Taryn Burbridge '26 Recruiting Profile

My name is Taryn Burbridge, and I am a Junior at Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi, Iowa.  I love to run and wish to continue at the collegiate level. Running has made a great impact in my life by providing a positive atmosphere and increasing my confidence, while also instilling valuable traits of discipline, hard work, teamwork and perseverance.

My favorite events in track are long sprints and middle distances events (200,400 & 800’s).  We have a strong team and pride ourselves on the relay events. Throughout the first half of my high school career, I have qualified for the state track meet in 7 events and medaled in 4 of those events, with a 2^nd place finish in the sprint medley, 3^rd & 4^th place finishes in the 4X400m dash, and an 8^th place finish in the distance medley. I also really enjoy cross country.  So far, I have qualified for the state cross country meet both years, finishing 30^th as a freshman & 14^th as a sophomore. I have had to work through some illness and injury throughout my cross-country seasons, but I am working hard to get my 5K times below 19 minutes for the remainder of my high school career. 

In addition to my high school career, I have participated in track clubs, camps, and open track sessions put on by local colleges and universities.  These experiences have helped me not only improve my running but have allowed me to learn from coaches and players who challenge me on a new level.  These experiences have opened my eyes to the possibility of running collegiately and the commitment and dedication it takes to succeed at that level.

Balancing athletics and academics has always been a priority for me.  I maintain a 3.99 GPA, while dedicating countless hours to my training and other athletic and school related activities.  In addition to cross country and track, I play basketball and softball, am involved in student council and Spanish club, have participated in choir & TEL, and have volunteered many community service hours.  Being from a small town and school, community involvement is very important to me. 

Looking ahead, I am eager to continue my running journey at the collegiate level, where I can further develop my skills, contribute to a team and continue on with my love of running.