​​Coach Rakich is one of the best coaches, and people, I have ever met. His dedication to the sport of Track & Field is unwavering, and his coaching has left a lasting impact on many of the top athletes in the state. On the track, he is the most competitive and driven coach I know, definitely someone you want in your corner. He’s helped me through grueling 600m workouts in the rain, recoveries from season-ending injuries, and late-night meets at Hillhouse, moments before a 300m race. Above all else, he has been an inspiring role model and friend. Some of the best advice I’ve ever received has come between 4x250m reps, while Rakich convinces me "I’m stronger than I think and smarter than I know." He’s helped me write resumes, sent me links for internships, and guided me through some of the most difficult points in my life. I think the biggest testament to the kind of person Coach Rakich is, is that I still show up to the track four times a week in the middle of the summer heat, with no meets for months, because I genuinely enjoy working with him. So much so that I willingly comply with the exhausting workouts he prescribes. I would not be where I am now in my track career without Coach Rakich.