Jeff Marvel • 2013

Naples, FL (Naples High)
Economics and International Relations

By mid-May of his freshman year, it had become quite a common sight to see a brown and blue singlet drifting in the back of the pack through 400m only to surge to the front down the backstretch to yet another PR. (Sorry if we just gave away your race plan, Marv.) It seems Jeff Marvel has little interest in baby steps, and prefers chopping whole seconds (or three) of his previous bests. In just a few short months, Marvel took his 800m best from a respectable high school PR of 1:59 first to a jaw-dropping 1:56.17 at BU's Valentines Invite, and then all the way to 1:53.93 at outdoor All New Englands. He ran under his high school best an astounding seven times in 2010, all of them under 1:58. Three times he broke 1:56, running 1:55.84, 1:54.80, and 1:53.93 in the final three outdoor meets of the year. These breakthrough times were coupled with commanding 3rd place finishes at both the indoor and outdoor conference championships, proving his electric PRs came not from getting dragged in fast races but from a furious hunger to win. As if that weren't enough, Marvel was a linchpin on both 4x800m relays that demolished the previous school record. Rarely has a freshman performed so consistently well throughout the entire indoor and outdoor campaigns, and on a whole new level at that. With a sincere and humble demeanour, Jeff will doubtless continue to amaze in his sophomore year.

Interests: Being marvelous

PRs: 800m - 1:50.82
1500m - 3:52.75
8k - 26:10

Why Tufts: Broc and cheese stuffed chicken