Marie Lawrence (Reno HS)
National Steeplechase
Record Holder talks about
Beijing World Jr Champs

September 5th, 2006
Nevada senior was finalist in the
Under 20 World Champs 3k Steeple

 

Marie Lawrence (Reno HS)
National Steeplechase
Record Holder talks about
Beijing World Jr Champs

September 5th, 2006
Nevada senior was finalist in the
Under 20 World Champs 3k Steeplechase
Doug Speck

        
photos by Photorun.net
Marie Lawrence in action at the World Junior Championships in August in China

Marie Lawrence (Reno, Nevada) just finished out a super junior year in the sport with competition in the World Junior (under 20 years of age) Championships in Bejing China.  During a September through August run of competitions that had her finish a super fall cross country season with a second in the national prep title run, then emerge over the barriers and water jump in the spring track season to an eventual US Prep record of 10:15.26 or the 3k Steeple event while winning the US Junior Championships. In Beijing in mid-August, Marie continued her lengthy seasons in fine style, placing 6th in her heat at 10:22.85, then tenth in the finals at 10:17.84, a contest won by Kenyan Caroline Tuigong at 9:40.95. 

We caught up with Marie as school started in early September, with her reactions below to the trip to China, with a bit of what she learned about running on the international scene there. 

One of prep history's recently most successful distance stars is embarking on her senior year, with we are sure more of the same quality rolling down the pipe.  My, oh my 2006 was special (and rather long)! 

1) What was your overall reaction to the trip and the competition in Beijing?

ML - When we first got to Beijing my first reaction was 'wow the sky is brown.' The pollution was so bad. I was also really suprised in how little the drivers care about pedestrians. There pedestrians definitely do not have the right of way

2) How did you feel treated as an American in the nation that will be the host to the 2008 Olympics?

ML - A lot of people wanted to take pictures with us and really wanted out gear. Other than thati did not feel as though we were treated any differntly than other team or country.

3) Understand there was a sense of security, as there is in all big international competitions, to the time there - what was that like for you?

ML - The security was really weird at first. Everytime we walked back into the hotel we had to go through medal detectors and to get past the gates of the hotel we had to show our crudentials. I remember one time we were coming back from shopping and it was pouring rain and we all showed our crudential to get back in, but one of our teamates had his in the bottom of his bag and they made us stand out in the rain until he found it. We all thought that the security might have been a little tighter because Israel was staying with us as well.

4) How much touristy stuff outside the training and racing were you able to do?

ML - Well the second or third day we were there we got to go to the Great Wall of China and that was so cool!!   It was incredibley humid, and the pollution was a really bad, so it was a little hard to see it in the distance, but it was definitely worth it!! Other days we got to go to a six story shopping complex called silk street. The only way to shop there is to bargain. Having to bargain all the time is one experience that I will never forget.

5) Did you have much time to spend with athletes and people from other countries?

ML - We did not have too much time to spend with countries other than the ones that were in our hotel. The only other time we got to see anyone else was at the track.

6) How did you feel about your two races there, the trials that had you qualify for the finals, and the 10:17.84 for 10th in the Finals?

ML - I was really happy with both of my races. I was a little bummed out after prelims because I thought I had not qualified and I knew I could have run faster to get in, but once I found out that I qualified I was really happy.

7) The Races in Beijing were two days apart, but if you just had to run one contest there do you think you could have run significantly faster?

ML - I am not really sure if I would have been able to go faster. Every race is different and they can be good and bad. If it was just one race it might have been a really bad race or a really good race. you never know

8) You have been to the World Cross Cross Country Meet, and now the World Junior Track Championships. What did you learn about foreign competition from the races you were in and had a chance to view in Beijing?

ML - Foreign competition is a lot faster!!!!  haha I feel like I know how to race better with tons of people around you all the time. Now I know the strategies that I have to use to go over the steeple with 12+ people.

9) How's the training been going since arriving back from Beijing?

ML - Since I have been back training has been going really really well. I took a pretty relaxing break after Jr nationals so I feel much more refreshed and ready to start a hopefully good cross country season