Athletics Player Profiles
Eli R. ’26
Varsity Track and Field
Varsity Cross Country
Eli R. ’26 didn’t set out to be a runner. During COVID, he simply wanted to stay in shape for basketball, so he used his downtime to start training. As he stuck to a disciplined running schedule, his endurance and times steadily improved, ultimately leading him to cross country and track. By 9th grade, Eli was on the basketball, cross country, and track teams. “I soon realized that I enjoyed running and racing more than playing basketball,” he said. By sophomore year, he committed fully to the two sports he loved most.
“I love the running community,” said Eli. “The team culture is built on camaraderie and gives everyone so many layers of support, from our coach to our teammates.” That support extends far beyond scheduled practices. Teammates go to the climbing gym together, meet for Sunday long runs, and share meals before and after meets. “And we always cheer each other on. I have so many core memories built around these experiences.”
“Racing is mostly about competing with yourself,” explained Eli. “The higher you place individually, the better your team does.” More than that, it’s about collaboration. In an early meet last season, one that didn’t determine finals placement, several teams had runners trying to break 10:40 in the 3200 to set a Personal Record (PR). They agreed that the top two runners from each team would pace together to hit the goal. Not only did every runner PR, but Campbell Hall’s runner surpassed the time by an additional eight seconds. “It was about working together to lift each other up.”
During his sophomore and junior years, Eli struggled to stay mentally strong during the tough middle laps of the 3200. He then developed runner’s knee before his senior year, losing some fitness he had worked hard to build. Despite setbacks, he keeps a healthy perspective: “The only thing you can do is push your hardest and run your best on game day.”
Eli listens to running and neuroscience podcasts and has developed a strong mental approach. “So much of racing is centered on believing in yourself,” he said. “You have to adjust your mindset to will yourself to believe you belong in the front of the pack.”
Training can be intense, often reaching eight miles a day, plus gym strength work for injury prevention and weekly long runs. Some top seniors log about 60 miles a week. His advice for aspiring runners is to prioritize recovery as much as training, stressing that sleep, stretch, and nutrition all matter. “It all plays into performance,” he noted. Eli also encourages freshmen to try as many clubs, sports, and activities as possible, “so you can find what you’re interested in and really develop those passions later.”
Eli earned 1st Team All-League honors in cross country as a junior and holds the fifth-fastest three-mile time in Campbell Hall history with a time of 15:59. In track, he helped set school records in the DMR and 4x800 relays, and he holds the third-fastest 3200 time in CH history. In December 2024, he set a personal record of 4:41 in the 1600.
Eli is a strong STEM student who also enjoys history. His current favorite class is CHAI Physics with Calculus Honors, which will come in handy as he hopes to become a surgeon one day. Between running and his part-time job at Trader Joe’s, he stays busy, but still finds time for ongoing 3-day match online chess games with a friend in Latvia. No matter where he ends up, Eli plans to continue running in college.
Eli will always value his time as a Campbell Hall student. “Campbell Hall has the best teachers,” he said. “They’re always there to support you and to see how you’re doing, not just academically but as a person too. They truly care about students and their success.”
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“Racing is mostly about competing with yourself,” explained Eli. “The higher you place individually, the better your team does.” More than that, it’s about collaboration. In an early meet last season, one that didn’t determine finals placement, several teams had runners trying to break 10:40 in the 3200 to set a Personal Record (PR). They agreed that the top two runners from each team would pace together to hit the goal. Not only did every runner PR, but Campbell Hall’s runner surpassed the time by an additional eight seconds. “It was about working together to lift each other up.”
During his sophomore and junior years, Eli struggled to stay mentally strong during the tough middle laps of the 3200. He then developed runner’s knee before his senior year, losing some fitness he had worked hard to build. Despite setbacks, he keeps a healthy perspective: “The only thing you can do is push your hardest and run your best on game day.”
Eli listens to running and neuroscience podcasts and has developed a strong mental approach. “So much of racing is centered on believing in yourself,” he said. “You have to adjust your mindset to will yourself to believe you belong in the front of the pack.”
Training can be intense, often reaching eight miles a day, plus gym strength work for injury prevention and weekly long runs. Some top seniors log about 60 miles a week. His advice for aspiring runners is to prioritize recovery as much as training, stressing that sleep, stretch, and nutrition all matter. “It all plays into performance,” he noted. Eli also encourages freshmen to try as many clubs, sports, and activities as possible, “so you can find what you’re interested in and really develop those passions later.”
Eli earned 1st Team All-League honors in cross country as a junior and holds the fifth-fastest three-mile time in Campbell Hall history with a time of 15:59. In track, he helped set school records in the DMR and 4x800 relays, and he holds the third-fastest 3200 time in CH history. In December 2024, he set a personal record of 4:41 in the 1600.
Eli is a strong STEM student who also enjoys history. His current favorite class is CHAI Physics with Calculus Honors, which will come in handy as he hopes to become a surgeon one day. Between running and his part-time job at Trader Joe’s, he stays busy, but still finds time for ongoing 3-day match online chess games with a friend in Latvia. No matter where he ends up, Eli plans to continue running in college.
Eli will always value his time as a Campbell Hall student. “Campbell Hall has the best teachers,” he said. “They’re always there to support you and to see how you’re doing, not just academically but as a person too. They truly care about students and their success.”
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