The North Allegheny girls’ track and field team recently won the 2026 WPIAL championship. While many of the members of the team have qualified for states, one runner has been a particular standout — senior Maya Currie.
Currie, who runs the 800m as her main event, has always enjoyed her time on the track.
“My earliest memory of running track was the NA Track and Field Summer Camp in 5th grade,” she said. “My mom used to run track, and I thought the sport sounded cool, so she signed me up. At the end of camp, we had a mini track meet and I won the 100m dash. It ended up being one of my favorite summer camps ever and after that I couldn’t wait to join the middle school team.”
Her experience continued in middle school, where she soon found success.
“I became hooked on track after my seventh grade season,” she said. “At the final meet of the year, the Butler Middle School Invitational, our 4x400m relay team broke the school record. The atmosphere made the race unforgettable and I felt like I was running on clouds. That experience showed me how special the sport could be and made me fall in love with competing.”
In her first year on the high school team, she helped her team earn their spot in the WPIAL championship finals, which they later went on to win.
She had continued success in the years leading up to her senior outdoor track season. One of her biggest accomplishments was competing at the 2026 New Balance Nationals Indoor Championships in Boston, MA.
And just a few days ago, Currie placed second in the 800m dash at the WPIAL individual championships with a time of 2:17.24.
“I have learned that success in racing for me comes from balancing gratitude with confidence,” she said. “I used to find myself putting too much pressure on myself and focusing more on the outcome of races than the enjoyment of competing. I started reminding myself that I run because I genuinely love the sport, and I try to view each race as an opportunity rather than a test. It is also important for me to race with confidence by focusing on the work I have put in and my level of preparation, instead of comparing myself to who I am racing and worrying about faster times.”
In February, Currie announced her verbal commitment to run D1 track at Duquesne University.
“I chose Duquesne because it felt like the perfect fit for me both academically and athletically,”she said. “I plan to major in biology on either a Physician Assistant or pre-med track, and Duquesne offers strong programs for both. During my visit, all of the girls were super welcoming and friendly, and the coaching and team atmosphere seemed very positive. Although our track team at NA is large, we are very close-knit and supportive of one another, and I believe Duquesne will foster that same environment.”
The season is not over yet and neither are Currie’s goals, as she is scheduled to compete in the PIAA championships this weekend.
“My goal is to run a personal record in the 800m at the state championship this Saturday,” she said. “This winter, I switched from mainly running sprint events to focusing on the 800 as my primary event. I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of the training, and I’m excited for one final high school race and hopefully running my fastest time of the season.”
