Personal Statement
Update 10/26/2022: I have not yet commited to a school, I am a Junior but still have 3 yrs of eligibility. I graduated Indian Hills CC with honors 3.67, with my AA degree 5/22. I'm currently a fulltime student at University of Nebraska Lincoln, though not connected with the team, while training at the elite facility Trackville with Coach Patrick Grosserode in Lincoln. 10/25 I ran a 40yd time trial of 4.5 and flying 30 of 2.92. I will be competing unattached for indoors running the 60m hurdles and 400m. Covid really impacted my spring season but now looking and feeling stronger than ever (cleared by Dr in July with blood work as having no residual effects and strong immunity). I'm looking for a program to help me grow both as an athlete and a student.
Update 4/5/2022: I'm finishing up my 2nd year at Indian Hills Community College and currently considering transfer schools. I still have 3 years of eligibility. Last year was challenging due to COVID but I'm excited about this coming outdoor season. I came down with Covid in mid January and it really impacted my indoor season. I am improving my strengh and endurance. My new coach is the first time I've had a coach whose specialty is the 400m Hurdles and I'm excited about his workouts and optimistic he can help me come closer to my true potential. I'm looking for a program to help me grow both as an athlete and a student. I'm excited because I still have 3 years to compete after this year. 400m hurdles is my primary event but I am also open to training for multis. My senior year was taken away from me. I had begun training in pole vault that Fall and planned on training for multis until COVID shut everything down.
Update Dec 2021: I just ran my first 60m Hurdles in 2 yrs (3rd time ever at 42") at the Iowa State Univ Holiday Invite and ran a 8.65. Will continue improving my trail leg and time between hurldes but I'm ok with that time. I completed my Fall semester with academic honors GPA 3.73, overall GPA 3.63 for 49 credits. I've been helping several of the international athletes with things like getting groceries, opening bank accounts, academic supports etc. I like spending time with them because they're focused like me, we push each other in practices and they avoid trouble and drama. I am the only white guy in the sprints and hurdles and I'm ok with that. Hasn't always been easy but I think I've earned respect based on my actions, words and my improved speed on the track. I prefer teams that are diverse.
Update May 2021: I just completed my freshman year at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa with academic honors GPA of 3.54. I unfortunately had a hamstring strain then was injured by another athlete so my year athletically didn't go as planned. I am glad this year doesn't count towards my eligibility. However I'm now fully recovered and excited to do some off season competition in June and July here in Washington, I am also taking a couple summer classes remotely. I'll be doing some hurdles, sprints and might also long jump for fun.
I am on schedule to receive my AA degree May 2022. My goal is to then transfer to a University with a supportive coach, team and supportive environment to help me achieve my best times possible in the hurdles and 4x400. This was a very challenging year with covid restrictions. One of my other interests is photography and this helped me get through all the isolation with covid. I took a class in photography and my coaches had me take pictures for the team while I was injured so I could still be a part of the team. I had some of my pictures nominated for the college art show. I won an award and even sold two of my pictures. I really like taking track and field action shots and wildlife photos.
I use the Academic Success/Disability Support center at Indian Hills to support me with my dyslexia and with setting up my accommodations. I worked with the tutors right away and my coaches knew they didn't worry about my academics. It is a priority that my transfer school have very good athlete academic supports. I am a focused and hard worker athletically and academically. I am looking forward to transferring to a program with supportive and like minded teammates.
Background Information: My name is Calvin Brindle. I am was Home Schooled and compete with Tahoma High School in Maple Valley, WA. I am 5'11.75", and 160 pounds. I have been competing in Track and Field since I was 8 years old with my club Speed Unlimited. I began as a mid-distance, long jumper and also ran Cross Country through my Freshman year. At this time I transitioned into a sprinter and hurdler, and I continue to improve my times and jumps distance. I have been told I have a lot of grit on both the track and in school. I didn't start experiencing real individual success until I entered High School. I didn't have a lot of natural talent, it has taken a lot of hard work, patience and faith to get where I am today which is still a work in progress. I had many frustrating years but stuck with it.
My freshman year I qualified for districts in the 300 hurdles, 4x100 and Triple Jump. I missed going to state in the Triple Jump and the 4x100 by 1 place. My Sophomore year was my most challenging year. I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease that winter. I am also diagnosed with Dyslexia. This combination impacted my ability to attend and be successful at school. I withdrew from school and began Homeschooling where I was only able to take a couple classes at that time. I was unable to begin training and compete in track and field until July. It wasn't until the following Fall that I could take more classes and also return to full training. My Lyme Disease no longer impacts my life. I am currently taking a full schedule of classes and I am able to continue working towards my track and field goals. Last year my 4x100 team I anchored broke the school record and placed 6th at state. I was district champion in Long Jump and placed 3rd at state, I had no fouls through Sub Districts, Districts and State. My 4x400 team placed 3rd and I also placed 9th in the 200m. I recently placed 5th in both the Long Jump and the 55m hurdles at the USATF Youth Indoor National Championships in New York in March. You can see my post race interview video on the USATF PACIFIC NORTHWEST Facebook page.
What I am looking for in a school. A high priority in choosing a school are the academic athletic supports. I am diagnosed with dyslexia and use tutors and accommodations to support my learning difference. I am a very hard worker and plan on taking full advantage of all academic supports from day one and spending a lot of time with college tutors. I want a school where I can live in an environment with like minded focused athletes. I do like how the schools in Utah are dry campuses. I don’t like being around people who party and drink. I am flexible with location of the school with the right athletic academic supports and living environment. I have lots of family on the West Coast, some on the East Coast but my mom is from Iowa so I have a lot of family and friends in the midwest. I have not completely decided what I want to major in but my main interests are in Aviation, Athletics and German.
The month of August I spend my month off with my family fishing and crabbing in remote SW Kodiak Island. My father is an Alaska fisherman, he waits until after the Washington State Track meet to go up north. Kodiak is beautiful but it is also hard work and you always have to be prepared for challenging and dangerous conditions due to the environment and weather.
