This story originally ran in The Standard-Times on Dec. 6, 2002.

By Nick Tavares
Standard-Times correspondent

Being the only girl on her team wasn't a big deal.

Neither was a bout with tendinitis that hampered the start of her season.

Through everything, Apponequet's Stephanie Guy was able to improve with every meet, and was so impressive that she was an easy choice for her second consecutive honor as The Standard-Times' Player of the Year.

"I had a good season," said Guy. "I kept getting better and I never fell back. I was always getting better."

Competing on a team with all boys may have seemed like a disadvantage, but Guy was able to make the most out of it, pacing herself with Apponequet's boys in an effort to improve her own times.

"It was OK," she said. "The boys helped me a lot at practice. I was kind of pacing off of them, so they helped me a lot.

"Even when we did have a girls team, we still ran with the boys, (but) I did push myself harder this season because I had them to chase after. There wasn't another girl there, so I was on my own. I had to motivate myself."

Guy's routine doesn't change too much as the season goes on. After her job as a lifeguard at Clear Pond Beach in Lakeville runs out with the end of summer, Guy starts to work out before the season begins, then runs right through all three seasons of track. She also makes sure that the pre-meet rituals remain the same.

"I have to wear my lucky red pajama pants," she admitted. "I wear them before every meet, even in the spring. That, and I've had the same uniform. I make sure to always pick out the same one."

While her running attire may not change, her times haven't remained as constant. She kept improving right through the end of the year, with a time of 1939 at the State Coaches meet at the end of the season -- a showing that helped her qualify for All States, where she placed 19th. Both meets were held at Franklin Park in Boston.

Her three consecutive races in Boston proved to be her favorite part of the season.

"Once we got to Franklin Park, because it was all individual, that's when it really mattered," Guy said. "When it was conference, I was just going out and running for fun because I was just running with the boys.

"That's what most of my season was -- running with the boys."

Guy was also a South Coast Conference All-Star, finishing second at the championship meet at New Bedford's Brooklawn Park to Seekonk's Leigh Carden, running a time of 1936. Guy would get her revenge later on, though, beating her at both meets at Franklin Park.

Guy hasn't limited her running to local outlets, either. She also participated in the Footlocker Championships in White Plains, N.Y., where she was the eighth girl from Massachusetts to cross the finish line.

"It was a lot of fun. It was a good experience, seeing some of the really good runners, and I wish I had gone all four years."

Guy is also sure to credit the people who have seen her through four successful years of running.

"I really wanted to thank coach (Dennis) Thibeault, who really helped me all four seasons of track, my coach last season, Jim Kelly, for his pre-race stretching and for putting up with me being the only girl, and my mom."

As far as future plans, Guy has already been contacted by Merrimack, where she would run as well as major in child education.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY SUPER TEAM

Emily Barret (Bishop Stang)

A sophomore in her first year at Bishop Stang, Barret made a splash quickly, consistently running at the top of the Spartans' girls team. She placed 17th at the Eastern Athletic Conference meet, and a very respectable 17th at the Division IV State Class meet at Franklin Park in Boston. Barret also placed second at the Buttonwood Park Freshman-Sophomore meet.

Leslie Danzell (Dartmouth)

Danzell, a junior, was Dartmouth's top runner all season long, finishing 12th at the State Coaches meet and seventh at the Division I State Class meet at Franklin Park, where she ran an even 2000 and qualified for All-State honors. "Leslie is a very hard worker," said Dartmouth head coach Hilary Souza. "She was very dedicated and really excelled this season." Danzell will be hoping to get her time under 2000 next season, when she will most likely be leading the Indians again.

Emily Havel (Old Rochester)

After missing the first half of the season when her tonsils were removed, Havel came back strong, improving with just about every race and finishing the season as Old Rochester's top runner. She picked up South Coast Conference All-Star status, finishing fourth at the conference meet with a time of 2130, and was right behind Apponequet's Steph Guy among area runners. Still only a sophomore, Havel looks to be a main cog in Old Rochester's plans for the future.

Jocelyn Mitchell (Fairhaven)

A two-time SCC All-Star, Mitchell placed sixth at this year's SCC meet at Brooklawn Park with a time of 2153, and at the Division IV State Class meet she ran a 2300, almost beating Havel. Still a sophomore, Mitchell looks to be the Blue Devils' top runner next season as well.

Erin Sullivan (New Bedford)

Sullivan was the Whalers' top runner in her senior year, and clocked in at 2241 at the Division I State Class meet at Franklin Park. Sullivan really emerged this season, making her mark with the team and helping it place well in its dual meets.

Meredith Winn (Old Rochester

Winn was Old Rochester's top girls runner at the beginning of the season, taking first place at every meet until Havel's return from injury, and picked up great times all season long, including the school record at a dual meet in Fairhaven. She ran a 2148 at the State Coaches meet, and at the SCC meet placed eighth with a time of 2211.

THE REST OF THE ALL-STARS

Amy ferguson (New BEdford)

A junior who looks to be the Whalers' top runner next season, Ferguson ran very solid races this year as their third runner. She assumed the role of a No. 2 runner after Nicole Leger was hurt, and at the Division I State Class meet she was able to run an impressive 2409.

Nicole Leger (New Bedford)

Although she was injured towards the end of the season, which put her on the shelf early in her senior year, Leger was New Bedford's second runner when she was healthy. Her best time of the season came at home when she ran 2346.

Lauren Garrant (Bishop Stang)

A freshman, Garrant was Bishop Stang's second runner for most of the season, and beat teammate Barret twice during the season. She came in 20th at the EAC meet, and won the Buttonwood Park Freshman-Sophomore race. Garrant was very impressive in her first year running, and looks to only improve over time.

Marlena Gaspardi (Dartmouth)

Gaspardi was consistently Dartmouth's second or third runner all season long as a junior. She picked up a very good 2303 at the Division I State Class meet in Franklin Park, and will look to team up with Danzell again as a senior next year.

Amber Platt (Dartmouth)

While injuries slowed the Indians' sophomore runner this year, Platt began the season as Dartmouth's No. 2 runner behind Danzell. She ran a 2337 at the Division I State Class meet at Franklin Park in Boston, and looks to come back even stronger next season.

Laura Teves (Fairhaven)

An SCC All-Star in her senior year, Teves was Fairhaven's No. 2 runner throughout the season. She picked up a time of 2219 at the SCC meet for ninth place, and ran solid races all season long.

Honorable Mention

Norah Bruce, Bishop Stang; Vania Jarrido, GNB Voc-Tech; Maggie Beauvais, Old Rochester; Laurie Shepherd, Wareham.

This story appeared on Page C1 of The Standard-Times on Dec. 6, 2002.