Jack Sloan '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Jack Sloan and I am a junior and the current top runner for the cross country and track teams at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, CA. Over the last 4 years of competitive racing and training, I’ve developed a deep love for running and a drive for success. When met with the challenges of canceled seasons and practices due to the pandemic, my high level of commitment kept me training on my own for months. I believe that my experiences as an athlete before, during, and after the pandemic have shaped me into a coachable and dedicated athlete. 

My first real competitive experience with cross country/track and field was training and racing with my 8th grade club team the “Woodside Wildebeests”. I quickly improved and achieved my first win in the sport which motivated me to train harder and qualify for nationals. My team and I continued to the 2019 Cross Country Junior Olympic Nationals in Reno, Nevada to finish the season. My initial accomplishments in cross country and track only furthered my willingness to train hard and compete at a higher level of running. I decided to continue running at Saint Francis High School, a high school with a long legacy of excellence in cross country and track. I was excited to have the opportunity to join a strong program and help continue their success. I had a notable freshman cross country season with consistent high placings and two individual wins in large races. Before my freshman track season was canceled due to covid-19 I was able to PR in the 1600 and 3200 and win a frosh/soph race. My first high school year running showed me how rewarding this sport can be. Maybe more importantly, I also learned the power running can have in building strong bonds with your teammates, coaches, and competitors. My training was interrupted in sophomore year due to a stress fracture, which was an especially challenging time during the pandemic. During my recovery I learned how to prevent future injuries and found a deeper understanding of my motivations for running. Despite this challenge, I fully recovered and was able to hit PRs in the 1600 and 3200 in the 2021 track season even with my limited preparation. After a promising summer of training in 2021 I definitively rose to the position of top runner on my team in preparation for a long awaited full cross country season. My teammates and I rallied for an amazing junior year cross country season where I made strides in the 5k and accomplished my goal of ending the season with a PR at the California State D2 meet, as well as being awarded a place on the 1st team for my school’s league (WCAL). My junior year cross country season demonstrated a significant leap in my fitness that I plan to further build on in the 2022 track season. 

When I’m off the track I thoroughly enjoy spending time with friends and family outdoors like backpacking or surfing. I especially love traveling and exploring new places, and am incredibly grateful to have had many experiences traveling around the world and even living in southeast Asia for 2 years. I am interested in the study of environmental science and journalism, and am currently on the board of my school's environmental club and write for my school’s yearbook. 

Countless days of training in the northern California foothills and challenging myself in race efforts over the last few years have transformed me as a person for the better, and taught me what it means to be a teammate and an athlete. Running camps I’ve done over the last few summers at Stanford, UCSC and UCCS have further convinced me of the amazing community running can create between people of all different backgrounds. I hope to continue my career into college and devote myself to learning even more and achieving my full potential as an athlete. 

Coach Reference: 

"Jack is an outstanding competitor and leader in our program. As a junior, he placed first for our Varsity squad in every meet despite missing all of last XC season due to injury. When the Championship Season arrived in November, Jack put together three of his most complete races. At our West Catholic Athletic League championship meet, he earned 1st Team All-League honors for a Top 7 finish. A few weeks later, he had his best performance of the season, leading his team once again with a 51st place individual finish at the CA State Meet, running 16:14.7 for 5k on the famed Woodward Park course. Jack has exciting goals for this upcoming track season and will be a force to be reckoned with after a complete and consistent winter of training. I have no doubt he has the talent and the work ethic to succeed at the next level. Until then, we look forward to seeing what he can do at Saint Francis in his final year and a half." 

                                               - Coach Phil Pompei, Head Track/XC Coach