Kiah Leonard '15 Recruiting Profile

Throughout my running career, I have continued to steadily improve in every event each year. I have learned more about racing, training, and being a leader through experience at running camps and from my coaches.  I love running and being a competitor. I always want to win and be the best at everything I do. I am a very self-motivated person, and always work hard. I strive to keep improving and learning more about how to be a better runner.

My coaches have slowly increased my mileage through my career and found that I am not a high-mileage athlete, and respond better to shorter, more intense workouts. My  mileage for the summer leading into my junior year of cross country was between 25 and 30 miles per week. The summer leading into my senior year, I am shooting for an average between 30 and 35 miles per week.

My junior cross country season this past fall ended with a 13th place finish at the 4A Colorado State Championships, which was a 4 place improvement from the previous year. For my final cross country season, I plan to place top 5 at the State Championships and break the 18-minute mark for the 5K.

My junior track season this spring rounded off with a 5th place finish in the 3200m and an 8th place finish in the 1600m at the 4A Colorado State Championships. I set a personal best in both events and received medals in both also. I earned Tri-Valley Conference Champion in the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m, along with contributing to the 4x800m team that placed 2nd. I was named Track and Field Athlete of the Year for the Tri-Valley League (Conference). My goal for the 2015 track season is to qualify for state in the 3200m, 1600m, and 800m. I hope to improve my placing significantly in the 3200m and 1600m and medal in the 800m. My goal for the 3200m is to run in the 10:40's. I plan to break 5 minutes in the 1600m and get down to 2:15 in the 800m. I believe all my goals are attainable as long as I stay healthy and train intelligently and effectively.

CHECK OUT MY RUNNING RESUME UNDER ACADEMICS AND TRANSCRIPTS. IT IS LABELED "REPORT CARD" WITH "RUNNING RESUME" BENEATH IT. 

I have learned that academics must come first, and I have made that a priority throughout high school and wish to continue that priority throughout college. As the fastest girl on my cross country and track distance teams since my freshman year, I have been placed in a position to be a leader and an example to my teammates. I always encourage my teammates to train in the offseason and push themselves in practice and competitions. Being an effective, positive influence and leader on my team is very important to me. I have experienced bad leadership and negative attitudes on school teams throughout my career, but I try to remain positive and motivating because negativity brings everyone down. Throughout my high school career, I have learned how to win with humility and lose with dignity, as even losing is a beneficial part to improving as an athlete and person. I wish to continue to improve as a person, athlete, and student, while also having fun and making friendships along the way throughout my collegiate experience. 

It is important for me to be at a college somewhat near my home in Colorado, where it would be reasonable for me to be able to return home for holidays and vacations. I prefer a school close to mountains as I love snowboarding and doing almost everything there is to possibly do in the mountains. I am looking for a collegiate program whose team is competitive at the conference level and higher, with close team relationships.