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Q & A with Some of the Top Contenders for the 2007 World Championship Steeplechase TeamJune 22, 2007
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Lindsey Anderson
Photo courtesy of Paul Pilkington | Steeplechics: How does it feel to come so far in a year that you might be somewhat disappointed with a 2nd place finish at NCAA's? Do you feel like you have a different perspective going into USA's this week?
Lindsey Anderson: It's kinda funny because my goal at the very beginning of the year was to make finals and be All-American in the steeplechase (something I hadn't done before), so to finish my college career by taking 2nd at NCAA's was great! Although it was a little tough to take 2nd when I'd come in as the favorite, I don't feel like it took away from anything I'd accomplished this year.
Now that NCAA's are over I almost feel like I'm beginning a whole new running career and in a lot of ways I am, so more than anything it's just really exciting for me and I can't wait for USA's and everything else that will be happening now! It's a whole new running world for me and I am really excited for it! | Lisa Galaviz
Photo courtesy of Ruben Aguilera | Steeplechics: You had a great 2007 indoor season (Lisa finished second to Shalane Flanagan
at the Indoor USA Champs in the 3000m) and seem to be injury-free this
year (Lisa struggled with a hamstring injury last summer). You are a
veteran in the event, having made the 2005 World Championships squad and
coming from behind to win the 2006 USA Champs. It seems that you are
always able to pull out a great performance on the big day. Do you feel
confident that you will be able to do so this year?
Lisa Galaviz: This will probably be the most competitive year ever for the women's
steeplechase. It's the most excited I've ever been going into USAs. I
think the tougher the competition, the more we have to rise to the
challenge. Hopefully it will bring many new PRs for us U.S.
SteepleChics! I am healthy, confident and looking forward to a really
fast race!
| Amanda Lorenzen
Photo courtesy of Mark Foos, Trackshark.com | Steeplechics: Can you talk a little bit about your improvements and how you've
come so far in your first post-collegiate season, which is usually a
struggle for an athlete? (Lorenzen has improved her PR by about 14 seconds this year)
Amanda Lorenzen: Last summer [Ann Gaffigan] had invited me to put my Bio on SteepleChics. I kept putting it off and putting it off because I thought I was too busy, but finally sometime in the spring my husband convinced me to post it and within one week I had found a coach, or actually, she found me! Coach Karen Harvey from the University of Illinois found my Bio and saw that I was unattached and without a coach. She agreed to try coaching from afar. She really encouraged me to make changes in my life so I could spend more time training.
I started working with Coach Harv just after outdoor track began. She has had me work more with hurdling then I have ever done before. She has also pushed me to run some pretty tough workouts. At one point I ran a PR in practice in the 3K!
My husband has been so much apart of any success I have had. He has been out on the track for every workout, giving me splits and most of all, support. He is willing to drive with me to Nashville one weekend and turn around and drive to Hillsdale the next, just so I can race. He loves the sport of running and is a successful and dedicated runner himself. It is great to have my husband and best friend as my training partner.
| Carrie Messner
Photo courtesy of NYRR/Alison Wade | Steeplechics: You have been very consistent this year: consistently running under 9:50 and consistently placing high in your races, all of which have included some very good competitors. Would you say you are having your best season so far? How is your confidence going into USA's this week, which has a pretty stacked field?
Carrie Messner: I would say I am having a very strong season so far, with a lot more to come! I am definitely confident going into USA's and am looking to have a strong race and lots of fun! Its going to be a super fun summer! | Kelly Strong
Photo courtesy of Benjamin Benschneider | Steeplechics: We didn't hear from you much during the indoor
season but then you came out on March 17 and set the American Record in the 2000m Steeplechase, beating the next competitor by 48 seconds at the Washington Preview Meet. You then PR'd at the Stanford Invitational on March 30. Tell us how you've adjusted your training this year and how it has paid off.
Kelly Strong: We planned on not running indoors, to build a base and just coach at all of our indoor meets. My first race [the 2000m SC at the Univ of Washington] was really low key and it was fun to go out and try to run fast at a new distance. I went a little too hard, but felt good overall. My next race was at Stanford where I PR'd and felt great. I wanted to run a bit faster, but a PR is a PR. I wanted a solid performance [at the USATF West Region Champs on June 3] to build momentum going into USA's. It was almost exactly what I set out to do--until the last barrier [Strong tripped on the final barrier but got up to still run 9:52.12 to finish 4th]! I am excited to race again and get over ALL the barriers this time. It will be a great race! |
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