From the season-opener until the NCAA regionals, then-junior Emil Heineking was the first runner to cross the finish line in every single ACC race last year.
It is understandable, then, that Virginia coach Jason Vigilante could only think of one word to describe the All-American.
"Intense," Vigilante said. "He sincerely does not believe he will get anything out of himself if he is anything less."
Heineking's high expectations for himself, regardless of how large the meet is, can be thought of as the driving force behind his perfect record during last year's regular season.
"I just go with the plan for every race," Heineking said. "Even if it's not a high-performance meet, I still come into the race having an idea of what I want to do and work on race execution. It's really like I use the minor meets to prepare myself for the bigger races later in the season, and it works out that I end up winning the races also."
The senior's standards for himself do not drop during practices either, his coach said, as he is constantly pushing himself to go further.
"He really doesn't care, in a good way, how his body is going to take something," Vigilante said. "He's often telling me after practice, 'That was too easy, we need to work harder,' and I like that."
But Heineking's intensity has been known to backfire as well. At last year's national championship meet, Heineking used his signature racing strategy of immediately setting off after hearing the gun and wound up running the first mile in a blazing 4 minutes, 23 seconds. He had five miles to go, though - and in the end, his competitive fire burned out, leaving him to finish 68th overall.
"He would have had a more successful race if he had been willing to grind things out over the last two miles while being more conservative in the first mile," Vigilante said. "That's a lesson that, despite whatever I say, he's going to learn the hard way. He'll be damned if he thinks he's going to give less than his best."
It is a lesson that Heineking has taken to heart this year, admitting his past mistakes as he returns for his final collegiate cross country season both humbled and more mature from the experience.\n"This year, my strategy is more about being patient and winning the race later rather than at the beginning," Heineking said. "I want to compete as well as I can individually."
Heineking's ability to compete as an individual will have a staggering impact on how far the Virginia men's cross country team can go this year. His standards this season are more focused on the team than himself, refusing to let his teammates down.
"I'm motivated by my intense desire to compete and I train hard to make sure that I win," Heineking said. "But most of all, I am motivated by the individuals on my team. Their determination and desire push me to do better ... I'm hoping to leave the program better than it was or ever has been."
With his drive and talent, Heineking will look to lead his team by example throughout the season. The lessons he has learned about balancing his competitive drive with patience will only further his cause.
"I prefer for Emil to make his goals," Vigilante said. "He's a fourth-year and he knows what he wants to do. I'd like to see him defend his ACC title, I'd like to see him lead us to a regional crown and I'd like to see him lead our team at the national championships as high as we can finish"
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