I started athletics with Old Abbey when I was seven years old. Two years later I transferred to Leevale AC and from there, my athletics journey began. I started off competing in the multi events such as high jump, long jump and sprints etc and I soon found out I was more suited to middle distant running. Even though I was training three times a week and competing a lot. I never won an individual medal until the age of 15. There is a lot of ups and downs when it comes to athletics because it's such an individual sport. In 2022 I was training extremely hard to try make the qualifying time for the Youth Olympics for track but got two stress reactions in my feet and I was out for eight weeks. Then cross country came around and I was really determined to make the Irish team but got covid and then turned into long covid where I was not training or racing for months. At this stage I didn’t know will I ever make the Irish team never mind the dream of an athletic scholarship. Coming into 2023 I worked incredibly hard for the upcoming track season. I had goals to medal in senior schools as well as the club nationals. On the 3rd of June I came second in the Senior Schools 1500m and after this race it gave me confidence for the upcoming club nationals.  I won the 800m and 1500m Munsters and wthen I went onto the nationals and won the 800m. Next, I went to the fisec-games in France to compete for Ireland and won the 800m and 1500m. I came back to race the national 1500m where I won again. After that race I was approached by the coach in Boston College, and she invited me over to visit the college in September. Boston College is well respected academically and has a great athletic program. I knew instantly this was the college for me. I signed for Boston College on the 8th of November and I'm excited for what the future holds.

 PS: never give up on your Dreams!!! 

By Claire Crowley