Zakk Johnson '14 Recruiting Profile

“I hated every minute of training but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

My life has always revolved around sports. I have participated in a lot, but have not always understood the true meaning of hard work and dedication. After a high school coach suggested that I had terrific potential in Track & Field, I took his advice and elected to participate my junior year. I had only participated in team sports, so learning the sport of Track & Field was a completely new experience for me. I quickly learned that training for Track & Field was not the same as other sports I had played in the past. Track & Field gave me the opportunity to find myself and I learned the amount of hard work I give to the sport is exactly what it gives me in return. I have complete control over the amount of energy, effort and discipline that I give to the sport and unlike, basketball, baseball or football; I am completely responsible for my own success. I still enjoy being part of a team, but I also enjoy relying on my own skills and effort. With Track & Field, I get the best of both worlds. Track & Field has taught me to be responsible and has helped me become a better person. Track & Field has provided me a level of discipline, which has not only helped me improve on the track, but in the classroom as well. Once I found Track & Field, I was able to manage schoolwork, athletics and a part-time job. I finished the fall semester with a 3.8 GPA and the spring semester with a 3.6 GPA. I made High-Honor Roll and realized how much potential I wasted during my first two years of high school. I have used these mistakes as learning experiences to continue furthering my goals and Track & Field has played a major role in my development. I began the indoor season of my junior year running the 60 and 200 meter dash and experienced some success. At the end of the indoor season, I ran the 400 meter dash without any training or preparation and ran a 56.1. It was at this point that I found my specialty. From that point on, each time I ran the 400M, I continued to lower my time by nearly a full second. I finished the season running a 52.64 and finished one place from qualifying for state. Missing the state meet only motivated me to work that much harder in the offseason. I elected to run on the USATF summer track circuit although I missed the first couple of meets recovering from a minor injury. Towards the end of the season, I was able to reach my goal for the summer which was a 51.4 and qualifying for USATF Nationals. Since August, I have been working out daily at 5am in the weight room with a personal trainer and I have been on the track at least four times per week. I can feel myself getting stronger and I can already tell that my hard work is paying off. My immediate personal goals for the upcoming season are very high and I plan to attack each one little by little. I ensure that my spring semester is just as flawless as my first. I plan to break my high school’s 400 meter record, which is a 49.0 and I plan to represent my school and family at the Illinois State Track Meet. I am learning how to run strategic races, push my body all while balancing my daily responsibilities. I am excited for what the future holds and I look forward to having an opportunity to compete at the collegiate level.