Nine-time All-American Debbie Esser-Karman is among the greatest track athletes in Iowa State history. This fall she will be inducted into the ISU hall of fame in recognition of her outstanding performance while she was here.

During her career, Esser-Karman was crowned national champion in the 400-meter hurdles four times, becoming the first woman in the history of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women to win four national titles in one event. She was named All-American four times for her performance in the 400-meter hurdles, twice for the mile relay and the 100-meter hurdles and once for the 4×400 meter relays.

Esser-Karman won 15 Big Eight titles, three Drake Relays wins and set a U.S. record of 57.07 in the 400-hurdles at the national outdoor meet in 1977. In 1979, she set an AIAW record of 56.63, which was only .02 seconds off a national record.

Esser-Karman’s success went beyond collegiate athletics. She was most valuable athlete at the 1977 USA vs. West Germany Track and Field Challenge, and earned third place in the 400 hurdles at the 1980 World Cup in Montreal.

Esser-Karman excelled in sports before coming to Iowa State. The Woodbine native ran on a track team that won three state titles and was named Track & Field News High School Athlete of the Year, having the fastest time among prep athletes in seven events during 1976. She was also high scorer on a high school basketball team that went on to win a state title.

Esser-Karman said that during high school she had a really good coach and four good runners in addition to herself. With this combination, winning came naturally. “We never knew it any other way,” she said.

She came to ISU because she said it seemed like the right thing to do. She thought ISU had everything she needed, and it was in her own back yard.

Esser-Karman came to a 4-year-old track program at ISU. Before that, she said there was only a women’s track club. She said her four years here went by “way too fast,” keeping herself busy, training nearly year-round and traveling to meets.

After graduating with an education degree, she briefly took part in international competition. Esser-Karman was able to compete in Russia, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.

She said, “The 400-hurdles was not an Olympic event and I was too slow for the open 400.” In retrospect, she said, she should have moved up to the half mile, but at the time she had no interest in distance events.

During this time, Esser-Karman decided to move to Texas where she could train year-round. She took a job at a health club as a trainer while she tried to maintain a training schedule. “Things just fell apart,” she said. Esser-Karman said she never realized what an excellent environment college is for athletes until she was out in the “real world.”

“Eventually you have to make the decision whether you want to be a poor athlete or get a serious job,” she said. Esser-Karman chose the serious job. She stayed at the health club and worked up to management.

“I did that for about eight years, and then I started thinking I should have a few kids.” She is now a full-time mom with three girls; one in 5th grade, one in 3rd grade and a one-year-old.

She said she has given thought to being a track coach in the future. However, she said she was not sure how easy it would be for her to make the transition from athlete to coach.

Esser-Karman says being a mom has been a real adjustment for her. After being a competitive runner since 7th grade, “I thought I would be an athlete all my life,” she said.

Esser-Karman said at first she wasn’t too excited about receiving the award, but she is anticipating the award more and more every day. Now she says “it’s fun to reminisce.”