Christopher Zaino '17 Recruiting Profile

My name is Chris Zaino, and I'm a senior XC/TF athlete and Captain of my team at Londonderry Senior High School, NH. I'm an outgoing person and find myself in leadership positions in my sports, clubs, and academics. I'm actively involved in my school as I'm a member of the Athletic Leadership Council, Vice President of National Honor Society, member of the Pay it Forward community service club, and I am a snare drummer and Captain on the drumline and in the band. I'm 5'9", 140lbs, have a 4.48 GPA, 8th in my class of nearly 400, a National Merit Semifinalist, and run a 5k, 1600m and 800m at 15:40, 4:35 and 2:00 respectively. In my 8th grade year, I had an undefeated season, winning states at the end of it. In my freshman year, I broke the course record at Derryfield Park in Manchester, NH, (record still stands) and had a very successful varsity season. In my sophomore year, I was out for 5 months with mono, missing my entire cross country season and half of my first indoor track season. This posed a challenge for me, and in this time, I had the opportunity to look back at my short running career and appreciate the ability I had, and I believe that I matured a lot as a result of this setback. My progression through the following outdoor season was difficult having lost a lot of training time till I recovered, but it forced me to work harder than I had ever worked before. I am more determined than ever to prove I can run at an elite level. Finally as a senior I feel very strong and I'm rapidly reestablishing myself as a top runner in NH.

I want to major in neuroscience and so I'm searching for a school with strong academics and, of course, a great running program. I hold myself to the highest standard and thus will work to be a key contributor for the program that I join, from the moment I step foot on campus. Ultimately my best college fit will be one that allows me to be around like-minded individuals also pursuing academic and athletic excellence.