Jackson Levasseur is arriving at Santa Clara University this fall with a simple promise to himself: keep climbing. The Elk Grove, Calif., native, who starred at Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, built his running career on steady progress and determination. Now, as he joins Santa Clara's cross country program, he's eager to channel that same drive into a new chapter.
"The team culture and the academic reputation really stood out to me," Levasseur said. "I'm excited to meet the team and start the next chapter of my running career."
From Humble Beginnings to Varsity Breakthrough
Levasseur didn't start out as a natural runner. In fact, he admits he struggled early on. He picked up the sport in eighth grade after leaving basketball during the COVID-19 pandemic, joining cross country to make friends and try something new. The first two years weren't easy — he didn't even score on his freshman team.
Everything changed when he decided to take his training seriously. He dropped 25 pounds going into his sophomore year, made varsity, and began to see what was possible with discipline. By junior year, his efforts paid off in a big way. "I wasn't very good my first two years," he said. "But once I committed to it, things started to click."
Levasseur's favorite memory came that same year, when his team earned a trip to the state meet. They were the last squad from their section to qualify, and the moment validated all the work he'd put in. Senior year brought even more success: a section championship and a sixth-place finish at state.
Finding Motivation in Community
Levasseur credits much of his growth to the people around him. His teammates pushed him during winter training, inspiring him to get fitter and faster. Competing against top runners in his class — and others — gave him targets to chase. His parents, meanwhile, provided steady encouragement and guidance.
"My teammates motivated me to become a better runner," he said. "And my parents helped me and guided me along the way."
Beyond the track, Levasseur is a sports enthusiast at heart. He's a devoted Sacramento Kings and Chicago Cubs fan, and he loves college basketball. In his free time, he stays active with pickleball, tennis, spikeball, and cornhole, and he enjoys movies and TV shows.
A Scholar and a Competitor
Levasseur's commitment extends to the classroom. He graduated with a 4.55 GPA and earned recognition as an AP Scholar with Distinction. His academic honors include High Honor Roll, CSF, National Honor Society, and the Scholars Program. He also received the Scholar Athlete Award and the Math Department Award at graduation.
On the track and trails, Levasseur leaves a mark wherever he races. He owns his school's records in the 5 km, 3-mile, 3,200, Distance Medley Relay, and 4x800 relay, plus he set 12 cross country course records during his high school career.
Looking ahead, he has clear goals for his first year at Santa Clara: adjust to higher cross country distances, set new PRs in track, and embrace everything college life offers. "I hope to meet lots of people and enjoy all that Santa Clara has to offer," he said.
For Levasseur, running has always been about progress — one step, one season, one breakthrough at a time. At Santa Clara, he's ready to keep that momentum going.
