> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Oyster River's Doody hoping for another solid track season - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/oyster-rivers-doody-hoping-for-another-solid-track-season/ - Published: 2015-12-16T23:36:17.000Z - Updated: 2015-12-16T23:36:17.000Z - Description: Maegan Doody finished her high school cross country career this fall as one of the most decorated runner's in state history. The Oyster River senior will likely add many more accolades to an already long list during the indoor and outdoor track seasons, and after that, will continue her career at Ge - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Division II, cross country, girls track, Maegan Doody, Oyster River, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 Maegan Doody finished her high school cross country career this fall as one of the most decorated runner's in state history. The Oyster River senior will likely add many more accolades to an already long list during the indoor and outdoor track seasons, and after that, will continue her career at Georgetown University as a three-season runner. And to think, if not for a switch from soccer to cross country as an eighth-grade, none of it might have happened at all. ![Oyster River's Maegan Doody will continue her track and cross country career at Georgetown University.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/jmd2track053015-or-1.jpg) Oyster River's Maegan Doody will continue her track and cross country career at Georgetown University. Or at the very least, things would be slightly different, according to Bobcats track coach Nick Ricciardi. "She was a sprinter all through middle school," Ricciardi said of Doody. "I don't know what happened, but somewhere in there, she decided to do cross country as a way to stay in shape. The talent was there in the longer distances. "A lot of the top caliber athletes, when you're that talented, whatever way you end up choosing, you're most likely going to be successful in one way or another, especially if the training is going to back that up." Doody capped the cross country season by winning the Meet of Champions title for the third straight year, becoming just the third runner in New Hampshire history to achieve that. In indoor track, in the Division II meet, she's won the 1,000-meters twice - setting the state record of 2:49.08 last year - and also taken the 1,500 twice. As a sophomore, she was first in New England in the 800 during the outdoor season, and last year, she won the 1,600 at every championship meet - D2, Meet of Champions and New Englands. "I think I just keep setting my goals high each season," Doody said of how she continues to improve. "My coaches always encourage me to be confident in myself and know that I am continuing to get better and stronger, so my goals should be getting higher and more difficult to reach. My passion for the sport has gotten stronger and stronger. I want to know where it can take me. It makes me want to try my best and see what I can do." Early on, what she did was sprint. Doody started running shorter distances in a recreational track program when she was nine years old, and played soccer in the fall. But in middle school, that started to change. "(Eighth grade) was when I started cross country," Doody said. "I used to do soccer in the fall. Cross country was mostly to stay in shape for track, but obviously, that changed. That spring, I still did the same events, but once I got to high school and had my first season of high school cross country, that's when I knew that was something I was better at." Ricciardi believes her days as a sprinter have given Doody a bit of an advantage over other distance runners when it comes to finding that next gear at the end of a race. "Her ability to finish a race really strong comes from her background as a sprinter," he said. "She has those strides, she understands leg turnover. One problem with a lot of distance runners is they don't understand how to lift their hips and drive down the track and finish the race. She learned that as a sprinter and that made that transition a lot easier." While the coaching staff at Oyster River has tried to keep Doody's work load to a perfect balance that keeps her improving while not wearing her down, she admits sometimes the mental aspect of distance running can be as tough as any of the physical challenges. "Being a distance runner is very mentally taxing, probably equal to physically," Doody said. "I have things I say in my head that keep me positive during races, but the biggest thing the coaches have had me practicing over the years is being confident. Confident in my training, confident in my past accomplishments, know that I can run with all the girls that I'm racing with. Why not try to be in the front and do my best?" That mindset has led her on a track that goes to Washington, D.C., to join the Hoyas cross country and track programs. The fit was one that just felt right to Doody. "After I had my official visit there, and I got to meet the coaches and the team, and after seeing about how serious they are about running, it inspired me to see where it can take in the next four years and possibly beyond," she said. "They have a great program and great coaches and it feels like a great fit for me."