- 2023 Spotlight
Personal Statement
Hi, my name is Dylan Cannella. I’m a rising Senior at Boone High School and I'm new to track, but I'm rapidly improving and excited to unlock my potential in running. I run the 800m, my current PR is 1:58.89. This time isn't too fast, but I believe it is more of a testament to how quickly I have improved in the sport and an indication of what I could accomplish.
I've played sports my entire life; whether it be basketball, football, baseball, or soccer. I was able to find some success in these sports, especially soccer, but I recently realized that my best attribute throughout these sports was my ability to "hustle". A combination of endurance and speed is what separated me from other players, and I've found that this base I built throughout my childhood translates well into running.
Before this track season, the only experience I had in competitive running lasted 2 months during my freshman year, during which I only competed in 3 races. However, from February to May, I’ve found a new love for the sport. In my first race, I was only able to run a 2:04.74 800m. Since then, I was able to drop 5.85 seconds off my 800m time in 3 months. I’ve had a very linear and consistent progression; going from 2:04, to 2:01, to 1:59.13, to 1:58 (taking 1st in our conference meet). Since the 1:58 race, my splits in training continued to drop and I felt as though I was fit enough to drop into the 1:56-1:57 range, but unfortunately I faced a hamstring injury just 2 days before our District Meet. I managed to gut out a 2:02 and qualify for the Regional Meet, but the several days of training that I had to take off to fix my hamstring proved detrimental to my racing (At regionals, I ran a 1:59.28 in a tactical race placing 5th, missing out on State Qualification). However, I plan to do both AAU and indoor, so I’m looking to go well below 1:57 before 2024.
As far as grades go, I’m in the top 2% of my class (764 students). I have a 3.96 unweighted GPA, and a 5.02 weighted GPA. I have a 31 ACT and a 1350 SAT. I believe that with the right training and work ethic, I could drop into the low 1:50s (I hope to go sub 1:55 next year). Unfortunately, I don’t have any other official distances on my record, I have split a 51.96 in the 400m (Unofficial, 4x400m, timed via video; it’s not entirely accurate but it’s all I have as I am a very new runner). I’ll be doing both XC and track next year so I'll be able to get more times on my record.
Ultimately, I'm looking to run for a school that is competitive in the sport and/or very academically selective. I've qualified for Florida's 100% Bright Futures Scholarship, so I would be able to walk-on at any In-State program. I would be honored to run for schools that meet the academic standards or athletic prouise.
