June 21, 2005

Toledo, OH - Briana Shook is looking for a chance to erase a very bad memory.

The former University of Toledo track star and current UT assistant coach will compete at the USA Track and Field Championships at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA on Sunday, June 26 at 4:00 p.m. (EDT).

Shook, the 2003 USA Champion at the 3000-meter steeplechase, will be looking to wipe out the memory of the 2004 Olympic Trials when she crossed the finish line 50-meters ahead of her nearest competitor in what would have been a new American Record of 9:31.98, but was disqualified for missing the first water jump. Two weeks later, Shook won the KBC Night of Athletics IAAF Grand Prix event in Belgium in a new American Record of 9:29.32, a mark that still stands.

That victory gave her the record back, but Shook is looking to earn her national title back after what happened at the Olympic Trials. According to head coach Kevin Hadsell, Shook has placed herself in a position to do well. "She has raced, and beaten, the top American women already this season," said Hadsell. "She is ahead of where she was a year ago at this time and I think she is ready to do something special next week."

This year's national championships also marks the first time that the United States will send women to the World Championships in the steeplechase. The top-three finishers at the USA Track and Field Championships, provided they have all run under the IAAF "A" Standard of 9:50.00, will represent the USA at the World Track and Field Championships in Helsinki, Finland on August 6-14.

"Placing herself in a position go for the win and get to the World Championships are the two goals," said Hadsell. "The top-five American women have all got the "A" standard so one would assume that the top three will all be "A" standards. Bri's style of racing can make things interesting because not only do the other runners have to worry about the fast pace, but they also have to conserve their energy so as to not finish fourth. It should be a great race."

Shook, former three-time Rocket All-American, enters the meet with the third-fastest time in the country this year. Her 9:49.51 time from a meet in Athens, Greece ranks her behind former American record holder Elizabeth Jackson and former Arizona State All-American Lisa Aguilera Galvis (9:44 and 9:48, respectively). Not having the fastest-time going into the national championships is not new to Shook. "I usually start out the season slow and I have never had the fastest time coming into the USA Championships," said Shook.