Carson Laney '20 Recruiting Profile

I started running at a young age.  If I had to get somewhere, I would always run because it was faster than walking.  As I got older, I obtained a very competitive edge. I loved competing hard in everything I did.  A teacher of mine one day, who happened to be the high school cross country coach, saw my talent as I ran the mile at a field day.  He helped guide me in the right direction with my talent. I pursued joining the middle school cross country team my sixth grade year.  From there, I grew not only as a runner, but as a leader. I was winning a lot of races in middle school and running fast times. As my eighth grade year started,  I was now a veteran and my coach had me lead all the workouts. I had a more important role, a leader. I had to motivate my teammates and encourage them during hard workouts.  I had to keep everyone accountable. That year, we won the Middle School Conference Championship. I was proud of the work and effort my teammates put in from summer to fall. That was the year I grew most as a runner and as a person.  

That leadership that I had learned carried over to my high school career.  As a Freshman, I took on the role of the top Varsity runner. I used my leadership qualities as if I were a Senior.  With the transition to high school came struggles. At the end of each season, whether it were cross country or track, I was either injured or sick.  This was a major struggle my first two years of high school. My Junior year of Cross Country, I made a goal to be top 10 in the state and to stay healthy all season long.  I made sure that I got enough sleep and the proper nutrition. At the end of the year, I was healthy and ran the best race of my life to place 8th at the State Meet. I give thanks to God for everything.  He has blessed me with the guidance of my family and the knowledge of my running coaches. I always pursue the highest goals, in sports and in the classroom. In school, I always work hard in all my classes.  I have taken Honor classes to challenge myself and improve my education. I am determined to reach goals that my coaches develop for me and I make sure to put in the hard work to obtain them. Being a runner is only part of me. Being a leader, role model, and an active member in my community is who I am.  Helping others is something I have always seen greater, than doing something for myself. I strive to succeed as a person and runner so that I can perform at the collegiate level.

Personal Quote: Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.