Shannon Rowbury Ready for 2013 IAAF Diamond League Opener at adidas Grand Prix on Saturday
2009 Olympic 6th Placer Says, “I know I am in good shape,”
By Chris Lotsbom
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
NEW YORK (24-May) — American middle distance ace Shannon Rowbury is ready to kick the 2013 season into high gear. After a long period of rest and rebuilding following her sixth place finish in the 2012 Olympic 1500m, the 28-year-old is ready to begin her IAAF Diamond League campaign at Saturday’s adidas Grand Prix.
“I’m excited to get out to these races, the Diamond League here and Prefontaine Classic,” said Rowbury, sporting a bright blue Nike top. On Saturday, Rowbury will face 2008 Olympic champion Nancy Langat, 2012 European Indoor Championships victor Abeba Aregawi, and seventeen others in the NYRR Women’s 1500m.
So far, 2013 has been a bit behind where the Duke University graduate had hoped. After the London Olympics concluded, Rowbury took a long break aiming to give herself a bit of a rest from the track. Shaking the rust off once returning to training proved a bit harder than expected for the 2009 IAAF World Championships bronze medalist.
Shannon Rowbury after winning bronze in 2009
“When I came off of my break I felt like I had a lot of work to do to get back to where I wanted to be,” she said. “The races in April were not what I was hoping for. I thought I would be further along; I think I assumed my fitness would be where they had been in other years.”
Focusing on strength training a bit longer than she had in previous seasons, Rowbury and coach John Cook are now closer to where they want to be after a stint at altitude in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
“Just because you have a not so great first race, if you keep doing what you’re doing and get in the right circumstances it can come together,” she said.
Heading into Saturday’s race, Rowbury isn’t fazed by the times other competitors have run thus far in 2013. Aregawi, the 22-year-old world leader, has already timed 3:56.60, while American Brenda Martinez, who is also competing, has run 1:59.59 for 800m.
“It’s impressive,” said Rowbury. “I try not to let it freak me out. I try to take it as it comes. I understand the sport and know that at the end of the day I have to get my but on the line and run as fast as I can.”
Still seeking an IAAF World Championships “A” standard, Rowbury’s goals for Saturday are to time under 4:05.50 and beat as many women as possible.
“The women in the field are some of the top people in the US and the world, so if I can take some scalps it would be great for my confidence,” she said.
Having seen how early season performances don’t always guarantee great placing come national or World Championship team, Rowbury isn’t concerned about the finishing order on Saturday. Come the U.S. National Championships –when there are two rounds of races– Rowbury knows she’ll be ready to try and secure her ticket to the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.
“[This meet] is a good chance to see what the other girls’ strengths and weaknesses are,” she said. “More than anything to see what my strengths and weaknesses are.”
At the U.S. National Championships, Rowbury says there is a possibility to compete in both the 1500m and 5000m. But for now, her mind is on the task at hand: running three and three quarters laps on the new Icahn Stadium track in a speedy time.
“I know I am in good shape,” Rowbury said.