Chasing her dreams

Sometimes pursuing one dream means putting another one on hold. That’s the story of MU track and field hepathlete Fiona Asigbee.

In 2004 Asigbee graduated from MU with a degree in biology. The choice came down to attending medical school or sticking to her dream of making the Olympic Track and Field Team. After a successful undergraduate career on the track and field team, Asigbee ultimately chose to put medical school aside to focus on her career as a hepathlete. She said she would have regretted the decision to stop track after college. The heptathlon includes the 100 meter hurdles and 200 and 800 meter dash, combined with shot put, javelin, high and long jump events.

“I felt I hadn’t reached my potential,” Asigbee said. Which is why she chose to stay to keep practicing. “You have to work in order to get better. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t like it,” she said, “I feel like God has given me something special and I’m just trying to make the best of it.”

Last weekend marked the second time this MU graduate student took home a bronze medal in the heptathlon at the 2006 USA Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis. Her success this weekend didn’t come easy. Asigbee said she is just happy to have made it through this year’s events after suffering a groin injury.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Asigbee said of her ability to get through the track meet, “It was all God.”

Asigbee was jumping hurdles at a meet last February in her home state in Iowa when she hit her groin on a hurdle and knew something didn’t feel right. After the painful incident, she knew she had to take it easy.

“It was very frustrating,” she said of the incident. But she kept her mind focused and her hopes high as she still tried to work out in small bits, doing some cardio such as jump rope.

“It wouldn’t have been possible to get through it without the staff and teammates.”

“She learned a lot,” head coach Dr. Rick McGuire said of her injury. “She learned that she’s really good.”

Her love for track and field began her freshman year of high school in her hometown of Walford, IA. when she joined the track team. She said the experience was very rewarding because she met and became friends with a lot of people on the team.

“I was always very active,” Asigbee said.

By her sophomore year, she started receiving letters of interest from different colleges, including the University of North Carolina. It was then she said she realized she had a God-given talent. Asigbee ultimately chose MU in 2000 and came here on a full scholarship.

“They have a good balance between student and athlete,” Asigbee said of MU.

Toward the end of her freshman year, curiosity struck and Asigbee opted to try the heptathlon, but success wasn’t easy.

“The first year was a challenge for her,” McGuire said. But after practicing six days a week, curiosity soon developed a talent.

“It’s amazing how much time she puts in,” said Associate Head Coach/Throws Brett Halter, “I think she’s extremely talented. She has a fantastic attitude. It’s fun to have her around.” Asigbee doesn’t plan on leaving for a while.

The 2008 Olympic Track & Field Trials will be held at the end of June in Eugene, Ore. Until then, Asigbee said she hopes to keep improving her skills.

“It’s kind of addicting. You always want to push your body harder,” Asigbee said.

“She’s well on her way,” McGuire said.