Natalia Kuhn, a Relentless and Tenacious Competitor
As the competitors in the 2006 Beach District Track & Field Girls 800 meter final lined up for the start of their race, an almost unnoticed athlete from Ocean Lakes High School, surrounded by bigger and older athletes, takes her position at the starting line. When the gun sounds, Freshman Natalia Kuhn is absorbed into the field of runners.
“This years Girls 800 meter final was tactical and physical,” stated Ocean Lakes distance coach Mike Nestor, adding, “The plan was for Natalia to avoid contact and put herself near the front with 200 to 300 meters left in the race.”
Natalia Kuhn started her Track & Field career in 6th grade because her soccer coaches kept telling her she was fast; running track seemed like the logical thing to do. “It was a little scary at first, you're out there all by yourself, but when you run fast it's really satisfying,” claims Kuhn.
A typical childhood athlete, Natalia gave a variety of activities a shot. “I tried, ballet, gymnastics, cheerleading, soccer, drama, singing, sailing, and running,” Kuhn say's with a grin, “Ballet definitely wasn't in my future, I couldn't figure out the pointy toe thing.” She admits she's most comfortable on the soccer field, but she's gaining experience and confidence in track and cross country.
Entering Ocean Lakes as a student enrolled in the Math & Science Academy last fall, Kuhn has found the transition to High School challenging and rewarding. “Natalia is extremely reserved,” remarks Nestor, “At times she can come across as timid and shy.” The soft spoken Kuhn admits, “I can get a little nervous before a race and sometimes things can seem overwhelming between my school work and athletics.” To overcome these obstacles Kuhn has found support in her teammates and classmates alike.
Kuhn credits Senior Amber Scholl for a great deal of, not only her own success, but the success of her teammates as well. “Amber is very passionate about running and competing,” says Kuhn, “Everything she says before, during, and after a race is positive, she's helped me a great deal this past year.”
Kuhn's father, Jeff, describes her experience at Ocean Lakes in broader terms. “The whole program has been a perfect fit for Natalia, between the support from the faculty, coaching staff, and students; she has a great opportunity to excel in both academics and athletics.”
Watching her compete on the track or soccer field, timid or shy would be the last words any objective person would use to describe her demeanor. When her coaches and teammates describe her in competitive terms, they use words like, relentless and tenacious. She even has her own nick name, “Kuhn Kick,” a label bestowed upon her by her Ocean Lakes teammates, describing her ability to finish off opponents in the final portion of a race. “Natalia is very confident in her speed at the end of a race,” say's Nestor, “and she's getting more confident in her abilities with every race.”
As she finished the first of her two laps at the Beach District 800 meter final, Kuhn had worked herself out of the pack, passing a number of runners before the start of the final lap, she now had her sights set on the three leaders well ahead of her. In the final 200 meters Kuhn unleashes a blistering kick to finish in a time of 2:21.0, and a close third place finish.
Kuhn's initial reaction is one of disappointment, finishing third after getting a bad start wasn't part of the plan. After further thought, and a pep talk from her teammates and coaches, she realizes she's just qualified for the Eastern Regional Championship meet, and another chance to gain valuable experience. That brings a smile to her face.
As a Freshman, and relatively new to Track & Field, Kuhn keeps her future goals simple. “I just want to run fast,” she say's flatly. “If I can stay positive, I think good things will happen.”
