Carleton's Amelia Campbell Hopes to Repeat Indoor Success Outdoors

She runs relays too. Carlton Photo

Carleton's Amelia Campbell has at least two goals for the 2014 track season, qualify for Nationals both indoor and out.  On the way to meeting the indoor challenge, Campbell exceeded expectations. She not only made it to the NCAA DIII Championships, she won the Pentathlon title.  During the season she also set a new DIII record in the event scoring 3,914 points to win the MIAC Pentathlon championship. She  followed that with the second best ever point total of 3,884 by a DIII athlete to set an NCAA DIII Championship meet record.

And she's a "team player" on and off the track, playing saxophone with three of her best friends in a quartet.  Campbell played basketball and volleyball in addition to track in high school in Sturgeon Bay, WI.  She considered continuing with volleyball in college, but figured, even for her, combined with the academic load at Carleton, it would be too much.

"You really get out what you put in, she says of her various pursuits.  When she was considering colleges, she visited some DI schools, but they didn't click.  When she saw Carleton, however, the small town atmosphere appealed to her. 

It didn't feel "as institutional as DI," she said of the Northfield campus.  "It was more laid back.  Everyone seems to be having a lot more fun.  I'm a lighthearted person...I need to be happy" One problem arose, however, she decided Carleton was where she belonged after the school's deadline for submitting admission applications.  The athletic recruiting organization that was working with her helped her out.  They were able to get her past this hurdle.

Campbell wasn't an instant star.  She had to learn to adjust.  To go from being a "utility player" in high school discover where she could be successful in college, somewhat akin to the classroom where she hasn't declared a major yet, but is leaning toward biology.  Success in the pentathlon it requires being  able to focus on each event, minimize the distractions.  Forget what happened in the last event and concentrate on what needs to be done in the next one.  Sounds simple, but it's not. 

For Campbell there's a seemingly incongruous approach to the competition: "Mentally I try to pull myself into the joy of competition,"  she says, but describes her athletic pursuits as: "It's my job."  Instead of pulling inside herself, staying isolated and concentrating on the task at hand, Campbell enjoys the fact that her competitors in the event share her joyful approach to competition.  They joke with one another, cheer each other on, and help each other reach new heights.  "Usually at a multi event meet we're kind of like a pack," Campbell says.

This is a departure from her freshman year where there was more fear than fun in what she did.  The fear of failure was stronger than the joy of competition.  Campbell replaced the fear with preparation and training designed to get her better prepared for getting the most out of herself.  She worked with the new strength coach, helped teach the football team how to run, and looked long term.

While she hasn't given it much thought yet, Campbell is beginning to consider a possible push for post collegiate competition as a multi eventer.  Her track coach, Donna Ricks, she notes is "a perfect role model. She competed into her 40s," says Campbell.  For now, Campbell is staying in the moment, sticking with what has worked this year.  Breaking down what it takes to be better in each event.  Treating her own personal bests as the competition, and resetting her goals as she sets new standards.

The indoor pentathlon's last event, the 800 meters was a pleasant surprise for Campbell.  While all the other events emphasize power and speed, the 800 is endurance.  "It's willpower," says Campbell.  She credits Ricks expertise in training middle distance runners with helping her run a big PR of 2:17.7 at the NCAA championships.  "I was really proud of that," she said.  "It's the event where I most surprised myself."  She doesn't do long runs, but rather speed endurance training with 200 meter repeats one day and 500-600 meter runs on others.

If one event doesn't go so well, Campbell says, she uses the frustration to motivate her in the next. Outdoors will present a new set of challenges.  She hopes to be able to get outside to practice the javelin, and continue her improvements to set new PRs outdoors.  Just as important, Campbell notes, is avoiding injuries.  She stayed pretty much injury free indoors and hopes for the same going forward. Staying healthy and happy being be the mantra for trying to repeat her indoor success outdoors.