Murray State University Athletics
Hicks' Whirlwind Spring Will End At 2004 Olympics
6/2/2004 5:00:00 AM | Rifle
“When I got through shooting I set down my rifle and (U.S. Olympic coach) David Johnson shook my hand and said, ?Congratulations,' and I said, ?Thanks,” Hicks recalled. “Then it sunk in that he was congratulating me for making the team.”
After three grueling days of competition against 40 of the top shooters in the United States, Hicks got a handshake and a ticket to Athens, Greece for the 2004 Olympic Games.
Hicks, a senior at Murray Sate, became the university's sixth athlete to qualify for the Olympics in the sport of rifle when she placed second at the U.S. Olympic Qualifier in Fort Benning, Ga., last week. Two months after winning an NCAA individual national championship, Hicks further established herself as one of the best shooters in the country.
“I knew I could compete with those girls and put together a good showing, but not that good,” Hicks said in her modest fashion. “After the first day I was shocked, and that's when the nerves kicked in. But I focused on my round and concentrated on each shot.
“I'm still in awe. I don't think I'll finally believe it's happening until I get to Athens.”
After one day of competition in Georgia, Hicks was leading the smallbore, but slipped to third after Day 2. Needing a 95 to qualify for the team, Hicks shot a 98 to earn her spot. Hicks, a native of Roy, Wash., will join Sarah Blakesly, also a Washington native, on the U.S. women's 3X20 smallbore team.
Amazingly, Hicks finished fifth in the air rifle, just three spots out of qualifying for both teams.
An eight-time All-American during her four-year career at MSU, Hicks has adjusted to the pressures of major competitions, but she said there's been nothing like the Olympic Qualifier.
“Other countries say that the U.S. Qualifier is the hardest in the world,” said Hicks. “It's actually harder than the Olympics. If we can handle it here, we'll do OK when we go to Athens.”
Before Hicks heads across the Atlantic, she'll spend most of her time travelling. On June 13, she will head to Milan, Italy for the World Cup, then she'll travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to work at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility. From July 10-17 she'll be in Fort Benning, Ga., for more training before returning to Colorado Springs in late July.
On July 31, the U.S. team will travel to Germany first to drop off their gear, then fly to Greece where they'll check in. Then it's back to Germany for a final tune-up before returning to Greece on Aug. 13 for the opening ceremonies.
“I'm going to try and be prepared as I possibly can for what's to come,” said Hicks, who was in Murray this week to work out her academic schedule for the fall semester (she'll be busy in August). “They said that the two of us that made the team will be two of the strongest there, so that's good to know.”
Hicks will head to Greece looking to become the second Murray State athlete to win a medal in rifle. In 1984, former MSU shooter Pat Spurgin became the first woman to win a gold medal.
“Obviously, I'd like to medal, but right now I'm focusing on what I can do...hopefully that will be good enough for a medal.”
