01945 Winter 2023-new

WINTER 2023 | 17
By Vishakha Deshpande
Rarely do you see a track star run at meets and then turn
into a photographer for their teammates. Caterina Piper,
however, is an exception.
A cross-country runner from Marblehead, Piper
combined her passion for running with her love for
photography. With six years of running experience,
Piper has found a way to capture the spirit of track
meets through her lens, sharing her talent with her
teammates and the wider track and field community.
Piper’s journey into the world of sports began when
she was just 11 years old. Like many kids, she wanted
to participate in a sport but sought for something
accessible and suitable for her age. That's when she
decided to join the cross-country team at her school,
embarking on a journey that would shape her athletic
and creative interests.
“I have been running cross country and track
for six years now,” Piper said. “ I participated in
running for all seasons of the year. I do cross
country in the fall, winter, and spring track,
and then summer training for cross country.”
Caterina's dual interests in running and
photography converged when she realized the value
of having photos of herself in action.
“I've always wanted photos of myself running,
but for a couple of different reasons,” Piper said.
“I could use them to analyze my stride, to post
pictures on social media, and to remember each
meet. I figured that everyone else wanted photos
too, which is why I started taking pictures.”
Her journey as a photographer began in the
fall of 2021, thanks to her father, who lent her his
Nikon semi-professional camera. Since then, she's
been capturing the essence of track meets, taking
the opportunity to shoot her events whenever
she's not racing. Whether it's a cooldown
jog, cheering for her teammates, or capturing
the action on the track, Piper’s camera is her
constant companion.
Piper’s coach, Nolan Raimo, said that Piper
has always been a “team player” in every aspect
and that the track team highly appreciated Cat's
contributions both on and off the field.
“Cat’s photography is absolutely incredible,”
Raimo said. “I think all the parents,
grandparents, and friends are so happy that they
PIPER, continued on page 18
Caterina Piper, a senior at
Marblehead High School, runs
around the track during practice.