Allie Routledge '20 Recruiting Profile

    Being an international student and travelling the world my entire life has influenced me the most as a person. Growing up, I never lived in one country for longer than two or three years. I was born in the US, then moved to Venezuela, then home to Scotland, then Italy, and finally Qatar. I have learned about several cultures, and not just those of where I've lived, but also of all my friends coming from different backgrounds. Living internationally has taught me respect, how to work and interact with others, and to approach new things with an open mind. All of which makes me a great team leader and collaborator!

    I got my first taste of track and field in 5th grade when I joined the after school track activity. Since then, I was always looking for opportunities to keep learning about the sport. In 8th grade, I was eligible to try out for the JV team and competed in the maximum amount of events (5) at our MESAC championship meet, and medaled in three of them, becoming one of the leading point scorers in the team. At the end of the season I won the coach's choice award for my leadership, positive attitude, motivated nature, and leadership as the youngest member of the team. In 9th and 10th grade I competed and accumulated the most points for the JV girls' team medalling in every event and coming first in all but one each year while taking on a completely new event in tenth grade, which was the high jump. Living in Doha, Qatar, I only have the chance to compete in one conference and one inter-squad meet a year, and the season only lasts around 5 weeks. Because of the short season, I train in the morning, after school, and sometimes on weekends to fit in time with jumps, hurdles, sprints, and middle distance. 

    I fell in love with track and field because you are pushed to your limits as an individual, but there is such a big team atmosphere. In practice, I love to pace my teammates, and encourage them as we finish hard workouts. In my opinion, track and field is a mental sport, even more than physical. I am extremely determined and I have realised that to be successful as an individual and as an athlete I have to be positive, self-driven, and confident. I have had an extremely competitive personality since a young age, making me unwilling to give up and willing to challenge myself in all aspects of my life. As someone who is very outgoing and friendly, but also dedicated, driven, and determined, I know I have what it takes to make a positive impact on your team as well as being successful in the classroom!