Determination propels Framingham sprinter Abby Desmarais to state championships

BOSTON – The fastest girl in Massachusetts approaches the starting line with a unique determination.

Framingham senior Abby Desmarais swept the sprint events at last week's Division 1 indoor track and field state championships. She set the top time in the state this winter for both the 55-meter dash (7.03 seconds) and the 300 (38.61), earning the top seed at Saturday's All-State championships in both.

They were her fourth and fifth career state championships. She's set 14 school records for the Flyers.

"No matter what race she's in, she always performs well," fellow senior Ella Terranova said. "Once she steps on line, she has the sort of confidence that a lot of other athletes do not. But she's also so humble about it after, which I think is amazing."

Desmarais started track with and because of Terranova. They've been best friends since seventh grade.

"We do everything together, we're constantly together, and I could not imagine it any other way," Terranova said.

That includes shopping and baking. Desmarais specializes in cookies, while Terranova crafts cupcakes. The sprinters picked an off-track hobby that requires precision and patience.

From the pitch to the track

But before they were sprinters, they played soccer in middle school. Desmarais roamed up top as a striker utilizing her speed but not comprehending its extent.

"I was always running, but I never knew how to actually run," she said.

The pair entered their freshman year during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and decided against joining the soccer team. Terranova noticed the track signup form on the school's website. Desmarais joined her.

"When I first came to track like I never knew there was so much technique to the sport with like pumping your arms and like your form and everything and Framingham coach John Sullivan is so technical about that," Desmarais said. "He really helped us learn how to actually do the sport."

Best of the best: Ashland leads list of MetroWest, Milford area wrestlers for this weekend’s All-States

The first few weeks of workouts decimated them, particularly training for the 110-meter hurdles. Sullivan offered to move the hurdles 35 meters apart. They jumped to the seemingly easier interval, but he omitted that they needed to now cover 400 meters to the finish line.

"He said it's the hardest event, but you guys are ready for the challenge," Desmarais said.

She embraced it, winning the 2022 outdoor all-state and Division 1 championships as a sophomore. Desmarais added a D1 indoor 300 title last season. She committed to Holy Cross in November after only beginning to consider college track an option as a sophomore.

"I’m 81 years old, been doing this 59 years," Sullivan said. "She’s one of the best competitors I’ve ever had."

'The goal is to just get ahead of them'

Switching from soccer to track's individual battles awakened a killer instinct Desmarais wasn't aware of. She focuses on distances 400 meters and shorter. That allows Desmarais to keep her competitors in view until she leaves them behind.

"The goal is to just get ahead of them and not be able to see anyone," she said.

Always the underdog: Framingham's Amir Lindsey carries football's lessons in Rivers School basketball career

It's as simple as run fast. There's less strategy to sprinting than in distance events, where runners need to decide how to approach a race or when to make their move. Desmarais slams the gas pedal down out of the blocks.

"It's an adrenaline rush. You don't really think much about it," she said.

Desmarais doesn't to it on her own, either. She's part of a tight-knit training group that includes Terranova and sophomore Sasha Lamakina, who won the 600 title at the Division 1 championships and will be the No. 2 seed at All-States.

"It's a great environment because, we all know what was going through what everyone else needs," Lamakina said. "It brings us really close together."

Framingham finished second in the Division 1 team standings and could threaten for the All-State podium with the thinner fields.

"The most helpful part of having a small group is that we all kind of push each other and motivate each other," Terranova said. "They're the reason I come to practice every day and want to do well."

After Desmarais set the top marks in the state, Sullivan messaged her after every other division finished to inform her that her times remained the fastest.

"It adds a little more pressure to all-states, but it's helpful," Desmarais said. "I didn't go into states thinking, 'I want to have like the top time in the state.' I just wanted to be happy with how I ran."

She'd love to set more personal bests or even crack seven seconds in the 55. If she doesn't, Desmarais won't be angry with herself.

"I just want it to be good competition," Desmarais said.

Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Holy Cross commit Abby Desmarais sprinting to titles for Framingham