Alyssa Firla '25 Recruiting Profile

From a young age, my world has revolved around competitive athletics. My journey began in Poland, under the guidance of renowned coaches like Robert Korzeniowski, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, and Aneta Lemiesz, the W40 400m world record holder. This early exposure to excellence set the tone for my athletic career.

When my family moved to the UK, my passion for track and field took a new turn. Training with Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC, under the mentorship of Olympian Roy Dickens, I had the privilege of sharing the track with luminaries such as Dina Asher-Smith and Adam Gemili. Their dedication and success have been a constant source of inspiration.

My commitment to sprinting is unwavering. Training 5-6 times a week, I've embraced the challenge of pushing my limits. This dedication has borne fruit; I've clinched age group championships in Kent and the South of England, and have been a national level finalist in prestigious competitions such as the English Schools Champs and England Athletics Age Group Championships, both indoor and outdoor. Representing Great Britain in the 4x400 relay team at the European Athletics U20 Club Championships was a defining moment in my budding career.

Academics parallel my athletic pursuits in importance. I've achieved exceptional grades in my GCSEs, ranking in the top 0.05% nationally, and have continued this trend in my A-levels, studying Maths, Chemistry, Physics, and Economics. My academic success is a testament to my ability to balance and excel in both scholarly and athletic endeavors.

I am eager to bring my passion, dedication, and proven track record to a D1 NCAA university. I believe that the blend of top-tier coaching and academic rigor in such an environment is where I can truly flourish, evolving into the best version of myself both as an athlete and a scholar. The journey has been exhilarating so far, and I am excited about the prospect of scaling new heights.