Calvino hopes to go the distance for 'Hawks

There are certain things that Lauren Calvino likes and dislikes about indoor track.

Unlike many distance runners, Calvino doesn’t mind running on a smaller track, believing that the compressed oval is better suited to shorter competitors like herself.

But the Merrimack High School senior, who will run in the 3,000- and 1,500- meter runs at the Division I championship on Sunday, wishes there was an event a little bit longer.

“I wish that there was a 5,000 in indoor, but there isn’t,” Calvino said. “Not many distance kids like indoor, but I like the short track. It makes me fast. I’m really excited. I have been looking forward to it all year.”

Calvino is seeded first in the 3,000 and fourth in the 1,500 for the meet, which will be held at Dartmouth College at 3:30 p.m.

The longer the distance, the better Calvino does and the order of events plays in her favor, according to Merrimack coach Shawn Croteau.

“It works out well because that’s her easiest race first,” he said. “That’s what she did last year and that’s what she’ll do this year. There will be a number of girls there doubling in both and it will be about whoever has the most left.”

The meet was postponed from Feb. 6, and Croteau and Calvino were a bit concerned about how she’d hold up having just gotten over the flu. But instead, Calvino got an extra week to regroup.

“I’ll be fine,” she said. “I usually jog around a little bit (in between races). I know you’re not supposed to, but I eat a peanut butter and jelly. Before a meet, I eat peanut butter and jelly and in between races, I eat peanut butter and jelly. Some people are like ‘you’re not supposed to eat,’ but I do anyways.”

One thing Calvino likely won’t be doing is running the relays.

“I’d like to use her in the 4x800, but it’s just before the 3,000, so it would hurt her there,” Croteau said. “She’s an option for the 4x400, but that’s immediately after the 1,500.”

In addition to Calvino, the Tomahawks have two other individuals qualified for Sunday’s meet.

Emily Pollard qualified in the 55, 300, 600 and 1,000, but will only run the 55 and 600, along with the relays. Lauren Perry also qualified in the 600 in the last meet of the season.

Merrimack also has a team qualified in all three relays, and is seeded fourth in the both the 4x400 and the 4x800.

“It’s a pretty small group, but their pretty dedicated,” Croteau said. “It all depends on who shows up and how they perform that day.”

Calvino already has an idea of how her races will take shape, having had a chance to see most of her competitors not only this season, but over the course of her track career.

“There are a few girls that don’t have as much experience as the older kids and I think they’re going to go out fast,” she said. “There’s a few of us who I think will keep our composure and work our way to the front.”