SPORTS
Recruited
24 | DESIGNED BY DARSHINI VIJAYAKUMAR
Oriana Jalal
Having been a star runner on CHS’s cross-country and track and field teams throughout her years in high school, Oriana Jalal is ready to take her sport to new heights running in Division I track and field at UC Davis. However, Davis was the last place she thought she would be going at first. She said, “Originally, I was pretty set on committing to USC because it was Pac 12, it was a big name. [...] Davis was supposed to be my last [choice] to be honest, I wasn’t really thinking that I would really consider Davis. But when I went on my trip [to visit Davis], it completely changed my whole perspective. It was a 180, they sold the program to me super well, and the girls on the team were super genuine. What I wanted to study at school to be a PT would be neuro bio, physiology and behavior. And a lot of other girls on the team were also doing that major. So that was a big factor.” Making the jump between committing to USC, where she had originally expected to go, and UCD, which had originally been her last choice but now seemed like a really good option, was challenging for Jalal, but she ended up committing to UC Davis in December 2019, and will run for the Aggies starting next fall.
Senior Jack Townsend is ready to begin the next part of his journey in track and field, having been recruited by Southern Oregon University to run in Division III track and field. Describing his recruitment process, Townsend states “[...] The colleges would send me a letter [...] and then they’d be like ‘Just call me if you want to get in touch.’ [...] I visited three of the schools that had sent me emails so I was familiar with the coaches. But Southern Oregon didn’t send me an email [...], so I sent them an email. [...] I met with [the coach] and it went really well and I was like, ‘Oh, I really like this school.’” Townsend ended up committing to Southern Oregon University and looks forward to competing there in the fall. He is especially excited about being able to focus on a new sport. “I’ve always played basketball and track was more of a leisurely sport for me,” he said. “But I found a love for [track], because it’s the opposite of basketball. It’s not a team sport and it’s more just me doing things one on one and only worrying about myself. I’ve put so much time into basketball during high school that I was ready to try out a new sport in college.”
Jack Townsend
