It doesn't take long for Exeter junior Jacqueline Gaughan to get in the zone.
Even after three weeks without a race.
"She's very competitive," said Joe Scascitelli, who coaches Gaughan, a nationally ranked distance runner who's being courted by college programs like Virginia and Stanford, among others. "Any race she enters, she likes to go full throttle. She's that type of an athlete. She doesn't take any race lightly."
And so when Gaughan, who finished 11th at Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals on Dec. 10, enters the 48th annual Dartmouth Relays on Saturday, expect her to lead a talented girls field in the 2-mile seeded section in her first indoor competition of the winter season.
"When the gun goes off, I'm really competitive," Gaughan said. "That's what I'm going to try to do."
But she likely won't be the only potential champion from New Hampshire.
A recent surge in talent from the granite state has produced a handful of rising female athletes, many of whom will be on display at Leverone Field House at Dartmouth.
That includes Raymond junior Anna Harmon, currently US #6 in the 1000m with a time of 2:57.94; Nashua Bishop Guertin freshman Caroline Fischer, who stands US #5 with a performance of 10:16.95; and Lebanon senior Corinne Kennedy, who is US #8 in the 600m with a time of 1:36.44.
Other athletes expected to make dents on Dartmouth Relay races include Derry Pinkerton Academy junior Britney Johnson and Bedford senior Leya Salis in the 1000m.
Milesplit Career Profile: Jacqueline Gaughan
"There's been a wealth of talent in the last five to six years in New Hampshire and they've all helped one another get better," Scascitelli said. "You only get better by going against better runners."
Even a year ago, Gaughan was paced by two others who went on to Division I programs: Oyster River's Maegan Doody, a runner-up in the mile at New Balance Nationals Outdoor who went on to Georgetown University and Coe-Brown Northwood Academy's Elisabeth Danis, a former New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2-mile runner-up who currently attends Alabama.
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Two seasons ago, it was Exeter's Shannon Murdock (University of New Hampshire) and Coe-Brown Academy's Hannah Parker (Connecticut).
"I think part of it is the weather," said Danielle Fischer, a fourth year coach at Bishop Guertin -- and also the mother of Caroline Fischer. "The kids really have to put up with it. But it doesn't stop them, especially the ones who are committed and dedicated."
Gaughan is regarded as one of the top distance talents in the country and has a range that sees her compete in races from the 1000m to the 2-mile and everything in between. She finished fifth at the Dartmouth Relays in the 2-mile last year, then went on to earn a 15th-place performance at New Balance Nationals Indoors (10:41.40).
This season she'll have to contend with an upstart competitor like Fischer, who finished her cross country season with a PR of 17:19.22 and a 49th-place at Nike Cross Nationals. She'll double this winter as a Nordic skier.
"In her mind she has no pressure," Fischer's mom, Danielle said. "She feels like no one knows who she is and there are no expectations. But she feels like she can run with those girls and she knows she won't be left behind."
While Fischer is only beginning her career as a runner, there's history in the family. Danielle is an ultra marathoner and triathlete, as is her father.
"We're a big running family," Danielle said.
But Fischer won't be an unknown for very long. Despite having run just one 3000m event this indoor season, her mother seeded her to run 10:55 on Saturday and has the potential to get even better moving forward.
Milesplit Career Profile: Caroline Fischer
"She's built for the track," Danielle said. "She has this long stride and the body of a distance runner."
Gaughan's coach, meanwhile, has taken notice, too.
"She's one of the more talented freshmen in the country," Scascitelli said. "We're glad to have her around and I know Jackie appreciates the competition."
On Saturday, it won't only be athletes inside the state the duo will be dealing with.
Gaughan and Fischer will have to contend with Rhode Island's Grace Connolly (La Salle Academy) and Elizabeth Sullivan (Portsmouth) and New York's Eva Scott (Burnt Hills).
Don't worry, Scascitelli says, Gaughan's competitive streak will come out before long.
"She does all the right things," he said. She trains hard and is highly self motivated. She expects so much of herself. Leading into the race, we try not to talk too much about it. She gets in the zone and she has her routine.
"She gets ready," he added. "She's getting more confident and less stressed prior to the race. There's a calm before each race."
Gaughan agrees.
"I'm excited," she said. "It's a great place to run and there's always good competition. It's my first race of the season and a good place to start."
To connect with Milesplit Content Producer Cory Mull, follow him on Twitter @bycorymull. Have a story idea? We're all about those. Email him at cory.mull@flosports.tv.
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