Matt Salazar '16 Recruiting Profile

My name is Matthew Salazar. I am a Track and Cross Country runner at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, California. My life so far has been all about high-level athletics. I played both soccer and lacrosse and have competed in some of the most competitive soccer and lacrosse levels in California. In addition, I was recruited at age 12 to compete on a traveling All California U13 Box Lacrosse team that placed 2nd in a Canada Day tournament.

I began running competitively at age 12 when a friend invited me to compete with him in a USATF cross country race. Six weeks later I competed in my first Junior Olympics in which I earned All American status. Since that first USATF race I have had nothing but passion and commitment to the sport of running giving up both soccer and lacrosse to focus solely on running. I went on to to compete in four more Junior Nationals receiving two more All American honors. I ran track in junior high breaking both the mile records in 7th and 8th grade. I have been competing as a Varsity runner since my Freshman year and have broken both high school and county records. In the fall of 2013 I won the All Western Frosh/Soph Footlocker Cross Country 5k at Mt. Sac. Despite being diagnosed with ADHD at age 12, I have been both a committed student and athlete currently maintaining a 3.5 GPA. Although I have not decided my future studies, I do have an interest in physical fitness including kinesiology and sports medicine. 

As a collegiate runner, I want to be a big name that everyone knows. I want to get great times and win many races. I am passionate about running and love to compete. I like to set goals and never give up. What makes me different? I go the extra mile in all aspects of running including training, eating healthy, researching running and injury prevention, and what could possibly make me a better runner. I have excellent work ethics in both athletics and academics and have the ultimate goal of being an Olympian.