Abby Balkus '19 Recruiting Profile

Since I was young when I raced my friends to prove to them that I was faster, to even when I found out that I definitely not fast in 6th grade at track tryouts, and am more of a long distance runner, I have always loved running and worked hard to push myself to my limit. I was most definitely pushed to my limit and had amazingly supportive and hard working teams during my freshman and sophomore cross country and track years at Oscar smith. I’ll never forget all of the lessons that my coaches taught me there and how much they gave me in confidence to know that I really can get anywhere that I want as long as I work hard. Since miraculously making it to states in cross country as a freshman, I’ve dreamed of defying all presumed limits and assumptions. Although I have moved already to 2 different schools since Oscar Smith, and have faced many challenges from some major differences, I have continued to stay positive and continue working hard, even if that means doing my own hard workouts when my cross country team barely ever has any hard workouts. Thus, my goal is simply to be a role model to all young athletes that, despite body changes, slowed times due to them or other team or school changes, and even with the growing loss of hope and motivation, that you can make it through strong at the end, AND win!