EUGENE, Ore. - An exhausted and disappointed Lisa Koll still managed to find the silver lining from her performance at the United States Olympic Team Trials here Friday night.

In her attempt to make the elite women's 10,000-meter run class of 2008, the Fort Dodge Senior High graduate and Iowa State national champion placed a respectable eighth out of 23 Bejing hopefuls on a warm, humid evening at Hayward Field.

It wasn't the time - 33:09.87 - or the final standing Koll had hoped for coming in, but the women's American collegiate record-holder in the event feels like this is just the beginning. Koll said she took an ''all or nothing'' approach to finishing third and reaching the required Olympic 'A' standard mark of 31:45 - 26 seconds faster than her official best.

The Cyclone All-American stayed within striking distance for nearly half the race before American distance superstars Shalane Flanagan (31:34.81), Kara Goucher (31:37.72) and Amy Begley (31:43.60) took over and officially became Beijing bound. The 26-year-old Flanagan, 29-year-old Goucher and 28-year-old Begley are all considered to be at or near the peak distance running age, with Koll - a 2005 FDSH graduate and ISU junior-to-be - still in the very early stages of her career.

Koll caught her breath and talked about Friday's nationally-televised event afterward, discussing the impact it had on her life both on and off the track.

EP: Describe the atmosphere there.

LK: It was definitely the most people I've ever seen at a track meet. You see pictures and you hear about what it's going to be like, but that doesn't do it justice. It's almost surreal, especially compared to what I'm used to. The environment here and at (the NCAA Championships in Des Moines earlier this month) was amazing - so unique. When I got out to the track to warm up - I've never been so pumped up in my life.

EP: What was going through your mind before the race?

LK: I was admittedly pretty nervous. I tried to stay relaxed. A 10K is a long race, obviously. I tried to pace myself and run my race through the first 5K. I didn't want to get too hyped up, but it was really hard because of the atmosphere.

EP: Were you surprised by just how good some of the other runners were?

LK: Yes. I was also surprised by how the race went. I figured coming in that it would be a lot more consistent. We went out slow, and then (the pace) even dropped for a while. I was right there. Then with about 15 laps to go, it got really fast. I decided to go for it and went with them, because I knew I was racing for third (to qualify) - not fifth or sixth.

The two really fast laps in the middle - I'm not suited to race at that speed. It wasn't my pace at all. I'm just not really ready for that yet. That's something I'll work on in the future - being able to respond to the surges.

The competition was amazing. To toe the line next to people like that was surreal. You try to anticipate, but it's really impossible until you go through it.

EP: What did you do after the race?

LK: They took us through a media tent, and I had a little cool down. I talked to my coach (Iowa State's Corey Ihmels). We had a conversation about how the race went and what could have been done differently. As I said, I'm just not at that level yet, and I wouldn't necessarily change anything considering this was my first time (at the Olympic Team Trials).

I had a hard time falling asleep (Friday night). I was just so excited. The adrenaline was still there.

EP: Did you stop at any point beforehand and just think about where you were and what you were about to do?

LK: Yes. I did a lot of thinking back before the race about the journey I'd taken to get to this point - a lot of self-reflection. It's important to soak in moments like that, because they don't come around very often in life. I didn't do that enough at nationals (in Des Moines), and I regretted it later.

EP: What's next? Does this whet your appetite for 2012, or is it too soon to say?

LK: Short term, I'll take some time off before I get back into training. I'll need to figure some things out. I'll kind of have to reinvent myself to get to the next level. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and something I want to put my time and effort into. I'm sure I'll be able to make it work - I'll just have to make it work, because this is what I want.

In the case of most distance races, women typically peak around the age of 30 - really anywhere in that 25-35 age range. I feel like I still have a bright future and the best is yet to come. This was the perfect experience for me, and I want more. I didn't just go (to the Olympic Trials) once and now I'm calling it a career. I'll definitely be there again in four years.

EP: Give a glass half full analysis of your performance.

LK: I went for it. I did whatever I could to try and get third. It was all or nothing for me. If race had played out differently maybe I would've had a better chance at getting there, but I'm not going to dwell on that or wonder what might have been.

I still got eighth at the Olympic Trials. If you would've told me that just three years ago, I would've said you were crazy. This will give me leg up both for my last two years at Iowa State and hopefully beyond.

EP: Give a glass half empty analysis of your performance.

LK: It's pretty obvious - I'm disappointed that I didn't make it. My time wasn't very fast. I took a chance to see what could happen and really tried to push myself to keep up. I have work to do, but I don't feel like it's an impossible goal - especially now that I've gone through (the Olympic Trials) once.

EP: Are you drained right now physically and emotionally?

LK: Without a doubt. Looking back to before the cross country season, I've been training very hard since last summer. It's been a while since I've had a break. I'm pretty worn out mentally, emotionally and physically.

I'm staying in Oregon to enjoy myself until Tuesday; I'm giving myself a little 'vacation.' I'll enjoy the next couple of days and try not to think about this as much.

EP: What would you like to say to your support system back home both in Fort Dodge and Iowa as a whole?

LK: I'm so blessed and thankful. I constantly get e-mails and phone calls of support. Even if I'm not talking directly to people, I know how much people from Fort Dodge, Ames and all of Iowa care. It's a special feeling. I'm very honored and humbled to represent Iowa and the midwest. I wouldn't be where I am without meeting the people I have along the way.

I got an e-mail from someone who had taken their son to nationals. Afterward, they asked him what his favorite part was, and he said, 'watching Lisa race.' That right there makes every minute worthwhile. It really makes your whole week - to know there are so many fans supporting me and backing me up no matter what.

Contact Eric Pratt at (515) 573-2141, or by e-mail at sports@messengernews.net