Philly Van Nooten has earned many accolades for track and field success through hard work and dedication to her craft.
The Brantford native, who has spent years training with the Brantford Track and Field Club (BTFC), recalled her start in track and field.
“My parents first put my sister in track, and then they decided to put both my brother and I [in the sport] as well…when I started running, I wasn’t really sure what events I wanted to do so I tried several like distance and went from there,” said Van Nooten. “I was about six when I started [and have] been doing track for ten years now.”
Although she has been running for a better part of her life, Van Nooten’s love of running was rekindled within the last few years after a lull.
“Since the pandemic, I had a good two years off of track. I wasn’t really sure when I’d get back into it, but once high school started, I got to do track [and] that’s probably when I became more serious about it,” noted Van Nooten. “I have trained with the club (BTFC) every Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays as well. And I also have been going to the gym, and going on runs.”
Van Nooten’s coach at the BTFC, Marcus Daniel, discussed her tremendous growth.
“Philly has developed into a very good runner, because she [has] practiced a lot…coming in three times a week, faithfully. No one really wants to come in on Saturday mornings, but she never missed a practice [and] she’s improved…dropping about three and a half seconds on her 400 meters in the last year,” Daniel said. “It didn’t all happen at once…she’s has been able to [excel] because she’s been working on her craft for years and putting in all the extra effort [and has] sacrificed a lot to get to this point.”
Along with Daniel, Van Nooten noted how important her sister Pearl has been, who has won awards for her track accomplishments in the past.
“She has been a really big influence for me since she did track…she’s about five years older than me [and] I look up to her. She’s a really big inspiration for me [and] she’s been really supportive, going to meets and being there when I need her,” said Van Nooten.
Despite winning multiple honours, including back-to-back Bernie Vershoor Top Track Runner Athlete awards (for the 2022 and 2023 seasons) Van Nooten had to overcome some doubts.
“There were some difficult times I faced like getting back into running after COVID. And in [2023], I fell during one of my races which got me a bit [rattled.] But I got back from that,” Van Nooten noted. “I just think back to what coach Daniel tells us…making sure that you’re having fun [and] not to always be focused on winning. Instead, it’s focusing on improvement.”
However, Van Nooten, who is currently attending Brantford Collegiate, has risen to the occasion, having a great 2024 season, especially at the indoor nationals in Montreal.
“We [recently] competed at the indoor nationals, and that was fun, because we got to do the relays, which we haven’t been able to do since before COVID. And I really liked doing that with my team,” van Nooten said. “We got first for the 4×200 and came in second for the 4×400.”
Daniel, however, knows that van Nooten has a bright future ahead of her in track and field if she chooses to continue with it.
“Whatever university she ends up choosing, she will probably be their number one rookie at the 400-meter and I believe she’s can be their best 400-meter runner. Wherever she goes, she’s going to be very successful,” Daniel said. “But Philly will [always] have a shot at winning because it’s the way that she’s able to improve…the sky’s really the limit for her.”
