2005 USA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Interview with Elizabeth Jackson
Reported by Parker Morse

Elizabeth Jackson. (Photo by Alison Wade/New York Road Runners)

Elizabeth Jackson, the 1999 and 2002 U.S. steeplechase champion, established an every-three-years pattern by winning again in 2005. This year's win, in a time of 9:39.78, was her fastest yet. The victory came at the perfect time for Jackson, who is one of the U.S. pioneers in this event, as it will be contested in a major international championship for the first time at this summer's World Track & Field Championships in Helsinki.

Q: What does it mean to win today?
Elizabeth Jackson: It's really exciting for me. I thought about whether or not just to be done. I went through a rough year, year and a half. A lot of different things were going wrong. Then I started getting back in shape, and I trained a few months before last year, came and ran just to see how I did. I felt pretty good about it, but I wanted to reach my potential, train hard, and really see what I could do. So this year, I really went for it. I'm just so excited. It's been a hard year, and I've just tried to stick with it, train hard, and give it my all. I've had a lot of help from my family and other people. I'm so grateful.

Q: Did you think of quitting?
EJ: I thought about it. You definitely don't run, necessarily, for the attention or financial reasons. Most runners run because they're driven, and they're running for themselves. It's a unique sport. It's not like basketball, or other sports, where it's just an easy life. It takes sacrifice, and a lot of hard work. There's sacrifice in other ways; there are a lot of other things you could be doing with your life. But I love it. I'm so excited to be here, and so excited it went well today.

Q: [Briana] Shook had a big lead early on. Were you concerned?
EJ: Based on the races I've been in with her, she usually runs a pretty quick first half. So I was just going to go out and try to keep a distance on her. Usually I have a lot left at the end. I'm more of a kicker, my races don't go out fast at the beginning. I wasn't sure what kind of shape she was in or what she'd be running, but I thought if she ran like she usually did, [I'd] just to go out and stay within distance of her, go with her, [not] let her get too big of a lead, then in the second half of the race, to push it and go around her.

Q: Are you surprised you broke 9:40?
EJ: Surprised isn't the right word. I'm excited, and I'm really happy. My training has been going really well, and my coach thought I was capable of going under 9:40.

Q: What's your goal for Helsinki?
EJ: Just train really hard. Train as hard as I can. My training has been going really well, and I'll just keep with it. Hopefully I'll keep dropping my times, and see what happens. We'll get a better feel for what kind of time I'm capable of running as the season progresses.

Q: If you make the final in Helsinki, you'll be part of the greatest women's steeplechase ever held.
EJ: It will be exciting. I'll be honored and thrilled if I'm able to do that.

Q: Are you still with [BYU] Coach [Pat] Shane?
EJ: I am. He's an amazing coach. He's been absolutely the best thing that's ever happened to me as far as running. Even today, he was telling me, 'You can do this.' He's always very confident in what I'm able to do. My own confidence, I say, 'I don't know if I can do this,' and he says, 'No, I know you, I know your training, I know that you can do this.' And I did exactly what he said, and tried to trust him. From day one, when I went to BYU, it's been amazing.

Q: Could you summarize your injury problems?
EJ: Two years ago, my IT band got tight. It could [have been] some problems in the quad and hamstring as well. I end up getting bursitis in my hip. I've been really lucky I haven't had it this year. Ever since I started running, it's been the one thing, if I'm not careful and I do too much too soon, that's the first thing I start to feel. I had a lot of challenges and trials that year. I just got through it, I came back, and I'm happy to be here right now.

(Interview conducted June 26, 2005.)