Maria Hauger, one of the greatest talents ever in Minnesota high school distance running, said her career almost missed the starting gun.
As a seventh-grader, Hauger was encouraged by Kathy Carlson, then the Shakopee track and field coach, to forgo varsity tryouts and gain experience in middle school. Some young athletes might have taken the advice as a brush-off. Not Hauger. She tried out and quickly proved her value.
"She took off with our best distance kids and stayed up front the whole first day," Carlson said. "My distance coach said, 'Oh my goodness, she's for real.' You could tell watching her run that she was going to be someone who does something."
Recalled Hauger, "She gave me a uniform and was like, 'Yeah, I think you can stay.'"
Early that first season she broke the school record in the 2-mile that had stood since the 1970s. Her unrelenting pace carried over to cross-country. The senior has won an unprecedented three consecutive Class 2A state crowns. She is favored to win No. 4 when the girls' 4,000-meter race begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Olaf College in Northfield.
"Maria was born with a gift," Shakopee coach Mark Neu said. "She has the drive and determination to take that gift to a level that most people would never commit to."
Though humble and unassuming by nature, Hauger acknowledged there is "probably not" a satisfactory ending that involves anything other than a fourth consecutive title.
"It's the same pressure every year," Hauger said. "Actually, this year I thought at first that with Jamie [Piepenburg of Alexandria] gone, it would be easier. But now I think it will be harder. I think Danielle [Anderson of Eagan] is there to replace Jamie. We are good competitors."
