Vicki Huber (born May 29, 1967) is a retired mid-range American and cross-country runner.
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Biography
Vicki Huber was born on May 29, 1967 in Wilmington, Delaware. Huber attended Concord High School where he started running as a hockey conditioning conditioner. Concord coach, Joe McNichol, remembers seeing Huber as "el Caballo", a reference to Alberto Juantorena, a Cuban Olympic champion. McNichol said that he "ran just like" Juantorena and that he was "completely pure". Huber won five state titles as a preparatory athlete, setting a country record at 800 and 1600 meters.
After graduating from high school, Huber studied at Villanova University where he continued his career. Huber struggled initially due to the intensity of the training program. At the time, Villanova coach Marty Stern thought Huber was "a coward" and hoped "he will go and go home." Although he won the 1986 Grand Conference championship at 3,000 meters altitude, he did not qualify for the NCAA track and field championships. In the fall of 1986, Huber ended 29th on the NCAA cross country championship. Huber had a breakthrough during the 1987 indoor and outdoor song season, winning his first NCAA championship. He won the NCAA indoor championship at 3000 meters. Huber entered the NCAA outside championship as a favorite to win 3000 yards, and he did that, winning in a record time of 8: 54.41. That fall, he finished 9th on the NCAA cross country championship.
Huber's success continued in 1988. He won the NCAA indoor championship in 1500 and 3000 meters. At the NCAA field and field championships, Huber successfully defended his title at 3000 meters, finishing in a college-record time of 8: 47.35. He then competed in 1500 meters in the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, winning within 4: 07.40. After this victory, Huber tried to qualify for the Summer Olympics in 3000 meters. At the Olympic Trials, he faces a field that includes American record holder Mary Slaney. Huber ran with the pack at the start of the race before making a move with 1200 yards remaining. He caught Slaney by 800 meters to go, but Slaney's finishing speed was too much to overcome Huber. Nevertheless, Huber finished 2 with a time of 8: 46.48, earning him a place on the US team in Seoul. At the Olympics, Huber finished in 6th place in 3000 meters with a time of 8: 37.25. He ran a competitive race, taking the lead with the remaining 800 yards, but he ended up eight seconds out of the medal position.
In 1989, Huber re-won the indoor and outdoor NCAA championships in 3000 meters. Instead of going to Europe and running professionally during the summer, which will end his college eligibility, Huber decided to return to Villanova for the last cross-country season. He explained that he was "indebted to Villanova" and that time would be better spent resting and training. In the last race of his career at college, Huber won the NCAA cross country championship and brought Villanova to the team title. He ended his career with eight NCAA championships.
Over the next few seasons, Huber dealt with a number of injuries and illnesses, including back and pelvic injuries in 1990, a stress fracture in 1991, and an Achilles tendon injury in 1994. He had some success, however, completing a fourth in 1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and set an American road record for 5K.
After giving birth to a princess in May 1995, Huber started practicing again, with the goal of qualifying for the 1996 Olympics. He said, "[after giving birth], I get this fire back on me." He has some impressive results in the months leading up to the Trial, including a time in 1500 meters that is less than a second away from the best. Going to Exam, he was ranked second in 1500 meters and fifth in 5,000 meters. At the 1996 Olympic Trials, Huber did not spend the heat in 5000 meters. He was in third place, only needing to finish in the top five to qualify for the final, when he was out of the race. After the race, he said he was tired, dehydrated, and sick. His coach, Dick Brown, described Huber as "completely devastated" by his performance. Nonetheless, he asks if he wants to run at 1500 meters, and with the encouragement of a friend, Huber decides to try to qualify in the race. Brown told her, "Stay in fourth or fifth place, and if something moves, try to cover that movement." Huber was in fourth place at the end of the race when he started chasing Amy Wickus, passing Wickus with just thirty yards left in the race. Huber finished in third place with a time of 4: 11.23, giving him a place in the US team for the Olympics in Atlanta. In the months leading up to the Olympics, Huber's training was limited due to aching Achilles tendon. At the Olympics, Huber failed to qualify for the semi-finals in 1500 meters.
He was inducted into the Delaware Track & amp; Field Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 2002.
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References
External links
- Vicki Huber's profile at IAAF
- Biography at www.hickoksports.com
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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