For any high school athlete, the lure of playing Division I athletics is pretty enticing. Those are the college athletes you see on ESPN and who garner the most attention.

Former Biddeford standout Maria Curit could have easily joined a Division I track and field program after she graduated from BHS in 2011. The former Tiger was an eight-time state champion ”“ winning indoor and outdoor track gold medals in both sprints and long jump ”“ and had plenty of choices when it came to where she would compete on the next level.

“I thought I wanted to go Division I,” said Curit.

When it came time to pick her destination for both track and field and her higher education, Curit made the decision to pass on Division I and pick a Division II school in Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts.

“When I thought about it, I didn’t want to be one of a bunch of really good people, I kind of wanted to make a difference where I went … that’s why I decided to go Division II,” said Curit.

That decision has paid off as the former Biddeford standout has put together one of the best careers in Stonehill track and field history ”“ and she will cap her college career off at the Division II National Track and Field Championships starting today in Allendale, Michigan.

“I can’t even imagine going anywhere but Stonehill because it’s been like a perfect experience,” said Curit, who will compete in the 800-meter run and long jump.

In her time at Stonehill, Curit has set 13 school records and has earned All-American status three times. This weekend, she will be looking to add two more All-America honors ”“ and possibly more ”“ at the national meet.

“I think what separates (someone like Curit), generally speaking, is their attention to detail. Obviously, they have to be incredibly athletic and have good genes. But some kids have good athletic genes, but they don’t do all the little things … Maria does all the little things,” said Stonehill head coach Karen Boen on what makes Curit special. “Work ethic, self discipline, sacrifice and lifestyle ”“ she will do anything to get better and she’s extremely goal-oriented.”

Boen was happy to see Curit pick Stonehill instead of joining a Division I program.

“People were saying, ”˜Division I, Division I,’ but in Division I, as good as she is, she would have been just another good kid. In Division II, she is one of the best kids,” said Boen.

The Stonehill coach believes Curit’s father, Biddeford High School football coach Brian Curit, had a lot to do with her choice.

“She definitely picked the right division and I definitely give him a lot of credit for knowing that about her. I think that her dad had a great influence on her,” said Boen. “He’s a great support, he’s a wonderful guy and he felt like Stonehill was the perfect fit for Maria.”

Curit believes growing up with a dad who was also a coach helped turn her into the athlete that she has become.

“It’s helped a lot because obviously from a young age I was very sports-oriented and I knew how important it was to work hard and never give up,” said Curit.

Brian Curit has loved watching his daughter compete on the national level.

“It has been a lot of fun seeing her on a national stage,” said Brian Curit. “She went from being an eight-time state champion to a three-time All-American, and hopefully four or perhaps five.”

The proud father gives a lot of credit to Boen and Stonehill College.

“Stonehill treats their program like it is D-I, from the way they practice, to the way they are coached, to the way they travel. It has been a great experience,” said Brian Curit.

Stonehill may have provided an environment to succeed, but Curit has watched his daughter work hard to get where she is.

“She was always very driven, as a student, as an athlete. I would guess that probably came from her gymnastics background, although she grew up in a home where it was important to work hard in the classroom, and to prepare to win,” said Brian Curit. “Maria was given a lot of God-given talent, but she took it to another level in regards to her work ethic and desire to get the most out of that talent. I’d also like to think that my daughter has an awful lot of the Biddeford Franco-American work ethic that we preach.”

The Biddeford coach is also proud of the role model his daughter has become.

“She has also been a tremendous example to her brother, Joey, in terms of how far you can go if you care enough and are willing to work hard,” said coach Curit.

One thing that should help Curit at this week’s meet is the fact that she graduated from Stonehill on Sunday and can now focus solely on nationals.

“It’s actually great to be focusing on just one thing. It’s not like indoor nationals where you’re worrying about school work, but I feel like very focused on just track right now,” said Maria.

For Brian Curit, Sunday’s graduation was just another proud moment for him and his wife, Karen.

“What made me so proud (at graduation) was the fact that every coach individually made it a point to stop by and see Maria and say what a tremendous role model she was for the entire program and how much she will be missed and how difficult ”“ one said impossible ”“ it would be to replace her,” said Brian Curit.

Now that she has picked up her degree in health science, Curit is hoping to finish her Stonehill career with a bang ”“ and her coach thinks she can do just that.

“The competition out here is pretty intense. She’s ranked second (in the 800) and it would be crazy to think that she doesn’t have in the back of her brain that if she runs a great race and the opportunity is there, she’s going to go for the win,” said Boen.

A national championship would certainly be an exclamation point on her career, but her head coach believes adding another All-American finish would be pretty sweet.

“I would say goal No. 1, on a perfect day, would be let’s try to go for the win … but just being on the podium, you know, in the top eight in the country is pretty special,” said Boen.

Curit’s best chance for hardware will be in the 800, which is an event she didn’t start running until her sophomore year at Stonehill. Before that, the standout was focused on sprinting events like the 200 and 400 meters.

“The transition was a little different because the 400 I don’t think about at all. I’ve run it so many times it kind of just happens, but the 800 is a lot different because you have to worry about how fast you’re going and what your splits are. That transition was a little tougher, but I guess everything worked out for the best,” said Curit on adding the 800 to her repertoire.

Curit gives a lot of credit to her coaching staff, including Boen and sprints coach Steve Fitzgerald.

“My head coach is awesome … she has been very supportive,” said Curit of Boen. “My direct coach, coach Fitzgerald, me and him are really good friends and we work really well together. I feel comfortable telling him when I feel like I need help with something. It’s just a very good relationship.”

Heading into nationals, one thing that may give her a leg up on other athletes is the fact that she has been to this level before.

“Last year was actually at the same place, it was in Michigan, and I think that has helped a lot because I’m more at ease and kind of feel like I’m more comfortable since I’ve already been here. It’s easier when you have dealt with this type of pressure before,” said Curit, who will be making her second outdoor nationals appearance and fourth overall.

For Curit’s father, it will be tough to watch her track and field career come to an end.

“It will be emotional from my perspective to see her run her last race,” said Brian Curit, who gives credit to all of the coaches Maria has had throughout her career. “She started competing at a very young age with George Mendros and Leslie Mourmouras and the Saco Bay Striders, to having one of Maine’s best track coaches in Ron Ouellette, to the entire coaching staff at Stonehill which was stellar ”“ coaches Boen and Fitzgerald in particular.”

When the national meet wraps up on Saturday, Curit’s track and field career might be over, but she already has something lined up for the future ”“ thanks to a great Stonehill College education.

“I actually accepted an offer from AmeriCorps, so I’m moving to Florida in August,” said Curit, who believes her new job will provide new challenges to conquer. “It’s something very different and it’s a little out of my comfort zone, so I think that will be good for me.”

One thing that the next challenge will mean for Curit ”“ a break from winter in Maine.

“Exactly, I’m going to be in 70-degree weather in the winter,” said Curit.

Even though this chapter of Curit’s life will soon come to an end, her father is confident about one thing.

“She has done Biddeford proud,” said Brian Curit.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.