Former South Lakes Track Standout to Run at Vermont

Former South Lakes High School  track and field standout athlete Valerie Moyer, who holds six track and field records for the Seahawks, is off to try to do the same at the Division I level.

Moyer earned a partial academic and athletic scholarship to the University of Vermont.

"I fell in love with Vermont when I visited the school this past November," said Moyer.  "I actually got in touch with them," Moyer said. "I met with the coach and went up there.  I'm enthusiastic and excited to be with them."

After another visit to the Burlington campus in March, Moyer met some team members and found out that Vermont would be a perfect fit to continue her competitive track career and earn a quality education.

Moyer's father, Steve,  ran track in college at University of Maine and has guided her through the steps of becoming a college athlete.

"My father has been very supportive throughout my career," Moyer said. "He really gets it and has helped me get to where I am."

Moyer says her coaches at South Lakes also had an important impact on her. "South Lakes cross country coach Kevin Donovan has influenced me a lot," Moyer said. "He's always brought a good attitude to gravitate to."

South Lakes track and field coach Scott Raczko and assistant coach Joseph Schuler were also beneficial in developing Moyer into a Division I-caliber track performer, Moyer says.

Moyer is a versatile athlete who competes in distance running and high jump.

Having a scholarship doesn't automatically qualify Moyer to participate in events early in her college career, though.

Moyer admits that she's up to the task of running at the Division I level, but because she's new to the team, she will have to work hard to qualify for the meets and help the Catamounts vie for an America East Conference title. The Catamounts are constructing a new, $2.5-million track facility.

Moyer's personal best in the 800-meter run was 2:22.03 at the Nike Spring Invitational. She has also vaulted 5-feet,  2 inches in the high jump.

That mark was third best at the Northern Region Championship on May 22,  and good enough to place ninth at the Virginia State Championship on June 4. Both are also school records at South Lakes.

In total, Moyer holds six South Lakes records. Other records include the 1,000-meter run (3:06:55) at the 2010 Northern Region Indoor Track and Field Championship; the mile run (5:20.85) at the 2010 Southern Track Classic; the two-mile run (12:51.00) at the 2009 PR Relay Kickoff; and the 5,000-meter run (19:31.86) at the 2009 Milestat.com Invitational.