DONNIE LEE JR.
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Personal Bests
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I chose UF because of its rich tradition as a collegiate track & field powerhouse. The training group I'll be working with is amazing , and the opportunity to train with elite runners such as Sean Obinwa ( 1:47.2) , Ryan Schnulle (1:51) and Andres Arroyo (1:51) who is also a 2013 commit , was unsurpassable. I'll also be able to drop down to the 400m training group occasionally , which I feel will immediately impact my 800m time. The Law program was also very impressive ,consistently ranking in the top 50 in the nation. The academic excellence they demand equalled with their structured schedules to allow their student athletes to excel both on and off the track was extremely attractive. I also created a very good relationship with the distance coach , Paul Spangler . His training methods have proved to be exceedingly successful and we both feel I will improve a lot under him, The success the team has had as a whole , from the 3 back - to - back - to - back Indoor NCAA National Championships to last years outdoor NCAA Championship was also inevitably persuasive . Coach Holloway and Coach Spangler have established a great program and its an honor for me to join the team.
Where else did you visit and what three did it come down to? .
I took official visits to Louisiana State University ( LSU ) , Louisville , Alabama and an Unofficial visit to Mississippi State. My top three were LSU , University of Southern California ( USC ) and of course the University of Florida.
What did you learn from the experience?
I learned the importance of performing well as a Freshman , Sophomore and Junior because those are the stats college coaches base your scholarship off of. I was fortunate enough to receive recruiting advice from Kirani James ( Former UA runner and Olympic Gold Medalist ) , he helped me understand to look for the intangibles of a program rather than the wining and dining each school presents to any prospective athlete. I found it extremely hard to pick one school because each University has millions of opportunities to offer , As an athlete it's extremely difficult to decipher which school is best for you as an individual. UF Immediately felt like family , the team made me feel like a brother the moment I stepped foot on campus for my official visit , which made me a lot more comfortable with my decision.
What would you like to achieve this coming outdoor season and future?
I would like to improve on my race tactics in each event , especially my start out of the blocks for the 400m. Most importantly I want to continue trusting my training under Coach Jeff Mcnealey , he's done a tremendous job preparing me in the past and has set my training to ensure the longevity of my running career. Time wise , I plan on breaking the AL state record as well as the High School 800m national record (1:46.45) .
I'll also be going to the Pan American Junior trials to try out for the Jr Team USA that will compete in Lima , Peru this summer. My biggest goal is to capture an outdoor state championship in the 4x400 with my teammates Tylan Perry , Lucas Webb and Tameron Smith. God willing , I'll be able to accomplish all of these goals.