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USA Track & Field: Move To Eugene Helps Geena Gall Secure Olympic Spot

Michigan grad Geena Gall said that being a full-time runner -- and not having to divide her time between training and a part-time job -- helped her qualify for the Summer Olympics.

By David Vranicar
Jun 25, 2012; Eugene, OR, USA; Geena Gall takes a victory lap after finishing second in the womens 800m in 1:59.24 in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
Jun 25, 2012; Eugene, OR, USA; Geena Gall takes a victory lap after finishing second in the womens 800m in 1:59.24 in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
It's not a novel concept that part-time jobs can get in the way of hobbies. But they can, it turns out, also get in the way of Olympics dreams.

And that's one reason why Flint native and former University of Michigan runner Geena Gall is a full-time runner.

MLive.com had an article about Gall last month after she qualified for the London Olympics in the 800 meters. According to the article, her singular focus on running was a boon:

In 2009, after finishing school in Ann Arbor, Gall went all in and dedicated herself full-time to becoming an Olympic runner. She moved to Eugene, Ore., known as a track and field hotbed, and became a member of the Oregon Track Club Elite. Her affiliation with OTC [Olympic Training Committee] and sponsorship with Nike allowed her to become a full-time athlete and enhance her training regimen.

"I am so blessed that I don't have to work a part-time job or something and that I can just concentrate on my training," Gall said of the benefits of living and training in Eugene. "Being part of OTC and being coached by Mark Rowland has been tremendous for my growth in the sport as well as just being part of an elite team atmosphere and professional running group. There is no better place for a track athlete than Eugene, because it's such a track-friendly town."

Gall added that missing out on the 2008 Olympics, when she was a junior at Michigan, was an experience that helped her this time around.

Here is a schedule for the women's 800.

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