Growing up, Monte Vista High senior Abby Van Muijen spent her days swimming or playing soccer. But entering high school Van Muijen had to decide whether to join the swim team or go out for track.

With the two sports competing at the same time, Van Muijen had to think about what sport she wanted to dedicate her time to. In the end, track got the nod with a bit of friend and family influence.

"My brother and most of my friends were doing (track)," Van Muijen said. "(Track) is different than what I had ever done before."

For the first three years of track, Van Muijen worked on understanding the art of the long jump and triple jump, including advancing to the North Coast Section Meet of Champions last year in both events. This year, Van Muijen — the Monte Vista Student Body President — added two new events to her resume, the shot put and discus.

"A lot of our throwers graduated," Van Muijen said. "I got kind of recruited (to throw) because I was only doing two events."

The addition of the shot put and discus have made Van Muijen a force to be reckoned with this season. She won all four of her events in four of the six East Bay Athletic League dual meets. Not only has she picked up both throwing events this year, but has done it with minimal coaching.

"We've had a throwers coach (Dave Spitz) that has been helping her out very little in training her to throw because he is training for the Olympics," Monte Vista coach Austin Glimme said.

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"Most of it she figures out on her own."

Going into the EBAL championships this weekend Van Muijen is favored to win in three of her four events. If she wants to take home four first-place medals, she will have to beat Livermore's Katie Anderson in the discus. Anderson has the league's top throw of 102 feet, 11 inches, compared to Van Muijen's 101-5.

Anderson will be fighting to bring home a victory in the throws, while teammate Diana George will be looking to sweep the distance events. A state competitor last year in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, George is already looking forward making her way back this year.

"My focus is on the 1,600," George said. "My goal is to break five minutes."

California's Chelsey Kamson is looking to break the 15-second mark again in the 100 hurdles. She holds the EBAL's best mark in the 100 hurdles (14.85), as well as top marks in the 100 and 200 and the No. 2 mark in the long jump.

Kamson looks like a sure winner in the hurdles with a 1.7 second lead, but has some stiff competition from around the league. In the 100, Kamson holds a narrow lead over San Ramon's Bailey Weaver and a slight advantage over Foothill's Dani Glaser in the 200.