Heather Miller-Koch Answers the Question: Who Would Team USA Athletes Give An Olympic Medal To If Given The Chance?

If I could give a medal away to anyone I would give one to my coach/training partner/husband all-in-one! Ryan and I started the journey to become an Olympian many years ago. At the time many would have laughed in our faces if we told them this lofty goal. He put in countless hours of learning the events, training theories, diet, and strength training to be better equipped to coach me. He dedicated just as much — if not more — time and effort into this goal than me, and I am the one who can forever call myself an Olympian.

He deserves more than a medal! He helped push me to raise the bar in all aspects of life, not just track and field. If it weren't for Ryan, I wouldn't be the person I am today, the athlete I am or be able to call myself an Olympian. I love you, Ryan!
Heather Miller-Koch

Heather Miller-Koch 18th in Heptathlon

🇺🇸American🇺🇸 trio after finishing the heptathlon at #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/M6fawns6on

— MileSplit US (@milesplit) August 14, 2016

Heather Miller-Koch finishes 18th in heptathlon
Results HERE.

Heather Miller-Koch 19th after Heptathlon Day 1

Heather Miller-Koch 19th after Heptathlon Day 1 Results HERE.

Feature on Heptathlete Heather Miller-Koch

Feature on Heptathlete Heather Miller-Koch HERE

Heather Miller-Koch Talks About the Seven Events of the Heptathlon

Heather Miller-Koch Talks About the Seven Events of the Heptathlon HERE

US Olympic Trials Day 9 Results

US Olympic Trials Day 9 Results HERE

Women's Pole Vault
Leslie Brost failed to clear the opening height of 4.40m/ 14'5.25"

Unfortunately @LeslieBrost failed to clear the opening height of 14' 5.25". pic.twitter.com/O7JaRTKx7M

— RunMDRA (@RunMDRA) July 10, 2016

Heptathlon
Heather Miller-Koch 2nd in the heptathlon with 6423 points. On the team for Rio
Jess Lehman 12th with 5806 points.

Toe the line at #TrackTown16 and at the Olympic Games.@hmillerkoch, @TrackBarbie7 and @kendell61495 are Rio bound! pic.twitter.com/vKUo51x6ER

— TrackTown USA (@GoTrackTownUSA) July 10, 2016

@SCSUHUSKIES Miller-Koch qualifies for 2016 Summer Olympics #NCAAD2 #NSIC https://t.co/fHN9RjVQUI

— SCSU HUSKIES (@SCSUHUSKIES) July 11, 2016

Heather Miller-Koch, second place, 6423 points

“This year the mentality was just don’t get fourth place. Last year at the championships, I came in fourth place by 18 points, missed going to World Championships. It’s just been a steady climb. I came out of Division II college. My PR in college was only 5230 points. This year it has just been do not get fourth place.”

“First time I competed against [Barbara Nwaba] was the last Olympic Trials, so we’re known each other since then. It’s been great to get to know Kendell. I had never competed against against her, just know she’s a high school phenom, the best college. She’s the next best thing.”

“The depth of the entire field, the scores were huge — the best it’s ever been in a national championship and it would have been even bigger had we had better conditions. It was a little rainy today. We were running into the wind yesterday. Those don’t produce the best heptathlon scores and we still did it. To get to this meet, you had to take 6,000 points essentially to get into this meet almost. That’s  a huge climb from four years ago. It’s just going to keep going up.”

“I can’t really describe the feeling right now. The whole goal was for this meet. I had done other heptathlons throughout the year but it was all leading up to this competition. I just put it all out there, training specifically for this meet to make the team because I knew it was going to be so competitive. It was just great that we were able to put up such big scores considering head winds yesterday and rain today. It’s pretty awesome.”

“I know that Barbara is a very strong 800 runner, and so is Sharon, who was only a second and a half behind me – she had to beat me by a second and a half – so I knew I had to run. Our plan was for Barb to lead the race and I didn’t want to break stride and I kind of went out a little hot around the corners. I just went with it. I don’t usually like leading. I usually like coming from behind but I knew I just had to trust my training. Coming through the 600 I saw that we were a little slower than what I had been training at so I was just about to finish strong.”

Women's 1500 final 
Gabe Grunewald 12th in 4:18.73

I don't have a lot to say other than TOKYO 2020!

— gabriele grunewald (@gg_runs) July 11, 2016

#SquadGoals@MollyHuddle, @shelbo800 and @KimConley are Rio Bound in the 5000m! #TrackTown16 pic.twitter.com/m26stsqGcp

— TrackTown USA (@GoTrackTownUSA) July 11, 2016

This is @shelbo800 's mirror. Today she became an olympian. So stinkin' proud! pic.twitter.com/H6LhPCmUin

— Olivia (@omicklepickle) July 10, 2016

Men's 1500 final
Ben Blankenship 3rd in 3:36.13 Going to Rio

Victory lap for @benfblankenship pic.twitter.com/JqaMt5JDkf

— RunMDRA (@RunMDRA) July 11, 2016

Yellow flag???

Official word is that results stand and Blankenship is safe. He will be heading to Rio for Team USA #TrackTown16

— Ryan Fenton (@ryanmfenton) July 11, 2016

Eric Avila on shove from Blankenship: "It's totally within his right. He's protecting his space." We'll see if officials agree. #TrackTown16

— Kevin Liao (@RunLiao) July 11, 2016

That was a nice block by Blankenship. Not sure Manzano's team is gonna stay quiet #TrackTown16

— Pat Price (@WritingAboutRun) July 11, 2016

Last year, @benfblankenship missed the world championships by .02 seconds to Leo Manzano. Makes the Olympic team over Manzano by .44 seconds

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavezSI) July 11, 2016

 Ben Blankenship, third place, 3:36.18

“It’s really good (to make the Olympic team). For everybody here at TrackTown, they did such a damn good job to put on such a good meet. It’s one of the best venues you can run at in the world.”

On the question if today was the best race of his life:

“Yes. Yeah. I haven’t had the time to process it all, but yeah.”

On the bumping in the race:

“I really think it was the first 200 meters or 300 meters -- in the first lap. (Leo Manzano) tried to come out and I was right there. It was either going to tangle up or one of us has to make a move. It was easier for him to go forward. If anything it helps us.”

“Every time anyone goes out and race, their goal is to make it to a U.S. championship. It was really a solid three years of training under Mark Rowland to get me here.”

Ben Blankenship After Taking 2nd in 1500 at 2016 Olympic Trials: https://t.co/yCRDMxMbSu via @YouTube

— LetsRun.com (@letsrundotcom) July 11, 2016

US Olympic Trials Day 8 Results: Hassan Mead Qualifies for Rio

US Olympic Trials Day 8 Results HERE

WHAT. A. FINISH!
Lagat, Mead, and Chelimo are going to Rio in the men's 5K!
Lagat wins in 13:35.50! pic.twitter.com/Qkjr3DkzAt

— TrackTown USA (@GoTrackTownUSA) July 10, 2016

#🇺🇸 #dreaming pic.twitter.com/QVHrx0f25F

— John Jefferson (@jwjeffer) July 10, 2016

Heptathlon Day 1
Heather Miller-Koch is 3rd with 3822 points
Jess Lehman 19th  with 3.322 points

Women's Javelin Final
Nicolle Murphy 5th in the javelin 56.35m/185'10"

Nicolle Murphy

Men's 5K Final

We stick together https://t.co/pGhECL7b0X

— Kurt Decker (@mntrailrunner) July 10, 2016

Hassan Mead 2nd in 13:35.70. Makes the Olympic team for Rio

                             Garrett Heath 13th in 13:55.58

Former CTTC counselor @HassyHass35 is going to Rio! #CTTC2016 #TrackTown16 pic.twitter.com/BKqkEG0NT8

— C Tolle Run (@CTolleRun) July 10, 2016https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cm-fpMOVYAArOIC.jpg

I love track.

— John Millea (@MSHSLjohn) July 10, 2016

Victory lap with @HassyHass35 and Minnesota fans! pic.twitter.com/MRgiMo1jYF

— RunMDRA (@RunMDRA) July 10, 2016

Former CTTC counselor @HassyHass35 is going to Rio! #CTTC2016 #TrackTown16 pic.twitter.com/BKqkEG0NT8

— C Tolle Run (@CTolleRun) July 10, 2016

That was without a doubt the best 5000 meter race I have ever seen. I might never see better.

— Jesse Squire (@tracksuperfan) July 10, 2016

Gopher women's summary HERE.  Men HERE
Daily Relay Photo Gallery HERE

Post Race Press Conference:
Hassan Mead

“I kind of expected it to be an unpredictable race with people going and coming back. One thing I had to do was cover every move being made and had to give myself a chance on the last lap. As my coach said, stay smooth, stay within the race, and bring it home strong.”

“I can’t put any words on it. As a kid I used to watch people become an Olympian and how they reacted when they made it. I was trying to picture what my reaction would’ve been when I made it, and to be able to go through the line knowing I’m going to the next Olympics hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m sure when it does, it’s going to be a great feeling.”

On coming back from 10k DNF:

“To be honest, after that 10k I was devastated. I wasn’t even thinking about the 5k, my mind was a cluster. The people around me, my coach and my agents, everybody was just rushing to help me recover and getting ready for the 5k: fluid, wet towels, everything they could think of. From that point on I forgot about the 10k, and said I’ve got the fastest 5k coming in, I said I was the man to beat and that was the mindset I had.”

"To go to the line and know you're going to the Olympics, it hasn't hit me yet." --Hear @HassyHass35 next on @kare11 pic.twitter.com/c6q528Csl2

— Dave Schwartz (@Dave_Schwartz) July 10, 2016

Update: Heather Miller-Koch

Missed one of the Minnesota athletes given a USATF Foundation Elite Athlete Development Grants.  Multi eventer Heather Miller-Koch was also awarded a grant.

Full list HERE.

IAAF Summary of Saturday's Pan Am Competition; Quotes from Heather Miller-Koch

IAAF Summary of Saturday's Pan Am Competition HERE Quotes from Heather Miller-Koch and other US athletes HERE.

CONGRATS to Heather Miller on winning SILVER in the women's heptathlon! #GoTeamUSA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/6xraFxhuAy

— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) July 26, 2015

Heather Miller-Koch Second in Pan American Games Heptathlon; Garrett Heath 4th in 5K

Heather Miller-Koch second in the Pan American Games heptathlon.  Result is HERE.

Garrett Heath finishes fourth in the Pan American Games 5K.  Result is HERE.

Heather Miller-Koch 3rd after Day 1 of the Pan American Games Heptathlon; Erin Teschuk 4th in Steeplechase

Heather Miller-Koch third after Day 1 of the Pan American Games Heptathlon. Scores are HERE.

Erin Teschuk finishes fourth in the steeplechase. Result is HERE.

US Pan Am Team Roster's Announced

USA Track & Field: USATF announces Team USA rosters for Pan American Games and Pan Am Juniors http://t.co/3CdYN8xaau

— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) July 16, 2015

Heather Miller-Koch in the Heptathlon.  Garrett Heath in the 5K.  Ruby Stauber running the Junior Pan Am's 800.

St .Cloud Times story on Heptathlete Heather Miller-Koch

 St .Cloud Times story on Heptathlete Heather Miller-Koch    HERE

Heather Miller-Koch 4th in Heptathlon

Heather Miller-Koch 4th in heptathlon. Results are HERE

Heather Miller-Koch 5th after Day 1 of the USATF Women's Heptathlon

Heather Miller-Koch 5th after Day 1 of the USATF Women's Heptathlon. Results are HERE.

T&F News Women's USATF Champs Form Chart

T&F News Women's USATF Champs Form Chart HERE. Amanda Smock, Liz Podominick, Heather Kampf, Gabe Grunewald, Kara Goucher, Emma Bates, Heather Miller-Koch listed in top ten though for some it won't be the event they compete in at the championships.

Women with World Championship qualifying marks HERE. Podominick, Miller-Koch, Kampf, Grunewald.