Jacob Merritt '25 Recruiting Profile

Good Day Coaches and Assistant Coaches My name is Jacob Merritt For the past Seven years I have competed in Distance Track and Field and 5k Cross Country. Everyday I get out there and push my body to the limits some even say that after everyday my limits get better my first time doing a Lane Six Workout at 1:10 Pace I ran 4 total the next time about two weeks later I ran 6 then 8 then 10 and now I'm at 16 consistently at 1:10-1:12. And that's what I offer on the table it's not amazing speed It's consistency and a willingness to learn to get better I come in Day after Day and prepare for what's next my coach always tells me its not about catching 5 telephone poles then walking its about catching 1 by 1 until you've caught them all. This consistency I speak of shows in how I race as I'm consistently top 20 in every meet I've raced in the last two years with a few top 10 finishes each season usually towards the final two weeks before conference actually. My one big weakness outside of speed is just the mileage as I didn't consistently train large mileage the last two years I've been making up for that this has caused exhaustion down the stretch and I usually max out at about 400-500 miles a season (Or about 25-30 miles a week for one season) and when your only used to about 15-20 before this can cause an adverse affect late into the season my Junior year I was nearly shutdown by our School Physician the week of regionals just due to mileage and I had to cut from training 5 days before regionals to 3 to compromise with her strict schedule on my mileage.I care a lot about my teammates both on and off the course staying after practice usually I'm ether training them and focusing on there needs as a runner whether its intensity workouts to long runs I usually stay after about an hour and this also goes for studying sometimes it's 8-9 pm when I'm getting home but a great academic team is the goal of ours we want everyone on our team to have good grades year round and that will transition to success on the track. I would be a good candidate for a team due to my versatility and my ability to preform under a lot of pressure as when the light is focused on me is when I run my best and when its not I still run pretty good and push my teammates in front of me to there limits every time without fail My character shows this of wanting to help with my teammates goals one wants to make regionals so I get behind him every practice and send it with my loud footsteps behind him he wants to stay in front and go even faster and this shows as he's closed the gap between me and him and has a serious shot at regionals. It would be the first senior duo to qualify for regionals Individually since 2015 for our school and we want to be those two we drive ourselves on doing everything right and being an inspiration to the next generation of runners. Beyond that is all i have to say and I hope to be considered for your team Coaches!