DURHAM — When asked what it takes to prepare for the Hershey North American Track and Field Final, Durham's Maegan Doody gave a blunt, and fairly literal, answer.



"A lot of packing," the 13-year-old said with a laugh.



If asked how to get to Hershey, her answer would probably be "practice, practice, practice."



Doody will represent New Hampshire at the Hershey North American Final this Saturday in Hershey, Pa. She will join five other N.H. athletes: Rochester's Adrian Sutton (9-10 boys standing long jump), Lebanon's Zoe Soule (girls 9-10 100-meter dash), Exeter's Grace Mautz (girls 11-12 400) and Elise Leavitt (girls 13-14 200), and Conway's Tristan Anderson (boys 11-12 softball throw).



Doody, who runs with the Oyster River Youth Association, qualified for this weekend's meet with a time of 13.58 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the state meet in Manchester on July 8. Doody will be an eighth grader at Oyster River Middle School. Doody actually qualified for the national meet last year, winning the 200 in 28.48 seconds and the 100 in 13.65.



"This year, I feel like I'm more ready," she said about heading to Hershey.



She wasn't kidding about the packing. Doody started getting ready for the Hershey trip as soon as she got home from the USATF junior Olympic national meet in Wichita, Kan., where she finished 35th in the 100 in 13.39 seconds and 17th in the 400 in one minute, 0.59 seconds. It was her first experience at a national meet.



Her personal best in the 100 is 13.05 seconds, but said she doesn't have a specific goal for this weekend.



"I just want to try my best and do my best, I guess," Doody said.



As part of her weekend in Hershey, Doody and her family (which were scheduled to leave Durham Thursday morning at 4 a.m.) will have the opportunity to visit the Hershey chocolate factory and ride the roller coasters at Hershey Park.



Doody also competes in soccer and horseback riding. She owns an 8-year-old horse named "Buck" who lives at her aunt's house in Scarborough, Maine.



Doody said horseback riding helps her be a faster runner.



"It makes your legs stronger," she said.



Doody expects a fun atmosphere this weekend but thinks the weather could be a little bit of a challenge.



"It'll be hot," she said. "But it's OK. I don't care about the heat that much. I'll just have to prepare myself mentally to run."



New Hampshire is part of Region 6, which includes all six New England states and the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Each state and province is guaranteed at least five athletes to be chosen for the national meet.