Cadence Manning '23 Recruiting Profile

    I am a senior from Williamsfield, Illinois, and I will be graduating high school this year with my Associate’s Degree in Arts. I am the oldest of eight children, and we are all homeschooled by our Mom. We spend so much time together as a family, and that is something I absolutely love. We put faith and family first, and this has helped me realize my commitments in life. 

   I absolutely love to run! I started running track during my sophomore year of high school, and since my first meet I knew that I had found my sport. My favorite events are the 400, 800, 4x400, and 4x800; although I do run the other relays as well, but more as a necessity for our small school. Once track came to a close, my coach asked me if I’d try cross country and I agreed. This last cross country season, I pushed myself and broke our senior school record by 39 seconds, running my PR for three miles a whole 6 minutes faster than the previous year. I finished regionals as the 10th runner and qualified for sectionals as the 2nd individual. 

      People often ask me, “What is it about running? Why do you like it so much?” And I always tell them, “Running is my outlet, a chance for me to step back from my busy schedule and do something that I really enjoy. There is something uniquely gratifying about lacing up your shoes and just running - it is a simple way to just clear my mind and take a moment to do something for myself.” And in all that I do, I always try to do my best for God’s glory. I am a very diligent person and work my hardest to do my best work, whether in my academics or sports. I am ready to make track my focus during college, and I can’t wait to compete at this next higher level. I am very excited to work in a more rigorous environment and I am looking forward to having coaches who are willing to help me reach my potential as an athlete. Being a part of a competitive team really excites me, and I can’t wait to see what my next couple years will bring!