COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho-- A Coeur d'Alene high school track coach is taking her skills to the international level.
Linda Lanker has coached hurdle events for four decades and has been recognized by Team USA. Now, she will help coach some of our country's best athletes at a world competition in London in July.
Lanker has been coaching for the Coeur d'Alene High School Vikings for a few years now. In college, Lanker was a national champion for Arizona State. She has done work for USA track and field too. Now, Lanker's getting another big call up.
"Oh my gosh, I'm going to London," Lanker said.
She has been named the head coach of the U.S. team headed to the inaugural Athletics World Cup. Held in London, it is an international track competition featuring the top eight nations.
Many of the team USA athletes are coming from their own individual coaches. But still, Lanker's job is to provide guidance there and make sure everyone's on the same page. Lanker's a good one to have around. Athletes she has mentored have gone on to do big things.
"Just to get the opportunity to coach at all is huge, on the US team. But this was really exciting," she said.
The Athletics World cup will take place on July 14 and 15.