John Crites, girls track coach at Festus High School who coached Olympic track team member Brittany Borman throughout her high school career, was on the scene in Eugene, Ore., on Sunday to watch Brittany clinch her spot on the U.S. team.

Back home now, he said Brittany’s achievements are not a shock to him. He said he saw in her, even as a freshman in high school, the potential for excellence.

“Honestly, I did,” he said. “As a freshman, she was the No. 1-ranked discus thrower for (high school) freshmen in the country. She had two things going for her – potential and effort. She had the talent, she was coachable and all that work she put in has now come to light.”

Crites said in addition to being talented and working hard, Borman, who specializes in the javelin throw, realized the importance of learning from others who could help her.

“She was unlike a lot of kids her age. She was highly coachable. I’d say that was one of the major things. And with her parents, she obviously had some great role models.”

Brittany, who graduated from FHS in 2008, also turned 23 on Sunday. She told her family she wanted to go to Chuck, E. Cheese’s to celebrate.

Crites also attended the post-trials pizza party.

“I had a great time,” he said. “You know, that kind of goes to the kind of people they are. They don’t do things to impress people. They just do what they want to do. I think they figured that whatever happened that day, that’s where they were going to go because that’s where she wanted to go on her birthday.”