THE WINNER: Karina Shepard

THE BASICS

School: Dracut (Mass.)
Grade: Junior
Height: 5-foot-10

Athletic achievement: She won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:09.29 at the All-State meet this season. Shepard also anchored the third-place 4×800-meter relay quartet that crossed the line in 9:25.51. At the Division II East championships, Shepard took first in the 800-meter run in 2:11.33 and anchored the winning 4×800-meter relay squad that broke the tape in 9:35.00. Her second-place 800-meter run time of 2:08.05 at the New England championships ranked No. 9 among U.S. prep competitors in 2013 at the time of her selection.

Academic excellence: Shepard has maintained a 4.53 weighted GPA.

Exemplary character: A member of the National Honor Society, she has volunteered locally on behalf of her church, the BayState Marathon and as a youth track instructor.

THE PRAISE

“Karina’s understanding of what it takes to achieve a high level of success is what distinguishes her from the competition,” said Dracut head coach Erik Taber. “Two years ago, she would have never believed that she could have achieved what she has. She has worked incredibly hard to work her way from the bottom of a varsity lineup to All-State champion in just two years. After all of her success, she still believes she is capable of more.”

THE FUTURE: Shepard will be a senior next year.