Number of Participants: 450
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $62,622
Event Type: Women
Activity: Girls Outdoor Track & Field
School: North Andover High School
Date: April 10, 2026
Location:
North Andover High School
Osgood Street, North Andover
MA
About:
When North Andover Girls Track took the field against Chelmsford, they competed with more than just a race in mind—they ran with purpose.
Led by their team captains, the athletes introduced a powerful, student-led initiative centered around the theme “Run Like a Girl.” What is often used as an insult was redefined into a message of strength, confidence, and pride—sending a clear statement about gender equality in sports.
At the heart of the initiative was a message written and delivered by senior captain Sam Schwartz alongside her fellow captains, encouraging teammates, families, and their competitors to reflect on the importance of respect and recognition for women’s athletics.
“At our home meet, we dedicated the event to a women’s empowerment theme called ‘Run Like a Girl,’” the captains shared. “The goal is to take a phrase that’s often used negatively and turn it into something positive. As a team, we want to use this meet to support women in sports and recognize that creating equality is something we all play a part in.”
The initiative went beyond words. By centering the meet around empowerment, the team fostered a culture where competing hard, taking pride in performance, and supporting one another are the true definitions of what it means to “run like a girl.”
The athletes also recognized the unique challenges that can come with being a female athlete and used this platform to uplift one another—creating an environment where every athlete feels valued, supported, and encouraged to succeed.
To bring visibility to their message, athletes wore purple ribbons during the meet, symbolizing unity and empowerment. Both North Andover and Chelmsford’s boys and girls teams participated in support of the initiative, along with members of the broader school community who joined in wearing purple—extending the impact well beyond the track.
More than just a competition, this meet served as a powerful reminder that sports can be a platform for change. Through leadership, courage, and a commitment to inclusion, North Andover Girls Track is helping redefine the narrative—proving that “Run Like a Girl” is not an insult, but a badge of honor.
