Layla Almasri '17 Recruiting Profile

My ‘real’ track career begins back in middle school, I was a sprinter, that is, until I volunteered to run the 1600m for the coming up meet, since it appeared no one else was willing to do so. I placed 3rd and I immediately became a distance/mid-distance runner. I came into my high school season not really sure what to expect. I ended up being a 'star' in middle school but high school was completely different for me. Practices were a lot harder than I was used to. It was not until my very first meet, which was a JV meet, that I was able to fully show my coach my ability. After that day I was a varsity 4x800m relay runner, and by the end of the season I was one of the contenders for the alternate in our state relay. My coach really began pushing me to run Cross Country and I joined for my sophomore year. After Cross Country my training did not stop, I trained very hard during the indoor track season with my club team in preparation for the 2015 track season. I came in already with a 4 second PR in my first relay split of the season. By the end of the season my open 800m time went from 2:39 to 2:27. I was extremely happy with my performance and so was my coach. I have this huge drive to continue improving, so as a result my coach and I had a training plan set forth for the summer to prepare me for cross country. We figured that if I was able to run a 22 minute 5K by the end of the season without training last summer, I can run the same time at the start with continued improvement throughout the season. My season begun with amazing course PRs as well as a new personal PR every week. My drive and determination to better myself is what separates me from other recruits. I am always willing to push myself to the limits to achieve the goals I have in mind. I always push my teammates to do the same by helping someone finish a workout that they aren’t sure they can complete or reassuring someone that a bad race does not equal a bad season. I love to bring my team closer to one another by coming along side my upperclassmen leaders to put together team bonding activities. Working together is a big reason for my team’s success. Pine Creek has had a history of highly respected and talented athletes, which I am so blessed to be a part of. I believe that our teams success is not only taken from our hard work and training, but also our deep bonding within our team, which I hope remains in my remaining years as a Pine Creek Eagle.

Not only do I have a strong work ethic in my athletics but also in my academics. I have been lucky enough to have really amazing teachers who also push me to be a strong student. I almost always understand and the material and if I do not, I am not afraid to ask my peers or my teacher for extra help. I love to do the same for my fellow students. Everyone deserves the chance at expanding their knowledge and if I can help someone reach their academic goals by meeting after school to help them in biology or teach them a new math formula I am willing to do that. I have received a number honor roll awards and I ended sophomore year with a 3.66 weighted GPA. I am very serious about my academics and I strive for perfection. I have been lucky enough to have a family that cares about my academics and makes sure that I am completing assignments to the best of my ability. I am a hard working student who will do any work I need to receive the beautiful A on my report card and it just shows on those report cards that I really do care for my grades.

I have always dreamed of running track at a higher level. I don’t see myself not running track in college. Being a varsity athlete starting freshman year really showed me how much work needs to be put in to be able to run well. Not only am I able to bring a lot to the track, but I offer a lot off of the track. I have the opportunity to be the best I can be, so I'm going to work so incredibly hard, to achieve my goal of college athletics. I really would love to run track throughout college no matter where that leads me, and I am willing to work so hard to achieve that goal.