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CARBONDALE, Colo. — Carbondale's Carrie Messner-Vickers has a pretty clear-cut goal in mind: She wants a spot on the Olympic medal stand in 2008.
The track and field star appears well on her way to doing so in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, which will make its Olympic debut during the 2008 Games in Beijing, China.
"It's taken this long, so it'll be cool to be a part of the first," said Messner-Vickers, who's already eclipsed the USA Track and Field A standard qualifying mark (10 minutes) for next year's Olympic trials. "(Winning) would be pretty sweet, but there's some stiff Russians out there."
If she can place in the top three there, Messner-Vickers will make the Olympics and secure at least a shot at Olympic gold.
The track and field star appears well on her way to doing so in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, which will make its Olympic debut during the 2008 Games in Beijing, China.
"It's taken this long, so it'll be cool to be a part of the first," said Messner-Vickers, who's already eclipsed the USA Track and Field A standard qualifying mark (10 minutes) for next year's Olympic trials. "(Winning) would be pretty sweet, but there's some stiff Russians out there."
If she can place in the top three there, Messner-Vickers will make the Olympics and secure at least a shot at Olympic gold.
Until then, she's keeping plenty busy.
A heavy training and meet schedule has Messner-Vickers all over the place, but she still managed to find time to help run Monday's Hershey Track and Field Meet in Carbondale. There, after cheering on a field of future track stars, she discussed what lies ahead in her professional life.
She's currently gearing up for the June 20-24 USA Outdoor Track and Field Nationals. That includes a journey to the U.S. Olympics Training Center in Colorado Springs, where she headed shortly after wrapping up her duties in Carbondale.
Messner-Vickers' goal for nationals, held in Indianapolis, is simple enough.
A heavy training and meet schedule has Messner-Vickers all over the place, but she still managed to find time to help run Monday's Hershey Track and Field Meet in Carbondale. There, after cheering on a field of future track stars, she discussed what lies ahead in her professional life.
She's currently gearing up for the June 20-24 USA Outdoor Track and Field Nationals. That includes a journey to the U.S. Olympics Training Center in Colorado Springs, where she headed shortly after wrapping up her duties in Carbondale.
Messner-Vickers' goal for nationals, held in Indianapolis, is simple enough.
"My goal is to win (the 3,000 steeple)," the 30-year-old Team Asics runner said. "If I do, I'll qualify for Worlds."
The Osaka, Japan-hosted World Outdoor Championships are slated for Aug. 25 to Sept. 2.
She only recently returned from the Jim Bush Invitational in Southern California, where she won the 3,000 steeple and took ninth in the 1,500 run. Messner-Vickers will compete July 13-29 at the Pan America Games in Brazil.
Winning has grown commonplace for Messner-Vickers, who in January was named the No. 1 steeplechase runner in the country by Track and Field News. In early May, she shattered the national 2,000-meter steeplechase record, clocking in at 6:20.6.
The Osaka, Japan-hosted World Outdoor Championships are slated for Aug. 25 to Sept. 2.
She only recently returned from the Jim Bush Invitational in Southern California, where she won the 3,000 steeple and took ninth in the 1,500 run. Messner-Vickers will compete July 13-29 at the Pan America Games in Brazil.
Winning has grown commonplace for Messner-Vickers, who in January was named the No. 1 steeplechase runner in the country by Track and Field News. In early May, she shattered the national 2,000-meter steeplechase record, clocking in at 6:20.6.
The ascent to prominence hasn't been all smooth sailing for Messner-Vickers, who's wrestled with the intense pressure of expectation and the mental pitfalls of competition along the way. With the help of a performance coach, she seems to have curbed those demons.
"I've learned a lot from running," Messner-Vickers said. "There's nothing harder than getting on stage with everybody looking at you."
Keeping competition fun helps considerably, something she hopes the kids at Monday's Hershey meet keep in mind as they grow older.
"The biggest thing is to always have fun," she said. "You need to enjoy it. I was a competitive kid. The value of competition is a great thing. It only makes you stronger. Many kids dream to be a pro athlete. You have to love it. Even as a pro, that's something I always try to get back to."
"I've learned a lot from running," Messner-Vickers said. "There's nothing harder than getting on stage with everybody looking at you."
Keeping competition fun helps considerably, something she hopes the kids at Monday's Hershey meet keep in mind as they grow older.
"The biggest thing is to always have fun," she said. "You need to enjoy it. I was a competitive kid. The value of competition is a great thing. It only makes you stronger. Many kids dream to be a pro athlete. You have to love it. Even as a pro, that's something I always try to get back to."
