Charlie Collins '23 Recruiting Profile

I have been running since around third grade in local road races but I never really thought about it as a serious thing until middle school.  I am currently running year-round at Hampden Academy in XC, indoor, and outdoor track. In 2019 I ran a 17:13 at the PVC regional meet, earning the fastest freshman XC time in Maine. By the 2021 state XC meet I finished in 10th place (first junior) with a time of 16:57 and finished 44th at the New England meet with a time of 17:29. These races were on extremely hilly courses with the Thetford Academy (VT) course having over 180 feet of elevation gain. In December 2021 I competed in the Garmin Running Lanes cross country meet and currently have the 13th fastest high school XC 5k time in Maine history (15:32).  My favorite track events are the 800m and the 1600m. I have also run five half marathons with a PR of 1:26 and compete in local road races ranging from 3k to10 Miles.

I have wanted to run in college for a long time now and I think that I have what it takes: dedication, leadership, and perseverance. I am willing to do whatever is asked of me when it is needed. My style, as shown in my videos of the 1600m state championship and the Garmin XC race, is to go out aggressively in any race.  My goal in 12th grade is to win the Class A state XC title as well as the state titles in the 800m and 1600m. 

I have had an undefeated season in cross country in 2022, setting new course records on our home course and at Saxl Park. I won the Festival of Champions race on October 1, 2022 with a 15:38 finish, the 8th fastest time in the history of the race. I won the Class A state cross country meet with the 20th fastest historical time on the Twin Brooks course. (16:29) Our team has now won two back-to-back state titles. I was just selected as the Maine boy's Gatorade Player of the Year for cross country.