My name is Saniya Mathew and I’m a class of 2023 cross country and track student-athlete at Dunlap High School in Dunlap, Illinois. As a freshman, I was recognized as an All-State runner placing 24th in the class 2A 2019 State Championship Cross Country meet, running a personal best of 17:41. This track season, during the Top Times Indoor State Track Meet, I ran a 5:24 1600m placing 9th overall while later concluding the outdoor season with my 4X800 team at the Outdoor StateTrack Meet, where I anchored our race with a 2:23 split, placing us 9th overall. As a student, I have maintained a 3.98 GPA with a heavy load of honors and AP classes, as well as a score of 32 on the ACT. This cross country season I plan to break my 5k PR by running sub 17:40 and compete for a top 20 finish at the state meet. Following this cross country season, I intend to also PR in the 1600m by hitting 5:10 as well as running sub 2:20 in the 800 to conclude my senior track season with podium finishes at the 2A state track meet. As a student-athlete, I’ve always aspired to be competitive academically as well as athletically, and I plan to maintain that same ambition concluding my senior year and into college. 

I started running cross country and track during my sixth-grade year, which early on lit my ambitions to run collegiately. I have found the consistency-based nature of running to be the most fulfilling aspect of the sport, teaching me how to remain disciplined, dedicated, motivated through obstacles, as well as competitive. I have enjoyed my time as team captain as I can help my teammates hurdle through obstacles I have also dealt with by always remaining optimistic, making us closer and ultimately more competitive as a team. I value sportsmanship and competition as running fosters an environment where one’s competition is what ultimately makes the other stronger, which I found holds true within a team and in meets. Outside of sports, I am involved in my community as I’m a co-vice president of Dunlap’s Student Council, a co-founder of our Model UN club, and a Federation of Chrisitan Athletes Club leader. These leadership opportunities, as well as a rigorous course load, have made me enjoy the results of hard work inside and outside of school. 

I continually aspire to challenge myself. I am excited to explore my college options and prioritize finding a college where I can achieve success in all my athletic and academic ambitions! For more information, please email me at saniyamathew2023@gmail.com.