Tate Beasley '23 Recruiting Profile

I began my love of running at the very young age of 5.  My mother was pushing my infant sister in a stroller at our nearby track.  I saw other people running and decided that looked like fun!  I immediately broke out into a sprint completing a 400m and arriving back to hear my mother announce “WOW…just… WOW!”.  I then asked, “Now what do I do?”.  To which she responded: “Do it again!”— so I did.  The second time arriving back to hear my parents talking amongst themselves about how I looked like a deer.  I wasn’t sure what that meant at the time, but I did know how exhilarating it felt to me to be in such fluid motion.  For the next 2 years I just ran… and ran... and ran.  Whenever my parents would go out in the evenings on a walk, I would come along.  I would run as FAST as I possibly could to the next stop sign and back to them.  Then… Repeat.  It was a game… and SO much fun!  At the age of 7 years old, I, unknowingly at the time, began running competitively.  

My first race, while largely a success, was hilarious!  I stopped at all of the aid stations along the 5k course.  (Hey, I was 7! … and those were “treats!”).  We still laugh at how I “got my start”.  From that first race onward… I was hooked!!  I continued running as many races as I could; Often as a youth, taking 1^st place female in races competing against many other much older seasoned athletes in various events.  I simply didn’t know I wasn’t “supposed” to win—  so I did.  Running is part of who I am.  I feel I was born to the sport.  Those that know me have affectionately labeled me a “sprinter with a distance problem”.  

I have competed in everything from the 100m to half marathons (PR 1:30:07).  Because I live at high Altitude, I’ve also been fortunate to run multiple mountain trail races, including an extremely challenging back-to-back “Trifecta- win”, finishing 1^st place every year for 3 consecutive years in the North Face Endurance Challenge (PR: 24:34).  Also, placing  1^st  female overall on several other difficult mountainous terrains in the XTERRA National Championship Trail Races.  Nonetheless,  Amongst the over 300 competitive races I have competed in to date, some of my most prized successes include being an 8 time National Jr. Olympic All-American. I am a 5 time National All-American in Track, and 3 time National All-American in Cross Country.  Additionally, as a freshman, I placed 1^st  female overall out of 246 competitors in the Varsity race at the NIKE Bob Firman Invitational multi-state race, — breaking the division II record, with a time of 18:45.  

Although I cannot ever imagine my life without competitive running;  it has not been without challenge.  In my more recent past,  I have been met with some very difficult obstacles affecting my performances.  Psychologically, working through them, and overcoming these obstacles—  in many ways has been much like the intensity of training for a race.  Running has taught me enormous amounts of patience, practice, persistence, and perseverance.  I lean in to what running has taught me about myself… “me” as a person… and “me” as an athlete.  I apply these transferable skills to all aspects of my  life. My knowledge, my passion, my drive and determination in all areas of life have become so synergistic.  

Academically, I have practiced the same skills that my sport has taught me in the classroom setting.  I have excelled in rigorous college preparatory high schools, and concurrently completed multiple courses at my local University… among others extracurricular activities.  I am seeking to be a part of a highly selective college/ university that places an extremely high value on academics, while supporting, encouraging,  and celebrating, the drive, determination and passion for my sport – in a wonderful team setting of like-minded peers and teammates.  To me, this  is my true “dream come true”.  I have always wanted to go to a highly selective academic school.  Achieving my goal of attending such a school, and  simultaneously contributing to my school at the collegiate level…. Well… the thought almost leaves me speechless.  GRATEFUL… is the only word that comes to me in this moment…… Perhaps you understand.  If you have read this far… I SO much thank you for your time and consideration.  I don’t ever plan to stop running.  I would love nothing more than to find such a great fit, and run collegiately for our school.