Running was best choice for van der Els

By MARY ALBI

Eric van der Els grew up with the dream of one day playing baseball in college or even further.

But it was the summer before his freshman year when he began to run. He started it as a way to stay in shape for baseball and the upcoming soccer season.

“(But) something told me you should start running because I was doing pretty good," van der Els said. “So I stopped (soccer and baseball) and started to run (full time)."

Since then, van der Els hasn't stopped running.

The rising junior distance runner from Brien McMahon High (Norwalk, Conn.) has begun to make a name for himself, not only state-wide but nationally.

Van der Els is coming off an eye-opening indoor season where he finished fourth in the nation in the 5,000 meter distance race at indoor nationals in New York, earning All-American status.

“It boosted my confidence," van der Els said with a smile. “I am so excited coming into outdoors."

Van der Els is primed for a special outdoor season in the sport he once didn't even consider doing.

“He definitely has a great running IQ and it's just a natural gift," McMahon distance coach Jeff Brentson said. “(Just) knowing how to run, when to run, and just athletically he understands the game whether it's this, baseball, soccer, whatever he plays, he's always been very gifted at it."

Van der Els joined the cross country team in the ninth grade off some encouragement from his older sister, Sara, who was also on the team. He kept up with the sport into the indoor track season as he continued to drop time and place well in the distance events.

But it seemed like this past winter was when van der Els really broke through.

The 5-foot-7 junior won the FCIAC 1,600 (4:19.98), defeating Darien's Alex Ostberg. At the Class LL state championships, he claimed the 1,600 and 3,200 titles. But it was at the State Open when he used an aggressive and strong kick to power past Ostberg in the final 400 meters of a grueling 3,200 to win in 9:17.39.

“We're finding out if he's in it the last 800 meters of a race, he's definitely got a very good shot to win it," Brentson said.

Van der Els followed that up with a 9:08.67 2 mile at the New England Championships in Boston to capture second place. He ended the season with the ninth fastest two-mile time in the country.

Brentson said van der Els' improvement and his times have been on track with other top-tier runners, so his accomplishments haven't come as much of a surprise.

“He is really driven, he loves to compete and he works really hard," Brentson said. “He loves using his body to be his medium to succeed."

At indoor nationals van der Els ran his first 5K of the season. He said he probably could have gone faster, but said he enjoyed the experience soaking up all he could as he became the first track athlete from McMahon to become an All-American.

“No way," van der Els said if he ever predicted this would happen. “I was hoping to come into that race and see what I could do and then next year maybe get All-American."

Van der Els said another benefit to his development as a runner has been his surroundings.

As a freshman he was able to run against Henry Wynne, as a sophomore Christian Alvarado and now Ostberg as a junior. All three Connecticut products have won national distance titles and hold state records.

“Those guys are all role models to me," van der Els said. “And they showed me what is possible."

This outdoor season van der Els' goals are to lower his mile time and break nine minutes in the 2 mile, something Brentson said is very realistic.

“No doubt in my mind, if he stays healthy, 8:50 range is going to happen," he said.

Van der Els is still deciding his outdoor schedule, as both the Penn Relays (April) and Loucks Games in May are possibilities.

But for right now, Brentson said is taking every day he gets with his star runner as “pretty awesome," especially considering running was once never on van der Els' mind.

“I think it was harder giving up baseball, but I realized the opportunities in track were just so better. You don't need to be 6-foot or weigh a certain amount. I knew I was never going to be that guy. I think I have the right build to be a runner and not a baseball player," he said with a smile.

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