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Sports

Harrison's Tharani Elects To Run For Rochester

Sasha Tharani, a member of the 2010 Harrison High School graduating class, recently signed with the University of Rochester to run and jump for the school's track and field team.

Sasha Tharani spent her senior year leading the Harrison High School soccer team into a long a playoff run. However, Tharani could not escape her love or natural talent for track and field when it came to making a decision for college athletics 

Although Tharani elected to forgo her senior season for the track and field team, she still holds the Harrison record for both the outdoor triple jump and the 4X400 relay.

"I loved all the Harrison coaches," said Tharani, "they were a huge reason I pushed myself to the level that I have."

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It did not take Tharani long to realize that her future would be in track and field over soccer.

"After my sophomore year," said Tharani, "I became more serious about Track and I knew I have a future in it."

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Tharani was heavily recruited throughout the Northeast as several school were looking at her for her athletic abilities. Some of the schools were Emory University, New York University, Williams College, Colgate University and of course Rochester University. Early in the process several other schools reached out to the senior but she was able to narrow it down to five after some careful consideration.

Tharani went through a long recruitment process with several schools and she even took formal visits to two of them.

"In the end I was between Emory and Rochester, and because they were both Division III schools neither of them offered a scholarship, so then I looked at the academic programs," Tharani said. "In the end I chose Rochester for the balance between the academic and the athletic life."

When she finally decided Rochester was the place for her, Yellowjackets Head Coach Samuel Albert and the rest of the coaching staff say they were excited because of Tharani's unlimited potential.

"Sasha has already put up great numbers as a junior in high school," said Albert. "We know that her best sprinting and jumping is still ahead of her. She has a slim and slender build and she has yet to have any serious weight training in her high school career. We see her being able to make an impact immediately."

The academic world is also perfect for Tharani or any other college freshmen. The athletic department leans heavily on their student-athletes to make sure that they maintain the academic excellence that the university expects.

"She is a great student and we expect her to be successful immediately," said Albert. "Sasha is a great fit for Rochester because she shows the intangibles to become a great leader and we believe she will be able to adjust to college life accordingly and balance athletics and academics."

Tharani's commitment to the Yellowjacket's track and field team should help improve the program as well as help further Tharani's athletic and academic future. We wish her the best of luck.

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