As the world is beginning to take notice of Sydney and the Olympic games, one ISUstudent will be watching with a wishful eye. On July 14, 2000, the Olympic track and field trials began in Sacramento, Calif., and the chance of a lifetime had arrived for Lisa Griebal. Griebal traveled to Sacramento to compete in the shot put Olympic trials accompanied by her coach Dan O’Mara. “It was so hot out, about 96 degrees and with the heat index it was easily over 100 degrees. It wasn’t easy to throw in at all,” O’Mara said. However, Griebal isn’t a stranger to big competitions. She is a four-time Big 12 Conference champion, and she has traveled to France to compete in the World Junior Championships. She has also been involved in the USA Championships, has thrown at Nationals three times, and has been awarded All-American honors. “It was such a huge track meet. When we all walked in, people were everywhere,” Griebal said. “In every direction the stands were packed.” The meet was run in a different fashion so that the athletes didn’t know where they stood in the on-going competition.ÿ The two throwing rings sat side by side while the two flights of people each had their own ring. In Griebal’s flight there were nine people, and in the second flight there were eight people.ÿWith this set-up Griebal had no idea as to where she stood during the competition. “I just kept telling her that she had to throw farther,” O’Mara said. “The way the meet was ran really made a big difference.” Griebal threw a prelim of 51’10”, which got her into finals the next day. It was something that she had hoped would happen.ÿ Having had a wrist injury the previous spring that kept her from throwing, she didn’t feel like she was quite ready for the competition. “I just kept going through the technique over and over in my head, constantly doing line drills while I waited,” Griebal said.ÿ “It was just so exciting. I was trying to remain calm and have fun as well.” O’Mara didn’t seem to think that Griebal looked nervous at all.ÿ “She was awful calm for the size of the competition she was in.ÿ But she has been in situations similar to that before, it tends to make it easier when you know the competitors,” O’Mara said. When finals arrived the next day Griebal was ready to go. “She thrives on competing well,; she is one of a kind that way,”ÿ O’Mara remarked. Griebal had a throw of 53’5.5” that placed her in sixth place.ÿ Unfortunately only the top three contenders go on to Olympic qualifying. She missed third place by less than four feet. “Lisa wasn’t in top form to throw due to her spring injury. She didn’t have time to train, as in throwing against other people,” O’Mara said.ÿ “What she threw was a huge accomplishment for her.” Overall Griebal was happy with her performance and believes that the experience will help in the future. “It was a huge event, something that I will remember for the rest of my life. I look forward to great things in the future,” Griebal said.ÿ “However, as of right now I am really concentrating on this season.” O’Mara said they are doing a lot more speed-orientated training, trying to help gain some speed going across the ring.ÿ Overall things are looking good for Lisa this season. So as the games come and go the thought that she could have been there will stay with her. And what only is a dream for some is a reality for others.