Avery Kieth, senior distance runner for the Westfield boys track and cross country team, announced his commitment to Princeton University on Dec. 14 via Instagram.
Keith is the first member of this year’s team to announce his commitment to compete in college.
Princeton University is a private Ivy League university in Princeton, NJ. Originally known as the College of New Jersey during 1747, it was renamed to Princeton University and officially became a university in 1896. With an acceptance rate of 4.4 percent, it is seen as a highly selective institution.
Keith will join Princeton in the fall of 2024, competing for their Division I track and cross country team. Princeton competes in the Ivy League conference and finished last season in 11th place. They also won their conference meet, Heptagonal.
Keith has exemplary skill on the track, but his character is a major part of his success. He is a strong team player and pushes his teammates to be the best athletes possible. “I am a good leader and am very committed to what I am doing. I think my work ethic shows and I think a lot of the younger guys look up to me for that. I think it’s beneficial and sometimes even rubs off,” explained Keith.
Distance runner Graham Korins explained that he has seen Keith “as a true leader, someone who’s not only concerned about his own performance, but his teammates as well. He’s one of those people who’d rather win a race as a team than PR in a race. His motivation for even the smallest and grueling of tasks encourages those around him to carry a similar mindset.”
This past season, Keith helped the boys make it all the way to the Nike Cross Nationals for the first time since 2011. He was their top finisher and has broken many decade old records throughout his career as a Blue Devil. Many indoor, outdoor and cross country records were broken by Keith individually, but also as a whole team. Keith is most proud of breaking the public school timed record at Holmdel Park, one of the most famous cross country courses in the country.
Despite interest from Duke and Cornell, Keith ultimately decided on Princeton because, “[He] loved the people, how close to home it was, the campus and the town. [He] fell in love with it as soon as [he] saw it.”
Before Keith joins the Tigers, he will lead the Westfield boys track and field team through one more unforgettable season as a Blue Devil.
