Dear Younger Me: Jessica Beard

Jessica Beard graduated from Euclid High School in Euclid Ohio in 2007. She's a 16-time All-American, a two-time individual NCAA champion and four-time relay NCAA champion for Texas A&M. She led the Aggies to the historical triple-double NCAA Outdoor team championships between the 2009-2011 seasons. Her performances solidified her as the 2011 Bowerman Award winner. After graduating college, she became a five-time World gold medalist. 

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"Try to remember, do not let the sport become your entire life. Enjoy all that being a youth and being a young athlete brings. That's why you'll be able to excel, because you LOVE the sport. More than anything, it's going to be your desire that will allow you to chase all your dreams and goals in life."

By Jessica Beard - Adidas

Dear Younger Jessica,

I always knew it. You had the right attitude.

Once you realized there was more outside your environment and your state - more races, more competition, more potential to challenge yourself - that passion and desire to be the best truly helped you reach places and heights you once thought unfathomable.