Lia Van Der Linde '22 Recruiting Profile

I have been running Track and Field since I was in 2nd grade. I would practice handoffs in the hallways of the cafeteria, and stay late after gym class to try and convince my middle school coach to let me on the team even though you could only start at a certain age. I finally was able to run in my school's relay team during the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix which would be my first look into the sport that would become my life. Being a student athlete in college is without a doubt a goal of mine. Being a student at a public school has helped me become extremely determined, diligent and a strong team player. Seen through the fact that I have kept a strong GPA, have taken up many positions in various extracurriculars, and love working out with my team and meeting new athletes. I have always loved the atmosphere that Track and Field presents and have thought about life as a coach, a career in teaching, sciences or social studies. Track and Field has taught me so much about myself, my limits, my fears, my weaknesses and my strengths. I am able to recognize when I need to give my body a break mentally and physically, I have learned the necessity for a balance in life and how important it is to be a well rounded respectable person over anything else.