My name is Alexa Novak, and I am a Cross Country and Track athlete at Glenbard West High School in Illinois, class of 2026. My personal bests include 2:18 in the 800m, 5:07 in the 1600m, and 17:22 in the 3-mile. Most recently, I placed 23rd at the Illinois 3A State Cross Country meet, earning an All-State medal for my performance in one of the most competitive high school divisions in the country. I’ve been active and competitive from a young age, trying nearly every sport imaginable. I discovered running in middle school and was hooked by the thrill of competition—especially beating the boys! My goal in 8th grade was to break 6 minutes in the mile, which I achieved. As a freshman, I joined the Cross Country team, earning a spot on Varsity and competing in the state series. 

I also played spring soccer for Glenbard West, continuing a passion I had fostered through travel soccer for much of my childhood. It was during my sophomore year indoor track season that I decided to fully commit to running. Encouraged by my coaches and fueled by promising performances, I transitioned from soccer cleats to track spikes. That spring, I qualified for the Illinois 3A State Track meet, running 5:07 in the 1600m prelims. My 4x800m relay team also placed 4th, earning an All-State medal. As I head into my junior track season, my goals are to run 2:15 in the 800m, break 5:00 in the 1600m, and secure a top-10 finish in the 1600m at the 3A State meet.  

This is just the beginning of my journey in the sport. I am excited to set bigger goals, compete at higher levels, and continue sharing my love of running with my teammates. My drive, ambition, and competitiveness are what set me apart. I am currently exploring opportunities to pursue both academics and athletics at the collegiate level, where I can continue to develop as a student-athlete and contribute to a team. For more information, please email me at alexanovak2026@gmail.com.