Early mornings, hours of practice each day and few trips home are the rough realities of athletes with high expectations. People like Ali Eren Ünlü show that these sacrifices can pay off.
Ünlü finished a decorated indoor track and field campaign this month to conclude his sophomore year. He won first place in the high jump in the Sun Belt Conference Championship and was named Track and Field Athlete of the Year in the conference.
These accolades landed him a trip to the NCAA Championship, where he finished seventh and became a First-Team All-American. They also come after a freshman season that he said was not up to his standards because he was plagued with injuries.