Isa van Puffelen

Isa embarked on her athletic journey at the age of 7. Initially training in multiple disciplines, including heptathlon, hurdles, and mid-distance running, she realized the need for a more balanced training environment. At 15, she found her place in the AV Daventria club team, where she has been training ever since.

During the 2021 outdoor season, Isa faced a setback when she tore her iliopsoas muscle, leading to a lengthy 1.5-year recovery period. However, her determination and diligent work paid off as she made a triumphant return to the track, stronger than ever. Even during her recovery, Isa's disciplined approach shone through, resulting in improvements across the board, surpassing all her personal bests (PBs). Notably, she enhanced her heptathlon score by over 300 points, earning a remarkable 7th place in the U18 National Championships of 2023. Additionally, Isa secured the 2nd position in the 400m hurdles at the Dutch National Championship U18 and helped her club team advance to the premier league in the same season.

Isa's current PBs include:

- 100m hurdles: 14.90s (2023)

- 400m hurdles: 65.31s (2023)

- 100m: 13.33s (2023)

- 200m: 26.74s (2023)

- 400m: 63.08s (2023)

- 800m: 2:23.96 (2021)

- Long jump: 5.25m (2023)

- High jump: 1.63m (2021)

- Javelin throw: 30.06m (2021)

- Shot put: 10.91m (2022)

- Heptathlon: 4597 points

Isa possesses several key strengths, including her positive mindset, motivation, team spirit, and eagerness to learn. She exhibits a strong desire for personal and athletic development, both on and off the track. However, her perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. While it fuels her competitiveness and motivation, it can hinder her ability to appreciate incremental improvements. Therefore, she seeks a coach who can help her focus on one step at a time and celebrate small victories.

In the United States, Isa is searching for an ambitious college track team that can foster her growth as an athlete. Her primary goals are to excel for her college team, continuously improve her PBs, and make the most of her collegiate athletic career.

Currently enrolled in the highest level of high school (VWO) in the Netherlands, Isa is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2024. She holds a strong interest in pursuing a major related to Physics, Biology, Astronomy, Biotechnology, or a related field. For further details about her academic achievements, please refer to the information provided in the section below.