Benjamin Clark '18 Recruiting Profile

I first discovered Cross Country in the eighth grade and almost immediately decided that it was the sport for me. Its insane schedule and demanding practices challenged me beyond the likes of anything that I had ever seen before in sports, and yet it retained a perfect team atmosphere. I trained rigorously for the next few years, choosing to fight through the pain that I felt at first and succeeding to make the varsity team as a Sophomore. I was able to help the team win the Rio Hondo league title for all of the years in which I participated as well as compete in the CIF prelims and finals, but the most important thing that I was able to do for the team is provide leadership to the younger runners who were unsure of where their journey would take them. I never hesitated to be a mentor.

In the future, I plan to become a writer and filmmaker, so I am looking for a sports program that will suit me athletically while allowing me to prepare for my future academically. I believe full-heartedly that I can succeed as a college runner because I have both the athletic talent to compete and the grit and competitive spirit to thrive in difficult situations. No matter what challenges I find myself facing, I would make a formidable member of any team.