Show I Starrett is Running to the Olympics Trials B By Corey Bullock Sports Editor In 1996 the Olympic Games will willbe willbe willbe be held in Atlanta Georgia Many people from all over the globe will fly drive or even run to Olympics Monica Starrett head women's basketball basketball basketball bas bas- coach at hopes to be beto beto beto to one of those running to the games Starrett has qualified to run in the Olympic marathon trials in Columbia South Carolina Its like a dream said Starrett Its something I want to do for me and to model for my kids so that they know that its it's okay to dream and dreaming is all about the process of accomplishing your dreams This dream all started back at Stratford High School in Connecticut where Starrett was one of two girls on the boys cross country team She Sheran Sheran Sheran ran for fun and to stay in shape for forthe forthe forthe the other sports that she was playing She also ran in her basketball shoes When she was accepted to the University of Utah to play basketball basketball basketball basket basket- ball she ran there too Participating for one year on the cross country team This time it was the girls team In 1981 Starrett ran the Deseret News Marathon her first Being her first marathon she felt that first place would be a good place to finish and that is where she finished first Finding that running was a way for her to relax she ran in eight more marathons and various other races over the next 13 years Meanwhile she became an assistant basketball coach at the University of Utah and a ahead ahead ahead head basketball coach here at along with becoming a mom In August of this year Starrett ran rana a half marathon hoping to finish well Again she took first She thought to herself that if she could train hard she could be in shape for forthe forthe forthe the St. St George Marathon in early October and that is what she did Her training consisted and still consists of running an average of 70 miles a week She tries to run 20 miles on Saturdays which leaves 50 miles for the rest of the week Most of that is done here at during her lunch period because of her responsibilities as a single mother Because the fact that she spends time with her kids Starrett takes full advantage of the new Lifetime Activities Center using the tread treadmills treadmills treadmills mills and weight room for endurance You will often find her there in between classes or during one of her classes running or lifting Besides the fact that her office is there and that is where the Lady Bruins basketball team practices and plays After such vigorous training Starrett won the St. St George marathon in 2 hours 47 minutes three minutes under the 2 hours and 50 minute qualifying time Therefore qualifying qualifying qualify qualify- ing to run in the Olympic trials in Feb of 1996 She will be one of women that will race to see who will have havethe havethe havethe the chance to represent our country in Atlanta in 1996 The top three finishers finisher's finishers finisher's finishers finisher's fin fin- isher's will be the ones who go to the Olympics This is a once in a lifetime chance to go and represent your country Starrett said That once in a lifetime opportunity ty will come to pass in Feb As for right now she spends her time coaching coaching coaching coach coach- ing basketball being a mom and running running running run run- ning on tread mills As for her chances to qualify inthe inthe in inthe the Olympics I dont don't know how Ill I'll do It sure will be fun trying to make it Starrett said |