Jacklynn O.

I do not have formal certification as a professional coach or trainer, but I have extensive high-level experience mentoring and informally coaching athletes through my time as a Division I track and field athlete at Harvard.

As a walk-on sprinter and hurdler specializing in the 400m, 400m hurdles, and 4x400m relay, I trained and competed at the NCAA Division I level for four years while contributing to a conference championship team. Within the program, I was elected social chair and later senior co-captain by over 100 athletes, which involved supporting teammates in both performance and personal development, helping guide younger athletes through training demands, recovery, competition preparation, and team expectations.

In these leadership roles, I regularly helped underclassmen and teammates refine race strategy, manage training intensity, and develop consistency in recovery habits such as sleep, nutrition, and injury prevention. I also provided informal mentorship to developing athletes navigating transition periods into collegiate track.

I have worked most closely with collegiate-age athletes (18–22), though I have also informally supported younger athletes through clinics and community engagement opportunities connected to Harvard Athletics. My experience is strongest in sprint and hurdle events, as well as relay training and team dynamics.

While I have not held a formal coaching position at a club or school program, my experience as a Division I athlete and elected team leader has given me sustained, practical exposure to athlete development, performance culture, and day-to-day training support at a high competitive level.

I competed at the collegiate level as a Division I track and field athlete at Harvard University, specializing in the 400m, 400m hurdles, and 4x400m relay.

During my collegiate career, I contributed to a 2023 Ivy League Championship team and competed on multiple NCAA-qualifying relay squads, including the 2026 4x400m relay that advanced to regionals. Individually, I have earned four top-10 all-time program marks in Harvard track and field history in the 400m and 400m hurdles.

In addition to athletic performance, I was recognized academically and for leadership, earning 2026 All-Academic Ivy League honors and the Francis H. Burr ’09 Scholarship, one of Harvard Athletics’ longstanding letterwinner awards. I also served in team leadership roles, including social chair and senior co-captain, elected by over 100 teammates.

A typical session with me begins with a structured 30-minute warm-up designed to prepare the body for high-intensity sprint work and reduce injury risk. This includes an easy jog, dynamic mobility drills, skips, activation exercises, and progressive build-up sprints to gradually reach near-race intensity while reinforcing proper mechanics.

The main portion of the session is tailored to the athlete’s goals and training phase, but generally falls into one of three focuses: acceleration development (short-distance sprint mechanics and explosive starts), speed endurance (maintaining form and power over longer sprint distances), or aerobic/longer sprint work for overall conditioning and race preparedness. Within each session, I emphasize technical components such as posture, arm action, ground contact time, and relaxation at speed.

My coaching style is highly collaborative. I encourage athletes to ask questions throughout the session and prioritize real-time feedback, especially on form and efficiency. I also make frequent corrections and provide cues that help athletes understand not just what to do, but why it improves performance.

Overall, my goal is to create structured, intentional sessions that build both performance and confidence, while helping athletes develop consistency, efficiency, and race-ready execution.