Utah steeplechaser to debut in new Olympic event

Utah steeplechaser to debut in new Olympic event


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These 2008 Summer Olympics are historic for many reasons. For example, the simple fact that the Olympics are in China for the first time, but there's another Olympic debut that's captured the imagination of fans in Utah. Morgan's Lindsey Anderson, all-American at Weber State, is set to compete in the first Olympic Women's 3000m Steeplechase event, and she already knows a key phrase in Chinese.

But the climb from Morgan to the top of the mountain took a few years and a total rededication to training.

Anderson's coach at Weber State, Paul Pilkington, says he pushed Anderson to do more. He says, "My mantra was she has to do more, increase her distance runs, the intensity and the volume."

Anderson says, "I'm such a competitive person, I couldn't stay in that middle pack very long cause I just wanted to be the best."

The uploaded workouts paid off. Last year Anderson set an NCAA steeplechase record. Now she's in the Olympics.

She says, "To be a part of that now is just unbelievable. And, I'm so excited to be an ambassador for the United States and for everything I stand for."

Right now Anderson's channeling China 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but Utah is always in her heart. Pilkington says, "The fun thing about her is she's only 23. She's going to get a heck of a lot better."

Anderson and Pilkington both want her to make the Olympic final here, but as you heard him say, she's going to get a lot faster and better. So the goal in London 2012 is a medal.

E-mail: tkirkland@ksl.com

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Tom Kirkland

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