US top 10 ranked runner and returning Foot Locker Nationals and Nike Cross Nationals qualifier Jesse Reiser of McHenry High School in Illinois is one of the first big names of the 2015 national class to have made his college decision known. The sub 9 minute two miler Reiser has decided to not leave his home state and will be racing for the Fighting Illini at the University of Illinois next fall. MileSplit interviewed Reiser as he shared what is college recruiting process experience was like and what led to making his early decision prior to the championship stage of his final high school cross country season.
First off...how exciting and relieved to have made your college decision and can now focus on other tasks and goals for rest of season/year?
First I want to thank everyone who's been there by my side because without them I couldn't be in this predicament. But I am so pumped! I believe that Illinois in the end is the perfect fit for me. I'm really glad I decided to commit during the early signing period because now I'll be able to focus on my senior year and make it as fun as possible and that means a lot to me because I want to make my senior year something I'll always remember.
What other schools were you looking at or visited prior to deciding on Illinois?
I took an unofficial visit to Ohio State a while ago then last weekend I took an official visit to Missouri. I was looking into taking a visit to Michigan State, Oklahoma State, and also North Carolina but the more I thought about where I wanted to go the more I wanted to stay in the Midwest.
What was the best part of the recruiting process for you and the toughest part?
I'd have to say the best part was getting a chance to see and hear all about the other colleges and being able to compare them to one another like the environment or training style each school had. The toughest part would definitely have to be calling a coach and telling them that I'm not interested or something along those lines because you always feel bad once you hang up.
What were the main factors for you to decide on Illinois?
The main factors would have to be how dedicated Coach Stewart (head cross coach) and Coach Turk (head track coach) are in improving their prestigious programs each and every year as well as how much I got along with both of them. They made a huge commitment and I really appreciated everything they did while recruiting me. Also I know a lot of the runners on Illinois and the relationship I have with them was a huge factor. Plus how close knit they are as a team was pretty incredible I've never seen a team that close. In the end the coaches and the team were the two biggest factors because you need to have a solid relationship with them otherwise things might not go the way as planned.
How critical and important was the success you had last year as a junior in making nationals in cross country and running sub 9/winning the Illinois state title to be in the position that you were to not only be well recruited starting this summer, but able to make a decision early?
I believe having success as a junior really helps in the recruiting process because it gets your name out there so college coaches can start recruiting you earlier than usual and eventually will lead you into a quicker decision like myself.
What are you most looking forward to or hoping to accomplish in your upcoming 4+ years at Illinois?
I'm really looking forward to running at a higher level especially at a school like U of I. Also I'm looking forward to growing not only as a runner but as a student throughout these upcoming years and with the coaching I'll have at Illinois I have no doubt I won't. As always at the end of the day we always want to win so whether that being big tens or nationals that'll always be a focus of ours.
