Nicole Bennett

For the Review

Senior Scott Vanassche received the Linfield Athlete of the Year award last spring as a result of his strong performances in track and field, and hopes to continue that tradition.

Vanassche led the men’s team in his events, the 100- and 200-meter dashes, which he plans to repeat for his final season.

“When I found out I won the award, I was totally in awe,” Vanassche said. “Just looking at all of the past winners and where they have gone in life really made it all the more special.”

Last year marked many successes for Vanassche and the track team. He and teammates junior John Torsey, senior Kreig Holland and sophomore Bubba Lemon broke the Northwest Conference record in the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 41.69. They secured the all-time No. 3 rank.

The sprinter’s win was no surprise considering he ended last season ranked fifth overall in the 100-meter dash and seventh in the 200. Despite several injuries over the course of the year, Vanassche was able to run his best time at the conference meet.

“His performance at conference and throughout the whole season is a testimony to all the sweat he went through in the offseason,” Lemon said.

Coach Garry Killgore said Vanassche is a talented young man and has a strong work ethic that is a great asset in an athlete. Killgore nominated Vanassche for athlete of the year after the conference meet last year when all of the head coaches met to decide award recipients.

“My favorite quality of Scott’s is he is not selfish,” Killgore said. “He has grown so much both as an athlete and a person.”

Vanassche’s teammates said they also share respect for his work ethic.

“Scott won the award because he competes at a high level year-round and always gives his best effort,” sophomore teammate Jeremy Lovell said. “He has the determination to win every event he goes into.”

Lemon said Vanassche deserved the award because he always gives 100 percent.

“Scott won this award in recognition of all the hard work he has done,” Lemon said. “Last summer, in the offseason, he probably had one of the toughest training (regimens) anyone has had. He worked his butt off, and it shows.”

The main struggle Vanassche has had to overcome is lack of confidence, Killgore said. However, he acknowledged that the work with Vanassche has been worth every second.

Vanassche posted season-best marks in the 100 and 200 of 10.72 seconds and 21.91 seconds, respectively. He is close to the 100-meter school record of 10.54 seconds, set in 1980.

“My personal record is my 100 of 10.72 that I got at the Oregon Twilight at University of Oregon,” Vanassche said. “What makes this PR so special is that it was at Hayward field, which in the track community is the Mecca of track and field.”

Vanassche said last year was difficult because he had to work through several injuries. Although the conference meet was his best time, he said the season was difficult.

“Training can be really hard on your body,” Vanassche said. “But knowing every little exercise we are doing improves our performance, makes it all worth it in the end.”

This year Vanassche competes in the 60-, 100- and 200-meter dashes as well as the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays. He says the workouts are different this year, and he is optimistic that he will peak at the end of the season.

 “My favorite part of competing is just doing my best and running fast,” Vanassche said. “There is truly not one thing more important than another. It’s the feeling of competition, the warm track, the spring air, everything that signifies it’s track season.”