credit to the team’s coach, Ron Kelly.

“I have to say there’s no one like Mr. Kelly,” Chamberlain said. “He knows how to use people for events and recruiting, that’s why we have 50 girls on the team.”

Chamberlain said the team won all of their regular season meets, but lost to Edward Little High School during the Scarborough Relays May 8. She said they will be the team to beat during the state championship meet.

“I think we’re going to finish strong,” Chamberlain said. “Whether that means we beat [Edward Little], I don’t know. We all need to be on our game to win.”

Besides running for both the indoor and outdoor track teams, Chamberlain also ran for the cross-country team in the fall, which she said helped with her endurance during the track seasons.

“It’s a totally different mindset,” she said. “You’re running for so long. Before I was just used to sprinting. I think it helped me in track. I can sprint, but the endurance really helps.”

Chamberlain will get to continue her running career in college, as she was recruited to the University of Maine at Orono.

“I’m just excited because it’s a whole new kind of place,” she said.

Chamberlain said she plans to major in environmental engineering. 

“I want to help create water systems for third world countries, that would be exciting,” she said.

Staff writer Dave Dyer can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 219