Eat, sleep, run, repeat.
It’s a strategy Keith Connelly has been honing since he was a kid, making sure not to skip any detail, as racing became his focus.
“Track is really your whole life if you want to commit and be great at something,” Connelly said.
“I believe I have achieved success but there’s a lot more success for me to achieve as well," Connelly acknowledged, his coach laughing behind the camera at Keith's determination to always be better even after a win.
But Connelly isn’t slowing down. His 4x800 relay team made it to nationals last year and currently holds the school record. A record the senior is hoping his team can to break again.
“It’s that feeling that maybe, just maybe I could be great,” Connelly said.
The runner is grateful to his teammates who push him every day and considers them part of Wagner’s “greatest team ever.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am without my team. You know, my team uplifts me and I uplift them. It’s always great to have my teammates around me,” Connelly said.
These are the same people who are happy to join in when this track star pursues his other passions of guitar and film.
“I just love movies and gradually over the years I started studying film and I was like ‘Maybe I should make my own stuff….The whole process is really just hanging out and fooling around,” Connelly said.
It became a quick way to destress from his rigorous academic schedule and volunteering setting up local track meets.
Then it’s back to the track because…
“Hard work equals greatness," Connelly emphasized. "Nothing great comes easy.”
A motto that will keep him pushing next year as he studies accounting in preparation for law school, while living for those moments when his feet cross the finish line.