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No one can deny that these are really challenging times: COVID, climate change, inflation, attacks on American democracy and economic uncertainty for millions.
So here's some good news. Way up in the northern part of our state, in a small town near the Canadian border, Vermont is the home of one of the most outstanding athletes in the country.
Elle Purrier St. Pierre, born and raised in Vermont, is an Olympian, the holder of the U.S. women's one-mile and two-mile record, and a proud Vermont dairy farmer. She and her husband Jamie St. Pierre live in the beautiful town of Richford.
Elle graduated from Richford Junior Senior High School where she was an all-around athlete, excelling at track and cross country. She then attended the University of New Hampshire, where she became the most decorated athlete in that school's history. She is now a professional runner sponsored by New Balance and competes in track meets all over the world.
What makes Elle unusual in professional athletics is not just her extraordinary running ability. It is her background. She grew up in a small rural community, milked cows as a kid, loves living on a farm and wants very much to see that way of life continue.
Being a world class runner is not easy. To reach that level of success requires an enormous amount of work, discipline and determination. For example, in addition to other forms of training, Elle runs about 80 miles a week. That ain't easy. Elle says that the hard work she has done on the farm since she was a kid helped shape her work ethic as an athlete.
The Millrose Games in New York City is one of the major indoor track events in the world. On February 8, 2020, against a very competitive international field, Elle won the mile race in 4:16.85. In doing that she became the U.S. indoor mile national record holder, smashing a 37-year-old record. She also became the second-fastest indoor miler ever. Not bad for a young lady from Montgomery, Vermont.
Elle represented the United States in the 1500-meter finals at the Olympic games in Japan. While in Tokyo, what moved her very much was the kind of love and support she received from her home town and the entire state of Vermont. Many of her friends and neighbors gathered in the gymnasium at Richford Junior Senior High School, where Elle graduated in 2013, to watch her race. After the Olympics, the reception that Elle received on her return to Vermont meant a great deal to her. Hundreds of people came out in Richford for a parade and ceremony to welcome her home. Elle believes in community, and her community believes in her.
When I was in high school and college I ran the mile and cross-country and loved track and field. So it has been a lot of fun for me personally to watch Elle's incredible achievements and to cheer her on. Like many other Vermonters I look forward to seeing what Elle does next.
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