Athletic Background
Meindel started athletics at the age of eight and competed in all disciplines until she was around 13, when she discovered that running was her strongest event. She subsequently began focusing more on running and joined an adult training group at her former club.
In September 2025, Meindel joined E.S.A.V. Asterix, where she began working with a coach who helped her establish a strong physical foundation and structured training approach. Since then, she has made significant progress in both her performances and physical development. She has gradually increased her weekly mileage and currently runs approximately 65 kilometers per week.
One of her biggest recent achievements has been her success in cross country and student competition. She has earned two podium finishes in the national cross-country circuit and won three medals at the Dutch Student Championships, demonstrating her ability to perform strongly in competitive environments.
This September, she finished fifth in the 3K at the Dutch National U20 Championships, setting a new PB of 10:16.27.
Personal Records
- 800m: 2:25.04
- 1500m: 4:53.69
- 3000m: 10:16.27
- 5000m: 17:52.09
- 5K Road: 18:03
- 10K: 38:11
- Half Marathon: 1:24.01
Strengths
Meindel’s greatest strengths are her determination, resilience, and willingness to work hard. She consistently shows up, commits fully to her training, and does not give up when faced with setbacks. She is highly motivated to reach the goals she sets for herself and is willing to put in the work required to do so.
Physically, Meindel has developed a strong and resilient body. She generally recovers quickly from training and has been able to handle an increasing training load without frequent injuries. She is also highly coachable and eager to learn, allowing her to take feedback on board and apply it effectively to her training and racing.
Goals
Meindel is focused on improving her speed over shorter distances, which will help strengthen her performances across her middle- and long-distance events. She is also working on her race execution, particularly pacing and making better tactical decisions during competition.
Another important area of development is her mental approach to racing. Learning to trust her preparation, manage expectations, and stay composed before and during races will help her perform more consistently and reach her potential.
Meindel’s main goal is to continue improving her personal bests and become a stronger and more complete runner. She wants to better understand her physical potential, particularly in cross country, and discover which distance suits her best so she can eventually specialize more specifically.
During her time in the United States, she hopes to train in a competitive environment that will challenge her and help her continue developing both physically and mentally. After returning to the Netherlands, her ambition is to continue climbing the national rankings and establish herself at an even higher level among Dutch runners.
