The 5-foot-6, 110-pound senior distance runner captured an individual state title at the Class A state meet this spring, leading the Wildcats to a sixth-place finish as a team. Hirsch won the 3200-meter run with a time of 8:57.2 and took second in the 1600 in 4:14.1. The state's Gatorade Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year as a sophomore in 2014-15, he also set a state record in the 3200 at May's Omaha Metro Conference Meet, breaking the tape in 8:54.12. His personal-best time of 8:55.28 in the 2-mile run at this month's Brooks PR Invitational ranked as the nation's No. 7 performance among prep competitors in 2017 at the time of his selection.
Hirsch has maintained a 4.21 weighted GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete on an athletic scholarship at the University of Wisconsin this fall.
A member of the National Honor Society, Hirsch has volunteered locally on behalf of USA Cycling in association with the Jim Johnston Memorial Ride in addition to donating his time as a youth track and field coach. "Seth Hirsch is the hardest-working and most dedicated athlete I have ever coached," said Millard West head coach Colin Johnston. "He has the unique ability to continue pushing himself during hard workouts and races that is unmatched. His leadership has helped push his teammates and our entire program to new heights."
