This Washington Distance Standout Has Turned It Up A Notch
Photo Credit: John Hays/Arizona MileSplit She s got good physiological talent, but I d say her biggest asset is really her mental strength and guts, that grit, especially when the gun goes off. Troy Anderson, Eastlake Head Caoch
By Ashley Tysiac - MileSplit Correspondent
Eastlake (WA) High School cross country coach Troy Anderson knew early on that Emily Van Valkenburg had the makings of an elite runner.
Anderson vividly remembers a moment when Van Valkenburg was a freshman, running in the junior varsity race at the league championships. Right from the gun she took off, leading the entire race and gapping the field by around 20 seconds to take the win.