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Saturday, April 1, 2000
Jacobs on track
Chang, Jacobs become fast friends By Pat Bigold
to become the
first U.S. female
medalist at 1,500
Star-BulletinRegina Jacobs said years of racing at the top level have given her eyes in the back of her head.
That's why she doesn't know how she got boxed in during the 1,500 meters world championship final last year in Seville, Spain.
"We came through 400 meters, the pace changed and -- bam! -- there are all these women on the outside of me," said the 36-year-old who is America's fastest and most versatile female middle distance runner.
The field of 12 featured six of the planet's best women at the distance, and Jacobs was caught in a track athlete's nightmare.
"She had about a five-second window to make a decision," said Tom Craig, her husband and coach. A second longer and any chance of medaling would have been lost.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, Jacobs saw 1996 Olympic gold medalist Svetlana Masterkova of Russia speeding away from the pack.
"Masterkova saw an opportunity to make a move because she realized that I was trapped," said Jacobs, as she sipped ice tea through a straw poolside at the Outrigger Reef.
"She probably would've waited until the last 100 meters had I not been in that box. When I saw her moving, that's when I said, 'I'm out of here.' "
Jacobs extricated herself and then tore off in pursuit of Masterkova. The Russian held on to win but she could feel Jacobs breathing down her back.
The Oakland, Calif., resident finished with a personal record of 4 minutes, 0.35 seconds (fourth best in the world outdoors last year).
It was Jacobs' seventh loss in seven tries against the 32-year-old Masterkova. But the race was a self-revelation for the woman who graces the cover of the latest Track and Field News. It told Jacobs that she's capable of beating Masterkova in Sydney this September.
She'd made the gap between the two women microscopic, and had done it under the most trying circumstances.
In Atlanta, Jacobs finished 6.9 seconds behind Masterkova. In Spain, the difference was .82 of a second.
"You know what they say in Las Vegas," Jacobs said. "The odds will change with the number of times you play."
Jacobs grinned, her streamlined sunglasses giving her a cat-like look as she almost purred, "I'm a very patient woman."
No American woman has ever won a medal in the Olympic 1,500 meters, and Jacobs is in an excellent position to make history.
She and Craig returned here last month for the first time since 1997, after she'd won her second Waikiki Mile title. It was a much-needed seven-day break from the most intense indoor season of her long career.
Jacobs dominated the world in the 1,000 (new American record) and 1,500 meters and the mile.
She felt so good at the end of February that she attempted (but failed) to set a world record in the 1,500.
She'll peak again in the outdoor season for the Olympic Trials, running to qualify for the 1,500 and adding either the 800 or the 5,000.
After the world championships Masterkova had surgery on both Achilles tendons. She did not race indoors during the winter.
But Jacobs still doesn't rule out Masterkova (3:59.53) as the runner to beat Down Under. She respects her so much that when asked what kind of strategy she'll use the next time she meets Masterkova, Jacobs shook her head vigorously.
"I don't talk about that," she said firmly. "With the Internet, it's very dangerous. The Russians (journalists) would never ask her (Masterkova) a question like that."
But Jacobs knows there are others who will try to keep America off the medal platform. Take, for example, the three women who boxed in Jacobs at the worlds: Ethiopia's Kutre Dulecha (4:00.96), Portugal's Carla Sacramento (4:01.29) and Romania's Violeta Beclea-Szekely (3:59.31).
"The beauty of the Olympics is that there's always somebody you didn't expect, somebody who will be inspired to get in the best shape of her life," Jacobs said.
Who: Regina Jacobs Regina on the run
Age: 36
Height: 5 feet 6 inches
Weight: 112 pounds
Home: Oakland, Calif.
College: Stanford, class of 1985Career highlights:
2000 indoor season, ranked No. 1 in the world in the mile, 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters.
Runners become
By Pat Bigold
fast friends
Star-BulletinRegina Jacobs, like Mary Slaney before her, is known for her ferocity on the track.
Her well-publicized races with and fiery remarks about middle-distance rivals like Wisconsin's Suzy Hamilton and Ireland's Sonia O'Sullivan have earned her a reputation as a no-nonsense track warrior.
But put Jacobs among a group of high school runners and her heart melts like shave ice at Waikiki Beach under the noon sun.
While here on vacation last month, Jacobs and her husband/coach, Tom Craig, arranged to meet with Punahou's Foot Locker National Cross Country champion, Victoria Chang.
Chang, who's also one of the nation's best prep 3,000-meter runners, and Jacobs have something in common.
They both accepted track scholarships at Stanford after outstanding high school careers.
"I think she's a huge talent," said Jacobs, who watched Chang run at the Punahou Invitationals last weekend.
"She's had great beginnings and there are great things that lie ahead for her."
The last time Chang saw Jacobs in person was in 1997 when she secured her autograph after she won the Waikiki Mile.
But two weeks ago, the future and former Stanford students were running side by side up into Manoa Valley, chatting like the friends they've now become. Jacobs also dined with Chang's family.
"I'll support her in her quest, and I think she has a very bright future," Jacobs said.
Jacobs said she "picked the brains" of the runners she met at Punahou for a Web site she's going to launch.
"It (www.reginaj.com) will be information about skills and tools they'll need to be successful as athletes," Jacobs said. "I asked them what they'd like to see on the Web site."
Jacobs said kids are the reason why she refuses to wear shades when she races.
"I'm on the starting line and they can say, 'Hey, she looks just like I do when I'm on the starting line -- she's nervous.' If I had glasses on, they would never see that."
Jacobs said she also wants the youngsters to see her face when she wins.
"I want them to say, 'Look at her face, her eyes. I want to feel like that.' "
