Mike Lawrence '21 Recruiting Profile

    There is almost nothing I love doing more than running. To physically and mentally train towards a goal is how I am wired. I first began high school as a competitive tennis and basketball player who decided to join my high school's cross country program because I needed a third sport to fill my schedule but gradually transferred to full time running as I discovered how much I loved it. 

    I had little early guiding, through my middle school and underclassmen years I was struggling. After my sophomore year Mr. Stovall, who is now my school's assistant coach, pointed me to a club team called Triple Threat Racing (now known as the Arkansas Track Club, or ARTC) to get better experience, coaching feedback, and training. Shortly thereafter I qualified to run the 3000 for the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Championships. I now run year round for ARTC. Since the switch I have twice earned All-American honors at USATF Cross Country Nationals, and an Oklahoma All-State XC placement.  I have just begun to learn what I am capable of as my club coach and I mark milestones off of my training. I work hard and smart, listening to my body, the experts around me, and those who have gone before me to maximize growth. Although contracting Covid right before the championship phase of this XC season I was able to lead my school team to our first XC state title since 2000 and, after a couple of months of recovery, earned my second All-American honors at USATF XC Nationals despite training with continued side effects from Covid. I was cleared to continue training early on but still feel aftereffects from the virus including carrying pneumonia and pericardial effusion (fluid around heart causing weariness and slowing recovery) through the school state meet and USATF XC Nats. In spite of this, I remain in good shape. I am on the backend of the virus now and can't wait to begin racing and dropping times that I know I am capable of throwing down. 

     In the classroom I am in the top 2% of my class. I take the hardest curriculum offered at my school and am looking for a program that will be a good fit for me athletically as well as academically. I am extremely disciplined, coachable, and am a leader that has a positive influence on my team. I desire to take running as far as I can and am looking for a team I will be a good fit at and that will be able to develop me as a runner and a leader.