From the soaring jumps to the intense battles between sprinting athletes, track and field is a sport that represents both the power and determination of athletes. For Gabi Antoine (’26), this sport has become more than just an activity; it has become her life. Antoine has made her mark on the track and field team by holding many school records, including the 4×200, 4×400 and the 300-meter races.
“My parents have both pushed and inspired me as an athlete,” Antoine said. “My freshman year they both urged me to try cross country.”
Cross country was just the starting point of Antoine’s running journey. She joined with her main reason being to stay in shape for club soccer.
“I loved cross country and developed great friendships, so I decided after finding out that I couldn’t balance basketball and soccer, I would do winter track instead,” Antoine said. “That’s where I found my love for sprinting.”
Since joining track, Antoine has become a vital part of the team, achieving many accomplishments, specifically in relays. In Antoine’s freshman year, she made her mark, breaking the school record for the 300-meter dash, later adding on the 4×200, 4×400 and sprint medley relay. Recently, she helped the 4×400 team earn all-state honors at states and win at districts along with the 4×200 team.
What makes Antoine successful isn’t just her athletic ability, but her mental ability.
“To be able to run successfully, your mind has to be in the right place,” Antoine said. “I am always happy for success but am always looking for ways to improve.”
Her commitment is evident and is key to why she has been so successful on the track. Along with being successful on the team, Antoine is a great cheerleader for others. When not running, you can usually find her somewhere along the track cheering on teammates in their events.
“Gabi is always the first to the sideline to cheer someone on during their race,” Kate Butler (’26) said. “The second she notices someone from Madison running she is cheering them on. Even if she can’t be there physically, she’ll pull up the meet online and cheer virtually.
Although running is a newer sport for Gabi, she has proved herself and can’t wait to see what else she can accomplish this upcoming spring track season. With Antoine’s passion and love for her sport, she is currently in communication with schools to further her track career, and hopes to find the perfect school to meet both her academic and athletic goals.