Valentine finds comfort in competition

BY MARK DECOTIS • FLORIDA TODAY • DECEMBER 25, 2009

MELBOURNE — Melbourne High sophomore Vanessa Valentine has a unique view when it comes to the pressure of competing at cross country's highest levels.

"I really like the quote 'Pressure is a privilege,' " she said, quoting from a T-shirt see saw at a meet. "It means you matter.

"I take it kind of more as people are counting on me and I'm not going to let them down. I'm not going to let myself down. I like the pressure, it makes me excel. It's just all that much better when you do well when there's people that are counting on you."

Her teammates and her coach, T.J. Woodbury, counted on Valentine this season and she responded. She won the Cape Coast Conference girls championship, was fourth at district, second at region and third overall at the state Class 4A race, pacing her team to a runner-up finish.