Inconsistent year over year improvement

I can understand your frustration. But don't sweat it. Progress is never linear for a very long time. There will always be flat lines and backslides. Also, as you get faster, progress comes in smaller and smaller chunks.

Have fun finishing out the season. Then get some rest. Then enjoy some easy training over the winter. Don't fret over the results or chase times. Just run, trust the process, and let the fast times come to you.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm feeling down on myself as everyone says the junior year is the most important year related to colleges. I know I won't get money to run, so it's not about that. I just want to get better and get into the best program I can get into. Thank you.

I get that feeling, too. But even with your collegiate goals, I'd recommend reaching less. A lot of us want/wanted to get into the best program possible. So often that leads to burnout and dropout. That becomes the end goal and then the fit is not great and boom, people leave.

Think about getting into the program that you feel really comfortable with. Think about the program that will allow you to enjoy running, continue to improve, and then run after college, too. I'm not saying the Olympics (though maybe?), but just to keep enjoying the daily grind of it all. I'm amazed at how few people I know who ran in college still run now (a decade or so out from school).

Run a lot. Have fun. Rest when you need it. Surround yourself with good people.