Marissa Codispodi '13 Recruiting Profile

     I am very passionate about track and my academics. Sports has always been a big part of my life and now as I focus in on Track most things revolve around making myself a better runner and a better student. I am constantly thinking, "What can I do to improve myself for track?" Whether it is practicing to the best of my abilities, eating as clean as I can, getting enough rest, all my energy is put into improving myself for track and school. This requires many sacrifices I have had to make in order to be the best athlete I can be. It has been a dream and long time goal of mine, to go on to run track for a university in the United States. To be able to compete as a track athlete in a U.S. university is extremely important to me.

      Education is also very important to me because I would like to become an Obstetrician in the future, which requires many years of school. I would like to major in the sciences and minor in math, and then go on to Medical School. I work extremely hard to maintain my grades, as I have had the highest marks in my grade the last two years, while still practicing 6 days a week to succeed in track. Recently (Mid June ) I was nominated by my school for the prestigious McMaster University Faculty of Social Sciences Book Award. I was the only student in the eleventh grade Nominated, due to having the top mark (99%) in the grade 11 University Religion course. Much of my time and effort is put into track and school. When it comes to practicing, I always give a 100% effort. Every coach in all of the sports that I have played have always said that I am the 'hardest worker' out there. I am always the last to leave practice if it means I can get in some extra core work in after my workout. I am very focused at practice and I know I am always there for one reason - to become a better runner. I also do a lot of extra work outside of practice including strength work, plyometric work and extra runs.

     I am 5'7" and weigh 130 lbs. I am outgoing and always have a very positive attitude. My personal best in the 800m is 2:13.02. outdoors which I just ran at the 2012 Provincial High School Championships. where I Made it to the finals (top 8) overall for high school seniors (grade 11 and 12's) in the whole province. I had the third fastest qualifying time heading into the finals. My personal best in the 400m is 59.15, which I recently just ran at the Junior Provincial Championships in Ottawa, Ontario. I also plan to run some 1500m races this year as well. My coaches and I have had some goals since the Nationals last summer, and that is to run around 2:13 in the 800m and around a 58 second 400m. Earlier this summer I was invited to participate in the Toronto International Games . " Dear Marissa, Congratulations on your tremendous high school season, it is our pleasure to invite you to compete at the Toronto International Track and Field Games on Wednesday, July 11th at Varsity Stadium on the University of Toronto campus. The meet serves as the National Track League Finale and will feature many members of Canada’s team at the 2012 Olympic Games as well as several international stars. You will be competing in the High School Invitational 800 metres. There should be great competition at the meet as only the best in the province were invited to compete. A large contingent of Canada’s recently named Olympic track and field team are set to compete at the Games in Toronto." I placed 4th in this meet with a time of 2:15.33 where all runners were finalists in the Provincial High School Championships (OFSAA) and some of the best runners in Canada. I also just competed in the Canadian Youth Championships in PEI where I was the Bronze Medalist with a time of 2:14.03 in the 800m, and my relay team finished 5th in the 4 X 400m relay with a time of 4:02.19. I also participate in cross country where last season I placed 18th at the Provincial Club Championships, and participated in the National Junior Cross Country Championships.

      My most important accomplishment for track was when I was the Canadian National Youth 800m bronze medalist this summer (2012). Some of my other important accomplishments for track also include placing 14th this summer at the Canadian National Youth Championships in the 400m, 3rd this summer (2012) in the 800m at the A.O. Provincial Championships, being an OFSAA (Provinvial highschool championships) finalist in the 800m this past highschool season as a Junior, and placing 11th overall in the 800m at the National Youth Championships last summer(2011) in Ottawa. I also have placed 3rd overall in the 800m race at the 2012 Indoor Provincial Junior  Championships, and placed 4th overall in the 800m race at the 2012 Outdoor Provincial Junior  Championships (age 1993 and under). Currently, my 800m time of 2:13.02 outdoors ranks me seventh in all of Canada in the Youth category by Athletics Canada. I was chosen by Athletics Ontario on the Christmas break to go down to the National Training Centre in Clermont, Florida to train for the 2013 Canada summer games. Recently I competed in the Gibson Relays in Jamaica where I ran an open women's 400m and the 4 X 400m relay. My most important accomplishments in school are being awarded the Director of Education award of Excellence for having the highest marks in the grade (there are 350 students in my grade) for both my grade 9 and 10 years. I was also the Valedictorian and Athlete of the Year at my grade 8 graduation. I was also nominated for Athlete of the Year in my grade 9 and 10 years, and again this year in grade 11. I was named MVP of the Varsity Track and Field team this year (2012) at my school. I have been Athlete of the Month for my school on several occasions over the past 3 years for field hockey, cross-country, and track and field.
      I am also proud to say that I have taken on of many leadership roles in the past. I have been Captain or Assistant Captain on 5 different occasions for my rep hockey and rep soccer teams. I was also Captain of my high school's varsity field hockey team this year. A typical university I am interested in would be a division 1 school that has an excellent academic reputation. However, I am very open to consider other school options. My goals would be to compete in my freshman year and make an impact for my team. I would definitely need some financial aid.


Sincerely

Marissa Codispodi