Stewartville track star Peterson has grown into an all-time leader

May 29—Dawn Miller doesn't ever want to choose favorites.

But let's just say that if she were able, she'd clone Maia Peterson.

When Miller, the longtime Stewartville girls track and field coach, considers what she's looking for in one of her athletes, Peterson comes immediately to mind.

Yes, Peterson is great at what she does on the track and in the triple jump. She owns the Stewartville 400-meters and triple jump records, at 59.48 seconds and 35-feet-1 1/2 inches, respectively, and is close to grabbing the school's 200 mark. Peterson has also been a key piece on Stewartville 4x400 relays that have made big noise at state, finishing second, third and second again since she was in eighth grade. The Tigers figured to have been at least that good again last year had the COVID pandemic not erased the season.

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But for Miller, it goes much deeper than Peterson's rare athletic ability. What has forever grabbed her most is the senior's willingness to connect with people, be there for them, as well as compete in precisely the right way, with a rare overflow of grit and sportsmanship.

"Maia has always been dynamic," Miller said. "She is always smiling and making people feel better about themselves. When she was racing the other day in the 400 against (Byron star Katie Lambrecht), Maia turned around immediately after the race and wanted to give her a hug because she said Katie made her run faster."

Appreciating everybody

Also worth noting is that Peterson didn't win that race, Lambrecht did. The Byron senior was timed in 59.34 seconds, Peterson finished in a school-record 59.48. And that hug from Peterson wasn't only delivered because she liked the way Lambrecht had motivated her. As much as anything, she was genuinely happy for Lambrecht's success.

"Katie is awesome; she might be the sweetest person I've ever met," Peterson said of a girl who has now beaten her twice this season in the 400. "She and I have the same goals and both have so much drive. But I really like her. She is such a hard worker and so nice."

Peterson's reaction to Lambrecht sure got noticed, as is so often the case with her. That's not surprising, as Miller considers Peterson one of Stewartville's all-time best leaders.

"People look up to Maia," Miller said. "She is such a good role model for our younger athletes. She is always cheering on our boys athletes and cheering on our girls. She wants everyone to be the best version of themselves."

Peterson, also a standout basketball player, wasn't sure what version of herself she'd be when she was talked into going out for track and field as a seventh-grader. Her only certainty was that she was really nervous, not knowing how teammates or competitors would react to a seventh-grader on the varsity. One comfort was that best friend, fellow talented sprinter and classmate Hailey Lewis was with her and going through the same process.

An important call

Miller turned to Lewis the first day of practice when a petrified Peterson didn't show up. Miller had Lewis give her best friend a call, encouraging Peterson to put those worries away and get to practice.

When Peterson considers how wracked with anxiety she was at the time, she shakes her head, wondering what she was thinking.

"Hailey and I were so young, I thought the older kids on our team might be intimidating and mean," Peterson said. "But now when I think about it, I'm like, 'Why would they have been?' It turned out that there was never anyone negative on our team and the older kids were always positive with us. It was a great atmosphere."

It wasn't long before Peterson had gone from a reluctant track and field athlete, to someone completely in love with the sport.

For six years, Miller has watched this prize athlete and person develop, raising her game in every way, season after season.

Next school year, Peterson will take all of her talent and positivity to Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D., where she'll pursue a degree in psychology and be a member of its track and field team.

And when Peterson leaves, a part of Miller's and so many other Stewartville hearts will go with her.

"It is going to be a sad day when she's gone," Miller said.