A
three-year star on the cross
country and track
teams, Jon French has the drive, determination
and stamina of the star of battery commercials, but might take umbrage
at a comparison to a rabbit. A rabbit in cross country and track parlance
is a runner who sets a fast pace early and then fades, sacrificing
himself to allow another runner a shot at a record. French may set
a fast pace early, but he keeps it through the end of the race, regardless
of the distance. He has qualified as an individual for the NCAA Division
III Championships three times and in the 2004 cross country season
had three individual championships, including the
Liberty League title, and was in the top three in
every race through the NCAA regional qualifier. He also won league
championships in the 1500 and 5000 meters during indoor track season
and the 10,000 meters outdoor to go with a collegiate state title
in the 10,000 meters.
A star in cross country, track and swimming at Gouverneur
High School where he was also student government president and a member
of the National Honor Society, he earned sectional all star honors
in both cross country and swimming and was All State in track. He
has continued both his athletic and academic success at St. Lawrence.
The winner of the Ronald C. Hoffmann First Year Scholar Athlete Award,
he is a league all academic team member, a national cross country
academic all star and is a Dean’s List student
as a chemistry major.
