Salute To Seniors - Danielle Bellino

200m- 26.04

400m- 57.41

800m- 2:10.56

1600m- 5:19.99

3200m- 11:43.91

4K XC- 14:36.20

5K XC- 19:29.20

I started out running both cross country and track in 7th grade for Lakeville North when our high school coaches recruited me after watching me run at a middle school track meet. I had always liked to run long distance and I had done track all of elementary school. My mom really encouraged me to join as well. Cross country was a new experience to me and I remember crying after our team time trial when I was in 7th grade because I didn't like how much it hurt to run a two mile. But, I learned to love it quickly. For track, I started out running the 1600m and 3200m in 7th and 8th grade due to my success with cross country, but as I have gotten older I now focus on middle distance events such as the 800m and 400m. 

The state meet last year was by far my most memorable competition. I was stuck running 2:17/2:18 for most of the year in the 800m and was getting really frustrated, but then in the prelim at state I ended up running 2:10.56 which was a huge surprise to me and a new school record. I was really happy with that performance. Also our 4x800m relay ended up placing 4th and we broke our previous school record we set the year before by .1 seconds. I am really close with the girls on my 4x800m relay from last year so it was amazing to share that experience with them and see our hard work pay off. Both individually and from a team perspective, state last year was very memorable and a huge success. 

I have raced against so many amazing competitors over the years, but last year and this year has especially been very competitive in the 800m. I like to race against Emily Kompelien from Edina, Libby Halbmaier from Minnetonka, and Taylor Krone from Anoka in the 800m because they are so talented and we always push each other to run our fastest when we race at big meets. My teammate Ella Larson has been one of my big competitors in the 400m and I love racing with her because she is so determined and has so much grit. Patty Jo English from Lakeville South and I have been competitors since 7th grade cross country and track and she is someone I always like to race alongside due to the rivalry between Lakeville North and South. 

My biggest accomplishment in XC would be placing 24th as an 8th grade at the state meet, earning all state status. I knew it was going to be close that year to make the top 25 and I just barely made it, so I was really excited. I haven't had much success with cross country since that year due to injuries and sickness in the fall, so even though that accomplishment was from awhile ago it really sticks out to me. Our team also placed really well that year and I was really proud of my teammates. My biggest accomplishment in Track would be running 2:10.56 in the 800m in the prelim at state last year because it was a huge PR for me and was a time goal that I had been chasing all of high school. I broke our school record previously held by Elizabeth Yetzer who was incredibly talented so it was very humbling to run a time similar to what she ran in high school. It was also my first time running in an individual event at the state meet for track so it was very memorable and I went on to place 3rd in a very close final. 

My distance track coach, Michelle Perkins, has been so impactful on me as both a person and a runner. She pushes me to be the best I can be and knows exactly how to get me ready for a big meet. She has been there for me through everything and has helped me through downs and injuries during my high school and middle school years. She is the best coach and I couldn't have achieved all that I have without her. My cross country coach, Rich Heilman, has also been very influential in my life. He's like a father figure to me and cares for me so much. He helped to get me started as a runner and has always believed in me no matter what. He also helped me to build a lot of confidence after experiencing setbacks during cross country and always supports me in all that I do. 

I had two stress fractures back to back in 2014 that were difficult to deal with both physically and mentally. My 8th grade year of Track I got a stress fracture in my pelvis right before true team sections from over use because of doing both soccer and track at the same time. I started to run again in the summer to get ready for cross country in the fall and the cross country season went well, but I developed a stress fracture in my lower spine that forced me to drop out of state half way through the race. These injuries did set me back a bit, but they helped me to grow mentally tougher and learn to persevere through tough times. Also my junior year of cross country I got mono which didn't allow me to race the entire season which was very hard and it took awhile for me to get healthy after that. 

My team. We have a very close team for both cross country and track. I have made some of my closest friends through running and the best part of my day is going to practice to run with my teammates. I am going to miss them so much next year! 

Have no regrets and never take the sport for granted. Run every race like it's your last and appreciate every race, even if it isn't a good one because you still learn something from bad races. Track and cross country are always filled with ups and downs, but fight through the tough times and believe in yourself because you can accomplish much more than you think. 

I will be going to the University of Wisconsin in Madison and running on the track and cross country team. I will be majoring in biology. I am so excited to be a Badger!