Ever wonder who Eureka Senior Highschool’s last track coach was? She coached for 18 years and also attended Eureka High when she was in high school. Catrina Bindel first started coaching track when she was twenty-nine years old. Catrina always enjoyed track because she was very good at it and enjoyed it. She was inspired to coach track because of the coaches that coached her when she was in track. Catrina said, “The coaches that coached me for the four years of high school were great and inspired me to continue track throughout college and become a track coach myself.''During senior year, Catrina set two records for the 300 m hurdles, 800 m, and high jump. Catrina received a track and field scholarship to Wake Forest University in North Carolina. She then specialized in the heptathlon, a track, and field event combined as a contest with seven events. Catrina obtained six school records in multiple events, two of which have remained in the record books to this day. Catrina then moved to Austin, Texas where she ran for the track team at the University of Texas at Austin but never attended there. She had trained there as a “post collegian” and also trained with a group of professional athletes, such as Dan Paff, who was a well-known track and field coach. After living in Texas for a while, Catrina moved to Europe to compete professionally. She lived in Stuttgart Germany before coming back to Eureka. From there Catrina became a track and field coach for Eureka Senior Highschool. In the year 2000, Catrina started coaching and taught for the next eighteen years. Catrina wanted to coach at Eureka High so that she could teach students what she already knew about track and how to become a great runner. “I wanted to share some of my knowledge with my home team,” said Catrina with a grin on her face. Catrina wanted to have an impact on her players so that they could find track and field a good sport to devote their lives to. She also said that any coach would want their athlete to enjoy what their coach did for them and look up to them someday. Catrina would work her athletes hard and the work would pay off during the track meets every few weeks during the season. Catrina mentioned that there was a certain track meet that would go on every year where multiple high schools would come from around the north coast. This meet was held at Eureka Senior Highschool on the same track we have to this day. Catrina always thought that the track needs to be redone since it is dangerous, and so that Eureka High could bring those track meets back. After a few years of coaching track at Eureka Senior High, Catrina’s life had become busier as she was growing older. She was a track and field coach, had a full-time job, and wanted to try meeting someone. Catrina finally thought it was time to end her track career to take care of her full-time job. It was a difficult but wise decision because a lot of pressure and work fell off Catrina’s shoulders. After Catrina stopped coaching track and field, she began to work at the Bindel Inc. in Eureka that her parents ran. She needed to help her parents out with the business and work there full-time. The Bindel Inc. is a real estate management office, where Catrina would manage rentals for owners who need help with managing them. Catrina became even busier when she had to manage around two hundred homes. To this day Catrina is still working at Bindel Inc. and manages many homes, she has also met a great person but “misses” coaching track and field. Catrina still volunteers at the school to drive the athletes to their meets and also cheer for everyone competing. Catrina is a local athlete and manager with a busy life. She met many goals and achievements. In a month, Catrina will be recognized for her six records for track and field in the Hall of Fame at Wake Forest University. It is an amazing achievement to be able to be recognized in the Hall of Fame and give a speech for all to hear about her story. Every single person in Humboldt County has a story to tell about their great accomplishments. Catrina is one of those people who has given to her community by teaching athletes her knowledge on track and field. She also helps many people a day, with issues at their homes and helps the owners have less stress on their shoulders. Catrina carries a lot for now but still enjoys her community and her relationship. I am proud to have interviewed Catrina Bindel and share her life story with those in this community.