Daniel Dracup '15 Recruiting Profile

My name is Dan Dracup and I'm now a Senior at Ithaca High School in Ithaca, NY. I spent my youth years playing competitive soccer making it to the state level as a starting central defender for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) New York State West 1997 boys' A team. After giving Modified Cross Country a try during 7th grade, I realized I was competitive in the sport. In 8th grade, I won STAC's (Southern tier Athletic Conference) in Cross Country and the 1500m in track, breaking the conference record. I was committed to running.

I love to race and am very motivated to working out and improving my times, even during the winter when our high school doesn't have an indoor team. 

I have been on Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Track since 9th grade and have been the STAC Cross Country Champion and Section IV Class A Cross Country Champion both my Sophomore and Junior years; 2012 and 2013 as well as the 2014 STAC champion in the 1600m and the 2014 Section IV Class A Champion in the 800m. I finished 1st at the Reebok Manhatten HS Invitational with a time of 12:56.30 (4K) in October 2013. I have qualified for states all three years of Varsity Cross Country. I finished 15th at States this year with a time of 15.35.30 (5K) and 18th at the Nike Cross Nationals New York Regional meet; both November 2013. I was chosen as MVR (most valuable runner) by my coach for the past two years. I was selected MVP XC Runner of the year for 2013-2014 by ESPN/1160 among the schools in our region. I hold 5 Ithaca High School records in the 5K XC, 4K XC, 1600m, 800m and 400m.

I take a strong course load of Honors and AP classes including the 'Project Lead The Way' curriculum which includes courses in Engineering throughout my four years in high school. My unweighted GPA is a 3.32 but because of my course load, that translates to a 4.15 weighted average.

I coach soccer in a youth program during the school year, babysit, am a counselor at a summer camp and am interning with a Chemical Engineering Professor at Cornell University this Summer of 2014.

I'm very committed to both my running and academics and plan to carry that with me at the collegiate level. I'm looking to study Engineering and run at a strong academic college or university on the East Coast. I bring a strong work ethic on and off the field. I love to race and don't back down from a challenge. I like to win and help my team win. I hope to be on a collegiate team that has their eye on working hard together while striving to win conferences with the hopes of getting to Nationals!

I look forward to finding a great fit where I can pursue my career in the field of engineering while continuing to grow as a runner.