For Co-Captain Jakob Kuelps ’25, effective leadership lies in acting as a role model for his teammates, holding the Indoor Track & Field community accountable, and guiding them through tough workouts. Growing up in a European household, he began his athletic journey playing soccer, then sprinting in the 100-Meter Dash. After joining a running club, Kuelps has since trained for long-distance events, which includes the 1600-Meter and 3200-Meter Races.
Kuelps leads by acting as a role model and friend to his Track & Field team. He strives to be both personable while knowing when to transition the team to a more focused mood.
Kuelps said, “I try to bring up people and not bog them down. I try to be supportive and try to be a captain that’s not just strict. I also try to hold people accountable, but also be funny, be there, and be on-point. I just want to be there, where people feel they can talk to me regarding things outside of practice. Track & Field is a great place to talk about Track & Field things… [But] I try to cultivate a dedicated and supportive group, where people feel like they can talk to me about anything.”
According to Robert Budzinski ’26, Kuelps takes initiative, regularly leading team activities. Budzinski described the standards that Kuelps holds him and the rest of his teammates to.
“He’s a pretty vocal leader. I definitely noticed during both Cross Country and now going into Track & Field season, because he was also a Cross Country Co-Captain. He takes charge a lot: he’ll lead things like warm-ups, et cetera, but he also does a real good job keeping everyone accountable. I know personally, he keeps me accountable, making sure I’m eating right and sleeping well, and all that stuff outside of practice,” said Budzinski.
Andover’s running community is what Kuelps values highest. He enjoys the support that his teammates provide one another and the team’s distinctive group of athletes, whose experience in the sport ranges extensively.
Kuelps said, “The people are my favorite thing. Coming to practice every day and seeing everybody light up with their faces, really excited to get after it and become better every day, push each other in the workouts and support each other and make each other chase greater heights; it is something that makes me want to come to practice every day.”
Max Langhorst ’25 described Kuelps as an altruistic leader, versatile runner, and fierce yet humble competitor. The Co-Captain competes in a wide range of events and in all of them, is capable of strong performances.
Langhorst said, “I would say he’s definitely fast, first off. I would say he’s a selfless runner. When you’re running, when you lead a race, it’s taking a little bit of a risk, because all the people who are behind you, they might come from behind in the last part of the race and beat you, and he’s always the guy leading the race for the group… He also tries to act like he doesn’t have speed, he tries to act like he’s completely aerobically dominant, and he’s some marathoner, but when you put him in a 400[-Meter Dash], some speed event, he’s also really fast. So, he’s pretty versatile.”
Throughout past seasons, Kuelps has dealt with a persistent shin injury. This year, he hopes to maintain his health while undergoing high-volume training. Kuelps plans on attending Middlebury College next year and walk on to the Cross Country and Track & Field program.
“I would say this season [my goal] is to remain healthy. Something that’s kind of been ongoing has been a shin injury of mine that’s been flaring on and off. So doing all the things and making sure that I’m remaining healthy throughout this season is something that I’m really striving to do. Another goal that I have that’s more long term is running in college. Next year, I’m going to go to Middlebury College, and hopefully I’ll be able to walk on to the team there, continue to run, and continue to immerse myself in these amazing running communities and meet these amazing people that the sport of running, and the sport of track and field fosters,” said Kuelps.
