University of Toledo and Seneca East High School graduate, Briana Shook, smashes the American Women's 3000 Meters Steeple Chase record by over 10 seconds! Shook who won the National Championship at the Olympic Trials only to be disqualified improved her time to 9:29.32 bettering the American record of 9:39.35. Shook won the KBC Night of Athletics - Heusden-Zolder (BEL) on July 31st. Here are the top ten finishers:
1 Shook Briana USA 9:29.32
2 Chepchumba Salome KEN 9:29.81
3 Vanden Bempt Sigrid BEL 9:35.28
4 McGettigan Roisin IRL 9:45.60
5 Messner Carrie USA 9:49.40
6 Limika Irene KEN 9:49.43
7 Boonstra Miranda NED 9:51.17
8 Bak Justyna POL 9:53.78
9 de Croock Stephanie BEL 9:54.25
10 Etter Andrea SUI 10:04.22


Below is an interview with Briana after the U.S. Olympic Trials...

Briana Shook wins Women's 3000 Meters Steeple Chase but is DQed
By Matt McGowan

2004 University of Toledo graduate and Seneca East High School standout ran away with the Women's 3000 Meters Steeple Chase as she destroyed the American record of 9:41.94 with her 9:31 but would be disqualified for missing the first water jump.

Shook won the 2003 USA Track & Field Steeplechase Championship in then an American record of 9:44.71. Briana was an eight time State Champion in Cross Country and Track and an eight time Mid American Conference Champion in cross country and track. She also earned NCAA All American honors in cross- country and track.

Editor note: The Women's 3000 Meter Steeple Chase is not an event in the 2004 Olympics.


How was your training leading up to the Olympic Trials?

"Something that most people do not know is that I was hurt for three months over the winter. Because of the extent of the injuries, I could not run at all and had to learn how to cross train a lot, and like it! Because of that, my mileage was not as high as I would have liked before the trials. I had great interval workouts, but just couldn't run for real long runs to build a strong base. So instead I swim laps along with my runs. I actually look at that as a positive though, because I know with a good base, I could drop some serious time once I get stronger."

Briana, you ran a very strong race, yet you were DQ'd for missing the first water jump, could you tell use what happened?

"Honestly I can only justify my mistake by saying that I guess I was just too focused! I was SO ready to be the Olympic Trials Champion and the American Record holder, and with dreams as big as mine running through my head at that very second, I guess I just forgot to remember the small, easy stuff.

My coach and I had gone through, what we thought to be, every scenario possible to make sure that I would be ready for anything. I guess we forgot the scenario about me missing the jump! So after it happened I just figured that I was at least going to walk away with what little pride that I could and run fast. Quitting wasn't an option. I knew that finishing wouldn't get me a medal, because I knew that by missing the jump, I ruined that option. But I figured that if I could walk away with the confidence that I could run fast, then I could take that with me in the next race that I run."

When did you realize you missed the water jump?

"I didn't realize that I missed the jump right away. I think if I had, I would have turned around and done it. I can't even say for sure the exact moment that I realized it because I don't remember much about the race. Probably 100 meters or so after I missed it I would guess. Laps 2-6 just flew by because I was so focused on proving myself. It was the best race of my life and I don't even remember much of it! I know that the normal race "pain" never really set in at all because I was so numb with shock from what I had done!"

You destroyed the American record of 9:41.94 with your 9:31.98 ..Do you plan to run any more steeples this year to try to go after the American record?

"Well I refuse to end on a note like this. I can't change what happened, but I can try to rewrite the ending that I was hoping for by getting the American Record somewhere else. Getting it at the Trials would have been nice, along with the title, but for me it isn't about a medal or the monetary aspect of things, it is proving that I work the hardest and that I deserve to be the best. That is obviously an opinion that not everyone will share, but by chasing the American Record (and hopefully catching it) then the numbers will speak for themselves, and then opinion doesn't really matter much.

I will be competing in Belgium next weekend where I will face off against some stiff competition. I will probably not be the favorite, but will be counting on a fast race to redeem myself!"

What did you learn from the episode at the Olympic Trials?

"I learned that anything can happen, and I also learned how many people support me and care about me.

I learned that when my family tells me that they don't care if I get first or last, they really mean it! I used to think that was a figure of speech, but they were waiting at my apartment in Toledo at 2am to welcome me back from the Trials! I couldn't ask for a more supportive family or community (Both in Toledo and Tiffin).

I learned how to laugh at my mistakes and use them to be a better person and athlete.

Last, I learned that I may never know why something happens, but that I truly believe that things happen for a reason, and that sometimes going the wrong way, is actually just the scenic route to the right way!"

What are your running plans in the short term and long term (say 4 years from now)?

"I plan to gradually build up my mileage into the XC season and run some road races and XC races to see what kind of time I can drop from those as well. I would like to be a well-rounded runner, and although I know that the steeplechase is the event that I am the best at and what I am known for (especially now!), I think that I can be competitive on the roads as well".

Is the Women's Steeple Chase going to be a World Championship event next year?

"Yes. If all goes as planned, I plan on competing in Los Angles, California next summer for my ticket to Finland (the host of the 2005 Worlds)."

Will the Women's Steeple Chase be in the 2008 Olympics?

"Yes. It will be a medal event in 2008, so I have 4 years to improve."

What would you recommend to high school girls who might want to try the steeple?

"Well I'm biased because I think it is the most mentally tough and physically tough race that you can enter into. But I also think that there are plenty of tough girls out there that could be awesome at it. I wasn't the best hurdler or the best 3000-meter runner when I started, and still am not. But I wanted to be a steepler so bad that I wouldn't give in until I could say that I was one of the best. If your heart is in it, whether you are the best or not at first, you should do what you want and remember that no one just wakes up great at anything that they do. They have to work to be great. The only person that can make you great, is you!"

After your mishap at the Olympic Trials, how did you feel running tonight?

"The overwhelming thought in my head was "Don't miss the water jump." No, I'm just kidding! I did make sure I studied it while I was standing on the line, but I just wanted to end the season on a better note. It was hard walking away from the Trials so sad when I ran such a huge PR, so running faster, battling for the win, and posting an official time was a great feeling."

How does it feel to reclaim the American record?

"I walked around for 2 weeks after the Trials knowing that I could run at least a 9:31. Knowing that, and seeing someone else crowned, because of a mistake that I made, was very hard to swallow! I took the scenic route to my goal, but I am ecstatic that after all the drama, things still worked out in the end."

Do you have any more races this summer?

"I plan to do the run-insight 2-mile this weekend (August 7th), and then just relax a little until Cross Country rolls around. I plan to run the Tufts 10K Road Race Championships in Boston in October and will just keep my eyes out for other opportunities to get my road race and cross country times down until the track season again in the spring."

Past articles on Briana Shook on www.runohio.com

http://www.runohio.com/features/07-14-03Shook.html

http://www.runohio.com/news/01-09- 04shook.html