(Neola) -- Tri-Center senior standout Isah VanArsdol is set to continue running at the next level for the Missouri Western track and field program. VanArsdol, who has specialized in the mid-distances over her time as a Trojan, says she has had her eye on Missouri Western for a while now. “After my sophomore year, I had a few schools reach out to me, and that’s when I kind of started deciding on if I wanted to run,” VanArsdol said. “Then fast forward my junior year is when Missouri Western reached out. Their head coach talked to me and told me that they wanted me to go down to a visit. I loved the facilities.” VanArsdol also had the chance to talk with many of the coaches and athletes on the team. “I love the coaches and made great bonds with the girls down there,” she added. “I had never really heard of the school before they reached out, and I saw that it was only about two and a half hours away from where I was. That was definitely a main factor, and they had my major.” A newfound focus on mid-distance in the Missouri Western program led to the interest on both sides. “They said they were recruiting a lot more 800 runners to go down there,” VanArsdol said. “They reached out to me and thought that I would be beneficial to them.” For VanArsdol to reach this point in her athletic career, it didn’t seem like something that was on her radar about five years ago. “I never would have seen myself running (in college),” she added. “I think it’s just really important because I’ve pushed myself for so many years. I just want to see how I can improve and see what comes next for me. I think getting in the weight room, strengthening up there has been important. (Strength coach Ryan Schroder) has helped me in so many ways to get my muscle endurance and in shape for the postseason and offseason.” Listen to much more with VanArsdol on her college decision in the audio file below.
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