Timeout with … Emily Andersen, senior, Lake Stevens track
Published 10:57 am Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Jumping 10 hurdles in a 100-meter race is challenging. But it’s even more difficult for someone like Emily Andersen.
At 5 feet tall (60 inches), Andersen has to work extra hard to elevate her hips and get her legs over the 33-inch hurdles. But the energetic senior is always up to the task.
Andersen, who would like to become an elementary-school teacher and admires actress Reese Witherspoon, enjoys surprising people who don’t expect someone of her stature to be a competitive hurdler.
“It’s kind of fun,” she said, “because you can show people, ‘I can do that.’”
Coach’s corner
Lake Stevens head track coach Jeff Page met Andersen when Andersen was in middle school. “She’s tiny now,” he said, “but she was really tiny then.”
Andersen, who competes in hurdle and relay races, overcame her lack of height through hard work and determination, Page said. Besides being a successful athlete, Andersen has an upbeat personality and is one of the friendliest girls on the team, he said.
Just right
Last season Andersen was a member of Lake Stevens’ 800 relay team that placed first in league, first in the district and qualified for the Class 4A state meet. Running a 200 leg for the squad is “my favorite race ever,” she said. “It’s not long enough so that you’re going to get really, really tired. It’s just short enough that you don’t die at the end.”
Cougars over Huskies?
Andersen avidly roots for Washington State University teams, mainly because her older sister attends the Pullman school. But one of her Lake Stevens teammates, senior Joey Bywater, is a University of Washington track/cross country recruit. Andersen said she often reminds Bywater which school is best: “I just encourage him and say, ‘Huskies are OK but Cougars are better!’”
Fan of fashion
When she’s not running, Andersen enjoys watching fashion-design reality TV show “Project Runway” on Bravo. She said she admires the competitors’ creativity. Asked if she’d want to compete on the show, Andersen said her hyper demeanor would make her a bad contestant.
Blonde ambition
If she could meet any famous person, Andersen would pick Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon. “She’s my idol and I love ‘Legally Blonde.’ It’s a goofy movie but it just makes me happy,” Andersen said.
Eager to learn
Andersen plans to become an elementary-school teacher or counselor. She’s already getting real-world experience at Highland Elementary School, where she works with second-graders. Andersen helps teach lessons, makes bulletin boards and answers questions.
It’s always rewarding, she said: “I just love little kids because they’re so funny and you can really help them because we are their role models.”
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
