Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Clark Gears For NCAAs, Olympic Trials
May 18, 2016 | Track and Field, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When it comes to reasons for students missing a class, university professors have probably heard just about every excuse possible.
But Colorado track and field standout Erin Clark may just be providing her professors with one they haven't yet heard.
Clark, a sophomore, will be competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials in early July in Eugene, Ore. She secured the invitation last weekend when she won her second straight Pac-12 3K steeplechase title, finishing in 9 minutes, 48.72 seconds.
It means she'll have to miss the first few days of CU's second summer session — not something she was wholly anticipating, but no doubt something she's happy to deal with.
“I have to email (her professors),” Clark said. “I'll have to miss a few days of class. My season will end when the trials end — then I'll be free to go to class and relax.”
“Relax” isn't a word that makes its way into Clark's conversation very often.
A year ago, she was the Pac-12's Freshman of the Year in the outdoor track season, winning the conference steeplechase title and finishing second in the 5K. Last fall, she was CU's second finisher in the Pac-12 championships and NCAA Regionals, then earned All-American honors with an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, where the Buffs collected a second-place team finish.
This spring, she won the MPSF conference meet 3K title in the indoor season and finished fifth in the NCAA Indoor Championships to secure another All-American honor.
Now, having qualified in both the steeplechase and 5K, she'll be focusing on the NCAA Preliminaries next week in Lawrence, Kan. Then comes a likely trip to the June 8-11 NCAA Championships in Eugene — her hometown — in the same stadium in which she'll compete in the Olympic Trials less than a month later.
Clark's steeplechase success is continuing a CU tradition in the event that is virtually unparalleled in conference annals. Since joining the Pac-12, CU has won every women's steeplechase title, a string of five straight. Overall, the Buffs have won eight straight conference championships in the event (dating back to the Big 12 era) and nine of the last 10. Other winners have included Olympians Jenny Simpson (two titles), Emma Coburn (three) and Shalaya Kipp (two).
Now, it's Clark blazing her own trail in the event.
“It's exciting,” Clark said. “Obviously, seeing what Jenny and Shalaya and Emma have all done just gives me something to work for. Coaches here obviously know how to coach the steeplechase, so there's just a lot of trust in the program.”
The event is also becoming Clark's favorite event — something that's happened rather quickly. Prior to taking up the race when she arrived at Colorado, she'd competed in only one other steeplechase in her life, a 2K race in high school.
“It's quickly becoming my favorite race,” Clark said. “Last year, maybe sometimes I liked the 5K a little more because the steeplechase is a little scary and my form wasn't that good — but as I've improved, the steeplechase is definitely becoming my favorite event.”
Certainly not everyone is cut out to be a “steepler.” Over the course of the 3,000 meters, contestants must clear a total of 28 “ordinary” barriers and seven water jumps. The very nature of the race results in jostling, collisions, spills and pile-ups.
“There are people who do it and don't despise it, and people who do it and don't like it and don't want to do it again,” CU head coach Mark Wetmore said. “They are polite enough to not refuse, but the crying and falling on the ground tells me they probably shouldn't do it.”
Clark was one of those who liked the event.
“She tried one and wasn't horrible at it, and she didn't despise it,” Wetmore said. “That's a good start.”
Clark has been training for the event for barely two years, and has made rapid progress in that span. Wetmore said he saw potential the first time she raced.
“To tell you the truth — it was how well she did at it despite being bad at it,” Wetmore said. “What I mean is that she ran fast while being technically bad. That told us, fix the technical aspects and she can be even better.”
That is exactly what she's done. She's shaved more than 10 seconds off her personal best this year in a race that because of its physically demanding nature allows competitors to race only a few times per season.
But along with the physical demands, the event is also mentally taxing. It requires complete concentration at all times. Even the most minor slip-up can result in a collision or water-jump spill — circumstances that can change a leader into an also-ran in a hurry.
“It's definitely a different event,” Clark said. “The biggest thing for me is it requires a much bigger mental focus piece. You can't lose focus at all or you're going to mess up on the next barrier or fall. You have to be really present the entire race.”
Then there's the part when the mental and physical come together, the last lap of the race when your strategy is to outkick your opponents and your mind and body have some serious questions about your strategy.
“There's that additional fear component toward the end, where you're looking at this barrier and wondering, 'Am I going to get over this thing? My legs feel like lead,'” Clark admitted. “But the additional elements make it more fun and interesting as well.”
Clark has qualified for the NCAA Preliminary meet in both the steeplechase and the 5K. She finished second in the Pac-12 5K behind teammate Kaitlyn Benner one day after winning the steeple title. Overall, she called the weekend clearly one of her career highlights.
“It's definitely up there,” Clark said. “To be able to get my steeple title was really exciting, and then just to run the trials time at the same time really put a cap on that. Then finishing 1-2 with Kaitlyn — I couldn't ask for anything better than that.”
Clark's 9:48.72 Pac-12 and Olympic Trials qualifying time didn't exactly come as a surprise. It's a mark she and her coaches have been aiming for all season.
“The coaches and I have been talking about that since the beginning of track season,” Clark said. “They thought it was a time I could hit; I thought it was a time I could hit. I was looking to hit that time at Payton Jordan (meet) and was pretty disappointed not getting anywhere near it there. I went into this race focusing on the win. I wanted to go out and take the lead and command the race, and the time came with it.”
Clark's time is currently the fourth-fastest time in the nation and less than two seconds behind the second-fastest time. But the leader, New Mexico senior Courtney Frerichs, has run a 9:29.31.
But Wetmore believes with more training on the technical side, Clark can continue to make significant improvement over the next two years.
“Ten years ago, if somebody ran a 9:48 in college, you were thinking next Olympics, no doubt,” Wetmore said. “Now, 9:48 will put you in the top 10 in the NCAA level. It's really good, it's a huge step and it's one of the best sophomore times in the country.
“Again, she's not perfect technically and can become much more efficient, so I think she can run very fast in college and someday contend for an NCAA title.”
Clark, who attended South Eugene High School, returned to her hometown last year for her NCAA outdoor debut, finishing 15th in the steeplechase preliminaries. She'll obviously be aiming for a better finish this time around in front of family and friends, then begin final preparations for the Olympic Trials at the same stadium.
“I can't wait to be there in July, but I've got some big things the next few weeks,” Clark said. “I'm focusing on that first.”
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
