Athlete of the Issue: Cai Harrison

Harrison noted that mental preparation always plays a large role in his performance. “I go to sleep early... A lot of music is involved, so I try to distract myself before the race,” he said. “[Right] before my race, I do the opposite. I don’t talk to anyone. I try to lock in and stay as calm as I can.”

Dr. Keegan commented on Harrison’s leadership this year as a captain. “He just really cares about the success of the whole team and wants to be a part of that,” she said. “He plays a big part by running some of the most difficult events and trying to hold other people accountable.”

Additionally, Harrison spoke about the challenges he faced last year. “Towards the end of the season, I was battling an injury... it was the week of championships, so a lot of coaches expected me to run. I was super stressed,” he said. “I had to power through it, and the race ended up not bad, so it worked out.”

Reflecting on what he has taken away from his time on the team, Harrison said, “A lesson I learned was perseverance. Track is definitely one of the sports that if you put work into it, you get so much out of it.”

Beyond personal performance, Harrison emphasized the importance of creating meaningful relationships on the team. “I’ve definitely bonded with a couple underclassmen–in particular, Jay Julmice ’27. He has a lot of potential and a great work ethic,” he said.

Harrison expressed his advice towards his team. “Take track seriously and don’t listen to what other people say,” he said. “Just stay in your lane, do what you do, run your own race.”

After his time at Deerfield, Harrison plans to continue his track and field journey at Bowdoin College.