Maiya Dendy, a sophomore at Padua Academy, is headed down the track of success. The student athlete has learned to balance school, sports, family, and service into her very busy life. Maiya followed in the footsteps of her parents, who were both successful runners. She attended some of her older brother, Marquis Dendy’s, practices and soon became interested and took up track as well. Soon her parents realized her potential and soon started training her. Maiya attended Alfred G. Waters for middle school and decided that she wanted to continue her track career at Padua Academy. “I truly admired the sisterhood that Padua has as a community,” Maiya said about why she chose Padua. Here at Padua Maiya has broken numerous personal records and 3 state records. Maiya’s primary events are the 100m, 200m, 400m, and the 4x400m relay. Her favorite event is the 400m in which her shortest time is 55.47s.

Maiya’s brother, Marquis Dendy, is a sophomore at the University of Florida. His primary events are the long jump and triple jump. Both Maiya and Marquis have one major goal in life: to compete in the 2016 Olympics for track and field. Both athletes are highly capable of achieving this goal with their determination and perseverance. Maiya runs year round to keep in shape and to better her times in different events. During the school year she runs with Padua’s track and field team in both the winter and spring. She also practices with the cross country team though she isn’t on the actual team. In the summer she is coached by her father, Mark Dendy, and runs with the Lightning Fast Track Club in Claymont, Delaware.

Though running and school take up a large portion of her time, Maiya still manages to fit in volunteer work with children and make time for her friends and family. Reading has become one of her hobbies. Track and field has become part of the Dendy family. “In my household track is family.”, Maiya stated. Everyone encourages and pushes each other to do beyond their best each and every time they run. Every member of the family helps train each other and helps each other prepare for events and other races.  Maiya is headed down the track to success.