2005 USA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Interview with Carrie Messner
Reported by Parker Morse

Carrie Messner. (Photo by Alison Wade/New York Road Runners)

Carrie Messner finished third in the steeplechase in 9:41.37 and qualified for the U.S. World Championship team.

Q: So you'll be running in the first-ever women's steeplechase at the World Championships.
Carrie Messner: It's so exciting, because this wasn't even on the map when I was in college. I graduated in 2000. It's so unique, and we're so excited. We've got such a great team and such an opportunity to go and establish ourselves. I'm excited just to make the team. I was kind of hoping for the win, but I'll take it. I was going to be happy if I fell down today, just to have this be a Worlds event.

Q: How long did it take you to learn the barriers?
CM: I'm still getting there. I still have a lot of technique work to put in, a lot of places where I can still improve. As far as technique on the pit, technique on the hurdles... I've always had a good cadence in my running, but definitely there's room for improvement on the hurdles. The great thing about steeplechase is that there's always somewhere to improve.

Q: What year did you graduate from high school?
CM: 1995. My high school coach just retired. Mr. Schwar. It will be fun to give him a call when I get home. We actually have another one of my Mullen teammates out here, Charlie Gruber. He was two years behind me, and Molly Austin, too. I hope he makes it, he's a nice guy.

Q: How did you do at CU?
CM: I improved a lot. I never really hit the potential that I thought I was capable of, though. I was so burned out when I graduated that I took a year completely off. Lately I've picked up with Bobby McGee, Colleen De Reuck's old coach. He's made all the difference in the world to me.

(Interview conducted June 26, 2005.)