Mckenna Valasek '25 Recruiting Profile

My name is Mckenna Valasek. I am 16 years old and I am going into 11th grade. I have attended Faith Christian Academy in Martinsburg, WV since my Freshman year of high school and I plan to graduate from there. 

I started competitive gymnastics when I was 7 and competed for 9 years. Unfortunately, I had to end my gymnastics career this past year, when I was so close to being in level 10. With 4 surgeries in 2 years, my body was no longer able to do what gymnastics required from it. Since gymnastics had always taken up my time, I was never able to participate in track, until I was recovering from a wrist surgery. I decided to run track while I was recovering just to stay in shape and try something new. I didn’t realize I would fall in love with it.

    My freshman year I ran the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and the 4x400m relay. This year, my sophomore year, I was unable to go out of blocks because I was recovering from an acl and meniscus injury, so the only sprinting events my knee could handle were the 3rd leg of the 4x100m and the 4x400m. I was willing to run any event so I could run more races and to do anything to help our small team, so I took up the offer to try running an 800m for the first time. 

My first time running an 800m my time was really bad, and I had no idea how I was supposed to run this race. I thought I was going to be way more exhausted after, so I paced myself way too much. The next 3 times after that, I cut off anywhere from 8 to 12 seconds, so at our championships, I ran a 2:35. 

I have been working to keep cutting off time, and my goal is to drop at least 20 seconds on that race this year. I am planning to run the mile and the 2 mile this coming season, as well. I am working on getting better at pole vault because I enjoy vaulting and can see it in my future. My end goal is to run track or cross country in college, improve my running, and be the best teammate I can be for a D1 or D2 school.

Why would I be a good addition to your team? I am dedicated to anything and everything I do or try, and I am determined to reach my goals. I am a good friend and teammate. I have been told by many of my gymnastics coaches, track coaches, and teachers, I am the hardest working athlete/student. I even received “The Most Dedicated Gymnast” award at International Gymnastics Camp a few years ago. I have a good balance of academics, sports, and social life.