Senior Megan Frazee is not only known for her incredible academic record, but also for her reputation on the track. While others might have been out hanging out with friends, Frazee was putting in the work on the track, which all paid off when she committed to UMass Amherst for track and field on November 28.

Frazee first started running track in eighth grade when one of her friends forced her onto the team. Little did she know, she would soon fall in love with launching herself over eleven-foot tall bars and into pits full of sand.

“I kind of did it just like for the fun of it,” Frazee said. “But […] my coaches throughout WA and […] my club coaches have really told me that […] if I work hard, […] I’ll go far. So, I really […] changed everything about […] how I run and what I see myself doing future.”

Not only has Frazee seen herself improve, others have also seen her progress improve over time.

“I’ve definitely seen her improve her skills across the board,” assistant coach Ashley Smith said.

Frazee is a senior captain on the winter and spring track teams. This requires immense leadership skills and time management.

“I’m absolutely proud of […] her work ethic and how much she puts in […] I also am just […] proud of her as a as a leader on the team,” Smith said.

Frazee has decided to study biomedical engineering at UMass. She hopes to get her masters or PhD after she obtains her undergraduate degree, hoping to make prosthetics for people with disabilities.

Her passion for helping people comes from watching her grandmother, who has multiple sclerosis, cycle through different bionic braces.

“My grandmother has pushed through a lot in her lifetime,” Frazee said. “She always asks about my meets and how I’m doing. She’ll just give me random phone calls […] all my grandparents are supportive of me.”

Frazee wasn’t always a track star; she used to be a gymnast. She says she owes her time-management skills and ability to listen to her body, meaning when to push herself and when to take a break, to gymnastics.

Frazee specializes in a multitude of events, ranging from hurdles to long jump to pole vaulting. She was recruited by UMass because she does pentathlon, an event that consists of five different exercises.

During the winter track season, Frazee does the fifty-five meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, and the eight-hundred meter run. During the spring track season, she does the one-hundred meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, and the eight–hundred meter run.

Last spring at her All-State Meet, Frazee placed higher than her seed times, or she went faster than her personal best, in two out of three of her events and placed as her seed time in the third event. By doing well in all of her events, she received the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Athlete Award. Considering Frazee was struggling with an injury, many were left incredibly impressed by her accomplishments. 

“That was a huge accomplishment, which I was very proud of,” Frazee said.

Frazee believes one of her favorite memories from track was getting a personal best in pole vaulting last June. She failed her first and second attempt to clear the eleven-foot tall bar. Her family and friends were cheering and encouraging her as she attempted the challenge for the third time.

“I didn’t feel the bar fall and all of a sudden I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I cleared it’ and then I heard everyone cheering and it was just […] an amazing moment […]. I’ll never forget [it],” Frazee said.

Frazee is excited to be a part of the UMass track and field family. She strives to be an All-American Athlete or hold a school record. Ideally, she hopes to achieve both of her goals.

“I think she’s gonna to fit in there really well and succeed academically and athletically,” Smith said.

Frazee looks forward to testing her abilities and showing the world just what she is capable of.

“My coaches have always said that I am not even close to my ‘ceiling’ or my full potential,” Frazee said.