At the college level, Sarah Bowman was one of the most dominant track and field runners in recent memory. Now, two years into her professional career, Icon's emerging star is more determined than ever to make her mark among the sport's elite. 

In a recent article on Universal Sports, Sarah discussed the challenges of turning pro, and how she's adjusting.

Can you talk about your performance in the 800m at the adidas Grand Prix and what your thoughts were after the race?
It's good to get into races like that but I wish I was strategically better. I did feel like I put it all out there.

Going into the race, what was your goal?
I wanted to win. You race to win, right? But it was also to have a clean, fast race and to try and PR. None of that happened.

With Nationals coming up pretty quick, where does a performance like that leave your frame of mind?
You can't let things like that effect you. I'm excited to run the 1500m. I feel like I'm in good shape for it. I'm not going to let this race bother me.

What was your approach to this outdoor season knowing that there is no big meet at the end of the summer to peak for?
It's about trying things out and getting better. This is my first year as a professional so it's kind of a good time to try different things, get used to the racing of it, and then come back next year really strong.

What's been the biggest adjustment that you've had to make coming out of Tennessee and turning pro?
Not racing as much. I know a lot of people are like, ‘It's better.' I'm sure in the long run it is, but right now that means that you have to make the races that you do have count. I need to do that.

Is that something that you think might take more than a season of getting acclimated before you can start doing that consistently?
Yeah. I think it's just adjusting to the mental aspects. When you have a lot of mental confidence, you will put yourself where you need to be and will get better. My coaches always use Maria Mutola as an example. She could be out of it or in weird places early but when it came down to the last 150, she put herself right where she needed to be. I think a lot of that has to do with confidence.

You seemed to have that confidence at Tennessee. Did that much change for you as a first-year pro?
Yeah, especially in an 800m. But I need to get there, and there are no excuses. I need to get there and be able to do it consistently. This is a year where I can learn those things and keep pushing.

Obviously you will be going to Nationals looking to win, but in terms of running a sounder strategic race, what are some of the technical things that you will be focused on?
Putting myself in the right position, you know, setting myself up to have a good finish. Using my race in New York as an example, I had 200 to go and felt fine but there was a wall of people. To get around them, I would have had to swing out to lane three and against a field like that you're not going to come off the turn and sprint by people like, ‘Bye bye guys.' It's just not going to happen. Again, it's about putting myself in position. When you believe you should be in a certain position, you're going to put yourself there. For me, it's a matter of getting that together.

A MEMORABLE RACE
Sarah was the focus on FloTrack interview recently as well. In it, she discussed winning the national high school title five years ago.

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

COVER GIRL
Sarah has also been featured on a number of magazine covers since turning pro, including Track and Field News (June 2009, pictured below) and Runner's World (June 2010). 

 

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