Cross Country: Yorkville's Emily Eberhart commits to Notre Dame

Chris Muth remembers when Emily Eberhart’s running future was at its most uncertain.

It was only 18 months ago, at the West Aurora Invite, that Eberhart couldn’t finish, and was in an ambulance pondering if she could do it any more.

“An hour to feel sorry, she turned around and never looked back.” said Muth, Yorkville’s cross country coach. “It’s amazing what a year and a half will do.”

Eberhart, a Yorkville senior, has Type 1 Diabetes and low bone density, the latter which led to stress fractures in her legs her first two years of high school.

Neither stopped her from becoming one of the state’s – and the country’s – best runners.

Or reaching her dreams.

Eberhart realized a big one last week, as she announced her verbal commitment to run cross country and track at Notre Dame.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to go there,” said Eberhart, whose older brother also attends the South Bend school. “Once the opportunity came that I could run there it was a dream come true. It’s something I’ve been working toward my whole life.”

Eberhart, part of Yorkville’s powerhouse running program, took 13th this past fall at the Class 3A state cross country meet, leading the Foxes to second place. She followed that up with an impressive 39th-place finish at Nike Cross Nationals in December.

Exploring all her options, Eberhart began taking college visits at the beginning of cross country season. She made all five available visits, but ultimately, when Notre Dame came calling, it was an easy decision.

“Their coach said my progression through the cross country season is what sealed the deal,” Eberhart said. “I’m definitely glad that I waited until the fall. I was able to focus on the cross country season. It all worked out in the end.”

Eberhart had experience with the Notre Dame campus from her older brother’s time there. Once he started in South Bend, she fell in love with it.

She credited her twin brother, Jimmy, for getting her started running in the eighth grade.

“I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t encouraged me,” Eberhart said. “Once I started running I realized it was something I wanted to do. I wasn’t sure how far into the future I would take it, but I realized that it was a possibility.”

Muth looks at Eberhart as one who will fit right in at Notre Dame. Her top-40 finish at Nike opened eyes.

“If I was a college coach she would check all the boxes,” Muth said. “She’s gone through so much individually. It’s a huge draw to say this girl has been through a lot, and she keeps coming back. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself, but keeps working harder to get where she wants to go.”

Eberhart knows she can be an inspiration for others in her shoes, and is comfortable with it.

“That’s definitely a goal of mine, to be an inspiration to others, to show people that having Type 1 Diabetes can’t stop you from striving to what you want to do,” Ebert said. “It’s something that I’m proud of and encouraged me to reach my goals, as well, to do that with added challenges that most people don’t face. It really makes it that much sweeter to reach my goal.”