Alex Gwozdz, a senior at Maynard High School, recently became the 2024-2025 Division 5 Indoor Track State Champion in the 55 meter hurdles! He set a new personal and school record and is going to compete in the Nationals at the Armory in New York City March 15 and 16. While not impossible, it is difficult for an athlete from a small school like Maynard’s to advance this far.

“It’s very exciting for me personally,” said Alex. “I went out for track in 8th grade to get faster for football, but then I discovered I loved running. By my sophomore year I started thinking about Nationals but never thought it would be in the 55 meter hurdles.”

Hurdles, arguably the hardest event in track, drew Alex in immediately; he was drawn to do what no one else was willing to try. Eighth grade track was difficult for Alex and he had some doubts about continuing. But Shawn Burke, a Maynard realtor and champion hurdler at Cambridge Rindge and Latin who helps coach the track team, started working with Alex in 9th grade and “I really started to like it. Having a hurdles specific coach was a lot of help,” Alex said. “Shawn knows so much about hurdling and I improved a lot my freshman year. Shawn shows up for every meet, offers to help me with everything, and is really helpful with my form. ”

Coach Burke said, “Alex’s work ethics are hands down the best I’ve seen in my four years at the high school. Coming from a big school and reaching the highest point in high school including winning the New Englands and the Junior Olympics, I knew exactly what it would take to reach that level. Alex is always striving to be better. Both on and off the track. He’s an amazing leader and someone that every track team needs.  The great thing is, he will be even better during outdoor season. So, I can’t wait to see what he does there.”

Track coach Brenda Sullivan said,  “Alex is one of the hardest working athletes we have. Despite breaking his back he went through the healing process and got right back to it. He is tenacious, listens and executes. He is so deserving of his new title, he has done the work and keeps pushing to improve every time he competes.”

Broke his back? At track meets participants are able to have two track and two field events. Sophomore year Alex decided to compete in the high jump (unless it happened playing football) and got two stress fractures that required him to wear an inflexible body brace all summer. His tenacity in healing his back allowed him to play football all four years. Alex lettered three years in football and four in track. 

“Maynard High School and the Track team are very excited about Alex’s win,” said Public Schools Athletic Director Michael Arria. “As soon as we found out, we announced it to the community to celebrate the victory. This is something that not only Maynard High School and the Track Coaches can be proud of, but also something the Town of Maynard should be excited about. So we wanted to be sure that as many people as possible knew.

“Alex’s accomplishment is absolutely amazing,” said AD Arria. “It is just as impressive as any team State Championship, if not more, as an individual event. I can attest to Alex’s work ethic, as I have seen him working on his craft, many times by himself, throughout the whole year. As the Athletic Director, I am proud to see his hard work pay off in a big way.  

“State Championships in all sports at all levels are rare and hard to achieve,” AD Arria said. “In my four years in Maynard, we have not had a win at States in Indoor or Outdoor Track, which speaks to how impressive Alex’s win is. In my four years in Maynard, we have not had any other Track athletes compete in Nationals. It is a tough task to get to the point where you are able to compete at that level, so again, very impressive for Alex to be able to get to that level.”

Alex’s awards in both track and football are too numerous to mention but he is excited “that people are talking more about track” since his success at the state level. “Maynard likes the big sports – football, basketball, and baseball.” Alex said, “but now they care more about track. I encourage everyone to give track a shot; you won’t know until you try it.”

Alex credits support from family (who have attended almost every game or meet every year), friends and teammates to help him achieve his success. Izzy Burke, daughter of Shawn and Alex’s girlfriend, and Alex both won the 55 meter hurdles recently at a New Balance meet in Boston. Alex will keep running and is excited to run in college, deciding now between Bentley and Penn State. Here’s hoping Alex has a great experience at Nationals and continues his success during the outdoor track season.