Katie Burnett is not only training for an NAIA title this spring but for an Olympics berth in 2012
Women's Track & Field - Wed, Jan. 12, 2011
Olympian Katie Burnett. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
Well, it could become true if the Lady Statesmen senior race-walker from Mesa, Ariz., continues to improve at her current rate.
The four-time NAIA All-American began competing in the event of race-walking in seventh grade, but like nearly all kids in junior high, she did not take her activity all that seriously.
"I enjoyed doing it and was fairly good at it, but I really didn't know what I where it to lead me to," Burnett said.
Where it took the athletic specimen was to the University of Arizona on a track and field scholarship.
Although she threw the javelin there, her natural strength was in a competition where such stringent rules exist such as 1) at least one foot has to be in contact with the ground at all times and 2) the supporting leg must remain straight until the remainder of the body passes over it.
Though she was successful at the NCAA Division I level, Burnett chose to transfer to NAIA William Penn and immediately became a national title contender in the race walk.
She claimed All-American honors in the spring of 2009 in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, and while her love and success in the event grew, it was not until September of that year that Burnett's career really took flight.
It was then, at a clinic in St. Louis, Mo., that Burnett met two-time American Olympian Tim Seaman, a household name in the race-walking world. At the clinic, participants were subjected to a max heart-rate test and Burnett's numbers were off the charts, prompting Seaman to ask if she was interested in training for the highest level-the Olympics-and if so, if he could work with her. She excitedly agreed, though completely unaware of the changes in training that would take place.
What changes might Seaman have in mind?
Burnett's weekly mileage BEFORE Seaman: Less than 5 miles.
Her weekly mileage AFTER Seaman: 45 miles or more!!
"Before Tim, I walked about two days a week, but now training for a 20K, I am doing a lot more distance at much ‘smarter' paces," Burnett said.
With Seaman as a true race-walk coach, Burnett has been pushed to new heights, but she admits that it could be very easy to sluff off since her mentor lives all the way out in San Diego, Calif.
"Before Tim, it was really hard to get motivated and I missed a lot of training because I did not push myself," Burnett said. "Now, I am really trying to stay committed and I text him every day. I have to be honest with him, especially if I am hurting, or I could be in real trouble by overworking myself and getting injured."
Even before Seaman showed up on the scene, Burnett had the Olympic dream in her mind, but her drive was diminished as her support system, including a lack of nearby competition, was limited.
"When I was at Arizona, the National Chairman of the USA Track & Field Race Walking Committee emailed college walkers and encouraged us to train for the 2008 Olympic Trials," Burnett said. "It was exciting to think about that, but I was nowhere near ready at that time."
The truth is, according to Burnett, that even though she has trained extremely hard the past year, she might still not be ready for the national trials that preclude the 2012 Games in London.
"I am obviously still trying for 2012, but with the major increase in distance from college to the professional level, 2016 is more realistic," Burnett said.
Burnett, a strong student as well with a 3.78 GPA, has tried her luck just once in a 20K race back on June 27, 2010 and felt pretty good about her performance, but realizes she has a long way to go. Her time in the event was 1:51:23, which is just off the current Trials-qualifying mark.
"The 20K that I competed in was long, as I had anticipated," Burnett said. "I heard someone say before the race that the effort you put in for the first 15K is what you need for the last five. It certainly felt that way during the race! You have to remember that you can't ease up at all even when it gets difficult."
While her ultimate goal is to add the title of Olympian before her name, her immediate sights are set on this spring's NAIA meets. She has already qualified for the indoor walk with a time of 15:22.18 and hopes to take collegiate gold back to Oskaloosa in March and May.
"I have talked about the NAIA's as if they really don't mean anything in the grand scheme, but it's the obstacle I have directly in front of me right now and I want to win," Burnett said.
The 2010 recipient of the Al Heppner Memorial Scholarship Award wants to prove she is deserving of the honor and knows that a national title will bring her another step closer to the sense of belonging at the top level.
Last year's NAIA indoor champion was Jessica Ching of Hong Kong, making runner-up Burnett the top competitor from the United States.
"I don't just want to be the top American, but the top collegiate race-walker overall," Burnett said. "But in the long term, my goal is to be on the Olympic team."
Walk on, Katie, walk on.
Well, it could become true if the Lady Statesmen senior race-walker from Mesa, Ariz., continues to improve at her current rate.
The four-time NAIA All-American began competing in the event of race-walking in seventh grade, but like nearly all kids in junior high, she did not take her activity all that seriously.
"I enjoyed doing it and was fairly good at it, but I really didn't know what I where it to lead me to," Burnett said.
Where it took the athletic specimen was to the University of Arizona on a track and field scholarship.
Although she threw the javelin there, her natural strength was in a competition where such stringent rules exist such as 1) at least one foot has to be in contact with the ground at all times and 2) the supporting leg must remain straight until the remainder of the body passes over it.
Though she was successful at the NCAA Division I level, Burnett chose to transfer to NAIA William Penn and immediately became a national title contender in the race walk.
She claimed All-American honors in the spring of 2009 in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, and while her love and success in the event grew, it was not until September of that year that Burnett's career really took flight.
It was then, at a clinic in St. Louis, Mo., that Burnett met two-time American Olympian Tim Seaman, a household name in the race-walking world. At the clinic, participants were subjected to a max heart-rate test and Burnett's numbers were off the charts, prompting Seaman to ask if she was interested in training for the highest level-the Olympics-and if so, if he could work with her. She excitedly agreed, though completely unaware of the changes in training that would take place.
What changes might Seaman have in mind?
Burnett's weekly mileage BEFORE Seaman: Less than 5 miles.
Her weekly mileage AFTER Seaman: 45 miles or more!!
"Before Tim, I walked about two days a week, but now training for a 20K, I am doing a lot more distance at much ‘smarter' paces," Burnett said.
With Seaman as a true race-walk coach, Burnett has been pushed to new heights, but she admits that it could be very easy to sluff off since her mentor lives all the way out in San Diego, Calif.
"Before Tim, it was really hard to get motivated and I missed a lot of training because I did not push myself," Burnett said. "Now, I am really trying to stay committed and I text him every day. I have to be honest with him, especially if I am hurting, or I could be in real trouble by overworking myself and getting injured."
Even before Seaman showed up on the scene, Burnett had the Olympic dream in her mind, but her drive was diminished as her support system, including a lack of nearby competition, was limited.
"When I was at Arizona, the National Chairman of the USA Track & Field Race Walking Committee emailed college walkers and encouraged us to train for the 2008 Olympic Trials," Burnett said. "It was exciting to think about that, but I was nowhere near ready at that time."
The truth is, according to Burnett, that even though she has trained extremely hard the past year, she might still not be ready for the national trials that preclude the 2012 Games in London.
"I am obviously still trying for 2012, but with the major increase in distance from college to the professional level, 2016 is more realistic," Burnett said.
Burnett, a strong student as well with a 3.78 GPA, has tried her luck just once in a 20K race back on June 27, 2010 and felt pretty good about her performance, but realizes she has a long way to go. Her time in the event was 1:51:23, which is just off the current Trials-qualifying mark.
"The 20K that I competed in was long, as I had anticipated," Burnett said. "I heard someone say before the race that the effort you put in for the first 15K is what you need for the last five. It certainly felt that way during the race! You have to remember that you can't ease up at all even when it gets difficult."
While her ultimate goal is to add the title of Olympian before her name, her immediate sights are set on this spring's NAIA meets. She has already qualified for the indoor walk with a time of 15:22.18 and hopes to take collegiate gold back to Oskaloosa in March and May.
"I have talked about the NAIA's as if they really don't mean anything in the grand scheme, but it's the obstacle I have directly in front of me right now and I want to win," Burnett said.
The 2010 recipient of the Al Heppner Memorial Scholarship Award wants to prove she is deserving of the honor and knows that a national title will bring her another step closer to the sense of belonging at the top level.
Last year's NAIA indoor champion was Jessica Ching of Hong Kong, making runner-up Burnett the top competitor from the United States.
"I don't just want to be the top American, but the top collegiate race-walker overall," Burnett said. "But in the long term, my goal is to be on the Olympic team."
Walk on, Katie, walk on.
