Jaclyn Macatee '23 Recruiting Profile

Though I started running track in my freshman year of high school, a season cut short by COVID-19, I immediately had an affinity for the sport and an appreciation for the grit and determination required for a successful season. When I began my Sophomore season after a full year of quarantine, I recognized my potential as I continued to push myself during practices and meets alike, consistently hitting new personal records throughout the season. Now, after competing in the Western League Championships, the CIF prelims, and the CIF finals, I continue to meet new personal records and challenge myself in my junior year, all the while developing confidence, work ethic, and leadership skills. My junior year has been a mark of many challenges athletically, academically, and mentally. However, through self-will and determination, I am able to maintain a positive and grateful mindset regarding my grades, my track times, and my personal relationships.

Growing up, sports have always been a prominent factor in my life. Being an exceptional athlete, I participated in sports such as soccer, softball, and volleyball for over ten years, and did not start running until high school. Once I joined track, however, I grew attached to the self-determination required to thrive. I love the sport, mainly because every personal record I get is a result of my own efforts and ambitions. Thus, achieving a goal set for yourself is considerably more rewarding. I additionally admire the unconditional support given to me by my teammates, and I always make it a priority to encourage and uplift them equally.

Though I am an athlete, I am a student first. My goal as a person is to make a difference, no matter how small, in people's lives and communities, and I believe that being well-informed is a foundational step to this goal. I have committed much of my high school career to bringing awareness to injustices and crisis in our world from a journalistic standpoint. I am currently the editor in chief of my school's newspaper, as well as a writing director of a student-run magazine. Reading, writing, and humanities have improved both my lifestyle and my view of the world immensely. My experiences on my school's mock trial team have made me a better public speaker and more informed about the law and government. Meanwhile, I have pushed myself by taking some of my school's most rigorous classes and achieving a 4.0 in my junior year.

I am looking for a college in which I can continue to challenge myself at a competitive level and further improve my times, all the while getting a quality education. I love to learn new techniques, new events, and take on new challenges. I take pride in my work ethic and self-motivation to do the absolute best I can in everything I do. Track is truthfully a sport that I strive to become my absolute best in, and I do this by working diligently, leading others by example, and motivating my teammates.