With her high school career at Edwin Parr Composite coming to a close, talented local athlete Emma Neigel has her eyes set on new challenges.
Like those she will face now that she has accepted a track and field scholarship from the University of Mississippi.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “I wanted to go to the U.S. because their athletic programs are a bit better.”
That Neigel is going a long way from home for a program that will push her should come as no surprise to those who know her and have followed her impressive track career. Whether it’s on the track at competitions or during practice with her coach Bud Ottosen, she is always pushing herself to be better, to be faster.
It’s that kind of approach to her sport that made her somewhat dissatisfied with her performances at the recent provincial track and field competition in Edmonton; performances that earned her bronze medals in both the 1500 metre and 3000 metre races.
Finishing with such results at a provincial competition might be a dream come true for some (perhaps most) young athletes. But Neigel wanted more.
“My times weren’t what I really wanted them to be. I won silver (at provincials) last year so I was hoping for gold this year,” she said.
An inability to be completely satisfied with what most would no doubt call a remarkable achievement might be considered a curse, but it could also be a blessing. Truly elite athletes are renowned for pushing themselves far past their limits and for refusing to be satisfied with anything but the very best results. By setting her sights higher, Neigel is setting the stage for even greater accomplishments in the future.
But they won’t come easily.
“I know I still have a long way to go to be a more competitive runner,” she said. “(In university) I’ll enjoy having a team around to push me a little more.”
With that in mind, she is realistic about her immediate prospects at the university level. She doesn’t expect to be the runner to beat right away. But with her natural talent, her drive to be better, and four years to work with, it might be just a matter of time before she becomes just that.
“I’ll work my way up.”
Those who raced against her in high school might suggest that her future competitors start looking over their shoulders.
