#040: The Power of Focus with Jason Stewart (Part 1)

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In this episode, Erick Rheam interviews West Point Athletics Hall-of-Famer Jason Stewart about his journey from high school soccer star to a world class distance runner for the United States Army.

Jason shares his journey from rising star as a collegiate division I recruit to All-American status and premiere collegiate runner at the United States Military Academy. Jason describes the moment he challenged his Army teammates to commit to a new level of training and mental toughness needed to be one of the best programs in the country. 

Jason not only recounts how that pivotal moment on that training run not only changed the trajectory of his team, but in his own career and what lessons he learned from it.

Jason Stewart

Personal:

Married: Tracy – married 23 years

Children: Lily – 21 – Chemical Engineering Senior at Penn State University
            Nate – 18 – Freshman at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis

Work:  

Vice President – Keurig Dr Pepper

Athletic:

UNITED STATES ARMY WORLD CLASS ATHLETE PROGRAM

  • Olympic Trials Track Finalist 5000m run – 7th in 2000  /  11th in 1996
  • US National Cross Country Team Member – 1999 / 2000
  • Top 10 Ranking US Track & Field 5000m Run – 8th in 2000  /  9th in 1998
  • 2nd – 1999 United States Cross Country Championships

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

  • West Point Athlete of the Year – 1993 - 1994
  • 3-time Division I All-American – First Team (Cross Country / Indoor Track / Outdoor Track)
  • 3rd – 1994 NCAA Championships Outdoor - 5000m run
  • 5th – 1994 NCAA Championships Indoor – 5000m run 
  • 1993 – 1994 Army Team Captain – Cross Country / Track
  • Led 1993 Army Cross Country Team to 6th place at NCAA Championships 
  • 1993 IC4A Cross Country Champion
  • 5 Time Conference Champion – 1000m / 1500m / Mile / 3000m / 5000m – Heptagonal / Patriot League
  • Set 5 Academy Records – Indoor Mile / 3000m / 5000m  &  Outdoor 1500m / 5000m

CONRAD WEISER HIGH SCHOOL - Robesonia, PA

  • 1990 State Champion – 1600m Run
  • 1990 State Champion – 3200m Run Indoor
  • 1989 Cross Country All-American  (12th at National Championships)
  • 1989 State Runner-Up – Cross Country
  • Member Conrad Weiser High School Sports Hall of Fame

Career Personal Bests:         

  • 1500m – 3:40.01 (3:57 mile equivalent)                          
  • 5000m – 13:30.63                                                               

 Other:

  • Bosnia Veteran 1996 - 1997
  • US Army Paratrooper

Resources Mentioned

  1. Subscribe to the podcast
  2. Rise Above Chaos book
  3. Work with Erick
  4. Jason’s LinkedIn
  5. Army Hall of Fame Page

Action Step

  • Get hyper focused in one area of your life and expand that to others around you
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