Jake Kerin wasn’t recruited by the University of Massachusetts Boston for track and field. Knowing that he was going to UMass Boston, he took the initiative to contact the head coach at the time and ask for the chance to run for the team. Four years later, Kerin is leaving UMass Boston, having left his mark on the cross-country courses of New England.
Kerin attributes his success to two things: motivation and great coaching. 
“[I was successful because of] great coaching — just really being motivated to make a name for myself around the athletic department,” Kerin said.
Kerin approached every season with the same goal to extend his season. He wanted to qualify for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III championship meet — no matter what.
While Kerin laced up his track shoes for many races, the four-year track and field standout recalled a few unforgettable moments on the course.
One of Kerin’s most memorable moments was when he changed the record books at the Clark Center. During the indoor 600, Kerin set an all-time best record for the Beacons this past February with a time of 1:24.45. Another moment was when Kerin finished with a time of 3:59 in the 1500 meters, an event that he wasn’t quite familiar with. “To go and break four minutes in the 1500, placing conference, getting to the New England D3’s, and qualifying for the ECACs, it was really, really a special moment,” Kerin said.
Aside from the Men’s 600, Kerin will also graduate after breaking records in the Men’s 1000, the indoor and outdoor 4×400, and 4×800 men’s relays.
Individually, Kerin knows he has done a lot, but he does not fail to forget that he is still a part of a team. And although when he first joined the Beacons, the team struggled, he now feels as though the Beacons have come a long way.
“That was part of my motivation when I first came here, I wanted to take this team and build them into a conference contender,” Kerin said. “We may not have won any championships, but we’re a lot better from where we started. I think I’m leaving it a lot better from where I first picked it up. That’s very important to me, that means a whole a lot.”
He felt that his teammates are another key piece to his decorated career.
“Some of my teammates worth mentioning are Ben Potter, Dave York, Pat Day, and Fuad Conteh, who were upperclassmen that I looked up to when I was a freshman and sophomore, and my classmates Hamza Abdul and Henry Morales,” Kerin said.
Kerin also was quick to thank some of his proteges that have helped push him over the years. “Guys who are behind me — like Chhenlee Ly, Tad Delaney, Carl Joseph, and Tylor Hart — those are the guys I want to pass the touch (or baton) to,” Kerin added.
Kerin thinks it’s time for him to hang up his track shoes for good. And he is taking into consideration on whether or not he’ll coach.
“It’d be great to run the Boston Marathon, just to say you did it. And after what happened last year, it’ll be a great atmosphere. But in terms of actually running, I think I’m going to hang it up, I think I’m going to be done,” Kerin said. “I’ve played numerous sports including baseball, hockey, and a little bit of lacrosse. And just like any other sport out there, this sport can really, really beat your body up.”
“In terms of coaching, I’ve given it some thought as well. I’m not going to rule it out,” Kerin said.
Kerin’s objective was not to leave great numbers and break records. His goal was to leave his mark somewhere else.
“With all the hard work and success I had, I’m hoping to inspire some of my teammates, some of the younger athletes. If they see how hard I worked, how much I gave to the program, and how much I was willing to put myself through just so I could extend my season.”
“Hopefully, the younger kids can learn if they come in, and if they’re fully committed and work their tails off day in and day out, they’ll have as much success as I did, if not even more,” Kerin said.