Anouk Verdaasdonk

Anouk's passion for track and field led her to explore various events, combining mid-distance running with long jump and hurdles until the age of 13. Recognizing her natural talent for jumping, she made the decision to focus primarily on long jump, an event she likes very much. Shortly after, she started training with a specific long jump coach, witnessing remarkable progress within a short period of time. Moreover, she started practicing triple jump too, securing a second-place finish in the U18 category at her first National Championships competing in this event. Anouk's dedication and talent continued to shine through and she secured various top-five finishes and won medals across various U18 and U20 National Championships, both in long jump and triple jump. Currently, Anouk trains with her local club team, AV SPADO.

Anouk's 2023 outdoor season was a success story. She significantly improved her personal best in long jump, reaching an impressive 5.69 meters. Her dedication to her club team also paid off, as they qualified for the U18/U20 National Championships for club teams. Anouk's teamwork and positive attitude were essential to this achievement. Moreover, she is a certainty in their relay team and would like to pursue this event in the United States too. 

Anouk is known for her discipline and perseverance. When she sets her mind to something, she doesn't give up. Her technical skills in long jump are solid, but she's always looking for ways to improve. Right now, she's focusing on speed and strength training to take her performance to the next level.

Her current personal bests: 

Long jump: 5.69 meters (2023)

Triple jump: 11.17 meters (2021)

200 meters: 26.20 seconds (2023) --> 25.45 (2024)

100 meters: 12.98 seconds (2023)

60 meters: 8.23 seconds (2022)

400-meter hurdles: 1:07.59 (2021)

Anouk is excited to join a collegiate track team in the United States and is very driven to perform at her best for this team. She wants to set personal records and keep getting better. Ultimately, she dreams of breaking the 6-meter barrier in long jump. She thinks that faster run-up speed will help her achieve this goal.

Anouk graduated high school in 2022 and is currently enrolled in the 1st school year of her bachelors degree Psychology at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. As a transfer student, she would like to continue her academics in the United States starting in the Fall of 2024. For more details about her academics, please check out the details section below.