Emma Coburn has been training during the off-seasons with Crested Butte Academy in mastering her skills and learning how to go for broke in the national races. Emma went for broke in New Mexico and came out Rich at the end of the weekend. Emma Coburn went into the Great Southwest Track Classic on June 1st in Albuquerque, New Mexico as a great runner from the state of Colorado in the lower division scene and an average runner in the state as a whole. Emma Coburn came out of the GSW Classic not only as one of the top runners from the state of Colorado but a national contender at Nike Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina on June 16th. Emma’s career as a runner hit national status in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Emma’s father (Bill Coburn) pressed on getting his daughter to the meet because he felt like she could make a statement, and what a statement she made. Emma lit up the track on the first night of the meet; in winning the Steeple Chase in the second fastest time in the long meet history. Emma Jump the barriers to perfection so great that she got many top university coaches at the meet stirred up. If you asked Emma why she jumped the barriers with such grace and length she would probably mention that she just got her first pair of steeple spikes in the mail the day before and did not want to get them wet or dirty so she made sure that she cleared the entire water pit each time she jumped. Emma went into the next day with incredible motivation and desire to help her Colorado team move up in the standings. Emma pulled off an incredible 2:14.23 according to her Colorado team representative, which allowed her team to take 2nd overall in the 4 * 800m. Emma’s time allowed her to run a 5 second personal record. Emma was then motivated to make the awards podium for the third straight time in the open 800m, so motivated that she went out more aggressive in 65 seconds and 30 flat at the first 200m then the previous race but with tired legs over the two days and came back with an impressive 2:16.00 for the open 800m and another personal record. “M” as we call her has a very promising career in running, so promising that many college coaches at the meet mention that the pace she was on in the Steeple Chase would of allowed her to qualify for NCAA Division 1 Regional’s in college as a junior in high school and put her in the top 60 steeples in the country for college. Trent Sanderson the running coach at Crested Butte Academy has been working with her for over a year and mentions that she not only proved that she can be one of the best on the high school scenes in running, but also proved that she can feast on the college scene as well. Coach Sanderson will be so bold to mention that if she applies herself now and limits fewer things in her life and can acquire the athletic standard that Crested Butte Academy strives for in her post seasons training, London 2012 could look very promising. This being said Sanderson has had hand in a half dozen American record holders, national champions, and Olympic finalist in the past 10 years. This would of not been possible without the support staff of CBA, Kirk Apt (massage), Dr. Eric A. Haynie, Bill Fabroccina, Western State College, Dr. Roger Sherman, Gloria Beam and many others throughout the Gunnison, and Roaring Fork Valley.