ATHLETE PROFILE: Nicole Teter
By Nick Krupke and KVAL Web StaffUPDATE 4:28 p.m. Nicole Teter placed 5th in the finals of the women's 800 meters, a race marred by a fall. UPDATE Nicole Teter advanced in the women's 800 meter with a time of 2:05:01 Friday. RESULTS She competes in the first of two semi-final heats at 4:25 p.m. Saturday. START SHEET EUGENE, Ore. - One of the events Friday night is the semifinals for the women's 800 meters. Former Olympian Nicole Teter looks to put her rash of injuries aside and get back to the peak of her sport. Now 16-years into her professional career, Teter knows that no two 800-meter races are ever the same. "A race can go out really slow or really fast," she said. "There is not a lot of room for mistakes. It's a lot of tactics" The native of Cottonwood, Calif., moved to Eugene 16 months ago to join her old coach Frank Gagliano and Oregon Track Club Elite. "When we come here we get the job done, we really relate to one another quite a bit better than if you're just doing it by yourself," she said. "We have a really professional coach who makes it fun, but you know, when we actually get to the track we know there is a job to be done" After coming together with Coach Gags in 2001 is when Teter's career really came alive, winning the US indoor and outdoor 800-meter championships. Teter's American indoor record of 1:58:07 still stands today, but the peak of her successful career was making the 2004 olympic team. After qualifing for the semifinals in Athens, Greece, Teter knows what it feels like to be near the top of her sport, and it's been a long way in getting back. "This has been her life all these years," Gagliano said. "She's getting up there in age, but she still is a tremendous runner." "I made the last Olympics, and I made that being injured, and I would really love to make this team and race injury free in the Olympics," Teter said. Still recovering from Achilles tendenitis in her last race leading up to the trials, Teter feels healthy enough to compete for a top three finish in a loaded 800-field... "There's no true favorite, I think," she said. "We all have about an equal shot at making the team." |
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