Records were meant to be broken. And ISU senior shot putter Lisa Griebel is an expert at it.

Griebel already holds Iowa State’s outdoor shot put record, and her sights are set on the indoor record.

At the 2002 ISU Open, Griebel took first, hurling a meet-record 53 feet 6 1/4 inches, which automatically qualifies her for NCAA competition.

But her goals are set much higher.

“My main goals are to do well in the Big 12 and place in the top three in the NCAAs. I’ve finished fourth twice,” Griebel said. “I also want to keep improving my personal bests.”

Oh, and she wants to shave throwing coach Dan O’Mara’s head.

“If I throw over 55 feet in the indoor season, I get to shave coach O’Mara’s hair off,” Griebel said with a grin.

Not that O’Mara would complain.

“Lisa came into the season a little out of shape, but she came into the ISU Open and automatically qualified for Nationals,” he said. “We’re right where we want to be right now.”

Griebel’s success at the ISU Open was impressive, but she has also consistently put up good numbers at home including a second place finish at last weekend’s Iowa State Classic.

“I love being at home,” Griebel said. “You’re comfortable with your surroundings and people are cheering for you. It’s just a great feeling.”

Although the personal accomplishments are nice, Griebel is focused on helping the team by contributing points.

“We’ve got a good team this year. I’m very proud of the girls,” she said.

The senior from Sioux Falls, S.D. has earned All-American honors four times as a Cyclone and is the defending Big 12 outdoor champion in the shot put. She also tried out for the 2000 Olympics, placing sixth. Only the top three can compete.

To add to her honors, Griebel placed ninth at the World University Games last August in China with a throw of 54-8 1/2, breaking her own school record.

“It was such a rush,” she said. “It was just like the Olympics.”

Over 187 countries competed at the World University Games and over 80,000 people attended the opening ceremonies. Griebel was the top shot putter for the United States women.

“I thought she did awesome at Worlds,” O’Mara said. “She was in a different environment, eating different food and she was competing against the best of the world in her age group.”

Despite staying busy with the track and field team, Griebel also manages to have a busy life outside of her sport. A major in political science, she spent last fall student teaching in Europe and hopes to continue teaching in Iowa next year. She is also employed at the Parks Library and involved with church activities.

“I’m good at multitasking,” Griebel said. “I can never just sit still.”

The future is a question mark as far as competing.

“My main goal is teaching right now. My body is saying no more, but I’m going to wait and see,” Griebel said.

Another Olympic tryout is a possibility, but still two years away.

What is certain is that the future for O’Mara will be a bit different without Griebel around next year.

“I’m going to miss Lisa a lot next year. She’s a one of a kind person; there’s only one Lisa out of every 100 throwers,” he said. “Lisa contributes leadership, experience and a demand to be the best. She will do everything for us.”

However, he knows Griebel’s future will be strong when she leaves Iowa State.

“It’s sad to see her go, but she’ll be successful on and off the field,” he said.

Until then, he is just anticipating the moment until he becomes bald.