An attempt at landing a position on the U.S. Olympic Games throwing team will become a reality for two ISU students this summer.

Jamie Beyer and Lisa Griebel will travel to Sacramento, Calif., to compete in the 2000 Olympic trials in mid-July. These two ISU athletes will contend with the most elite shot putters in the United States during a three-day weekend of competition.

“Since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of the Olympics, but it didn’t become real until last year … until I qualified,” said Griebel, junior in political science.

Beyer, senior in construction engineering, said he has also dreamed of the opportunity to represent the United States in athletics.

“[The Olympics] has been a goal of mine for a while,” he said. “I first thought about it in high school when I finished in the top 10 [shot putters] in the nation — it’s something I’ve slowly been working toward.”

In order for an athlete to qualify for the trials, he or she must reach a certain throw mark or time between Jan. 1, 1999 and July 1, 2000, Griebel said.

“There are qualifying marks you have to hit to be considered,” Beyer said. “You have a year-and-a-half to qualify.”

Griebel qualified in February of last year at the indoor national meet after throwing a distance of 53 feet, 10 inches. “I have definitely improved since then,” she said.

In March of last year, Beyer hit the qualifying mark of 64 feet, 1 inch at an indoor meet, he said.

“Although, I had an outdoor throw of 63 [feet], 5 [inches] at an NCAA meet last year sometime in June,” he said.

In addition to training for the outdoor season, these athletes are also preparing to compete on a higher level.

“The trials is the next step up from the collegiate level,” said Dick Lee, head coach of the women’s track team. “The competition is more intense.”

However, Lee said when students exert effort at practice and are gifted athletes, they can combine these two components together to reach their goals.

“When you put those two things together, you see kids experiencing more and more success,” he said.

The ISU track and field coaches have been supportive, Griebel said.

“[They] expect us to do our best at everything … but realize we have off days and bad days,” she said.

Griebel said her workout has changed because the season is extended due to the late date of the trials.

School requirements have made it difficult to spend a satisfactory amount of time training, Beyer said.

“School limits me to how much I can train,” he said. “It is tough to train as much as I would like to.”

Beyer said once classes are finished, he will engage in two workout sessions each day.

Griebel said she does not anticipate a spot on the U.S. team but is looking forward to the experience of a large meet.

“Making the trials at this young of an age is an accomplishment,” Lee said. “This will help her in the future if she continues throwing past her college years and decides to give the 2004 Olympic trials an attempt.”

Beyer said there are currently four or five outstanding throwers in the United States.

“If I was from a different country, I know I would be there now,” he said. “It is frustrating that the U.S. is so strong.”

Both shot putters intend to continue training through 2004.