A top runner since freshman year and ranked #3 in the entire state, Class of 2019 member Michael Belmaggio has proven to be a strong asset to Linganore’s team. He has been on the varsity track and field team since 9th grade and has given an exceptional performance in every event he’s run in.

Belmaggio first got involved in running as an 8th grader at his old private school, Mt. Airy Christian Academy, and has been very passionate about the sport ever since.

“The running track has always been my second home, and nothing can top the feeling I have whenever I run free on the field. I’m glad that I not only enjoy the sport, but have been very successful in the sport,” Belmaggio said.

Belmaggio has participated in the Indoor and Outdoor track & field seasons in 2016 and 2017, running in event races ranging from the 800 meter to the 5,000 meter run, as well as the 4×800 and 4×1600 relays.

Belmaggio’s coach, Mr. Andres Wright, said “Michael has a great character and an incredible work ethic. He’s very easygoing, relentless, and humble. Although he is very quiet, he has shown to have phenomenal leadership skills and leads by example.”

In the 2016 indoor track and field season, Belmaggio earned a time of 2:18.22 in the 800 meter run at the Dwight Scott Invitational. In the 2017 indoor season at the Smithsburg Invitational, he beat his original time by 7.77 seconds in the same event.

At the Southeast Quad Meet, where Linganore faced off against the rivaling schools of Urbana, Oakdale, and Tuscarora High, Belmaggio managed to get a personal record time of 2:08.45 in the 2017 outdoor track & field season, his best time for the 800 meter run.

Belmaggio earned season records in the 3,000 meter runs of two outdoor seasons, getting a time of 9:19.16 in 2016 and 9:14.94 in 2017.

Belmaggio has gotten 2 wins in the 5,000 meter run, with his personal record time of 15:55.09. He also won the 2 mile run at the County Championship.

In the 2017 Cross Country season, Belmaggio won the 3 mile run in the CMC Championships on October 20. He got a personal record time of 15:31.3, beating his previous time by 50.6 seconds.

If you would like to see more of Belmaggio’s records and stats during the track & field season, click here.

One of Belmaggio’s favorite workouts to do when training for a race is a breakdown from 2,000, where he starts by running 2,000 meters, then 1,000, then 800, then 600, then 400, and finishing with 200 meters.

Although Belmaggio has shown outstanding achievement in running, he has his eyes set on an entirely different career path. He dreams of one day being a computer coder who writes the codes for website development. His plan after graduating from Linganore to achieve this dream is to go to college and major in computer science to learn how to develop websites.

“No matter how much I love running, coding has always been what I really want to do with my life, and I cannot see myself in any other profession,” Belmaggio said.

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