Gracie Aziabor ’26, Captain of Girls Outdoor Track, is a passionate leader who strives to show the importance of humility and lead the team with her endless energy and love. Since Outdoor Track is one of the largest teams on campus, Aziabor aims to create an inclusive community among the team.
Previously a gymnast, Aziabor began her track career in middle school as she was looking for a sport she would carry with her through high school. After starting, she found enjoyment and continued to thrive in the sport.
“I started track in middle school. I was mainly looking for a sport to try out that wasn’t gymnastics because that was the sport I’d done pretty much since the age four until 14 right before I came to Andover. I was looking for a sport that I could transition into when I came to high school. I picked up track because I thought it would be simple, it was just running. I started in seventh grade during Covid-19, so it wasn’t very competitive. But then, I started actually going to meets in eighth grade and then I joined the team [PATF] at the end of [Junior] year,” said Aziabor.
Laura Mazzarelli ’27 describes Aziabor’s unique level of positivity. She commented on Aziabor’s contagious encouragement, always being there for her teammates, rain or shine.
“She shows amazing leadership. She always has a very positive energy, but also encourages you to work as hard as you can. She’s always saying ‘You can do it. You got it.’ [She’s] always cheering for everybody. Even at one point, there was a javelin event at the end of a meet. It was really cold and rainy and a lot of people didn’t want to go outside for it, but she was still out there screaming and cheering for them,” said Mazzarelli.
Aziabor talked about the importance of humility within a team, and described the welcoming environment she strives to create. She hopes to have athletes of all skill levels and age enjoy and grow within the sport.
“My main one that I want to bring is humility. On the Track team, we don’t do cuts or anything like that, so people of all ages and skill ranges join the team. I like to practice, but also encourage a lot of my teammates to remain humble. [Also] come in with drive, work ethic, and a willingness to learn new things regardless of how skilled you are, how long you’ve been doing track, or whether you’re varsity or [junior varsity]. I’ve been doing the same event, shot put, since middle school so it’s something that I have a lot of experience in, but I try every day when I go to practice. I try to go in with an open mind and not let my head get too big even if I consistently perform well,” said Aziabor.
Michelle Onyeka ’27 highlighted Aziabor as a big presence on the track team, with her bubbly personality and always having a smile on her face. She comments on Aziabor’s drive and positive work ethic everyday.
“Gracie’s the kind of captain who if she’s not there, you notice her presence is missing because she has such great energy. She brings it all the time to warmups and she and I aren’t in the same training group, but we always warm up together. She’s just this really bright person. She’s always got a smile on her face, super hype all the time, even if the weather conditions are horrible. She’s the kind of captain who wants to see everyone happy,” said Onyeka.
Although widely regarded as an individual sport, Aziabor shared her love for the team-oriented aspect of PATF. She reflects on her love for the PATF family, especially the amazing, tight-knit culture.
“My favorite part about Track is that it’s very team-oriented and you wouldn’t necessarily think so because a lot of the time you’re running a race or you’re competing in an event all by yourself. Especially at Andover, I found that it’s very team oriented, and when you’re out on the track, you learn how to support your teammates. People cheer really loud. I always lose my voice after a track meet. Even though it’s such a big team it really feels tight knit, which I love,” said Aziabor.
Although not planning on pursuing track in college, Aziabor plans on staying connected with the sport whilst trying new things once she graduates.
“I am not initially planning on doing the sport in college. Mainly because track has been a very defining part of my Andover experience, when I go to college, it’s something that I want to not leave behind. But I want to try new things once I graduate,” said Aziabor.
Editor’s Note: Gracie Aziabor ’26 is a Layout Editor for The Phillipian.
