Skippin’ off to greatness

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http://www.sandypost.com/sports/story.p ... 8503672700

Skippin’ off to greatness
Tommy Skipper, on the verge of the Olympics in 2008, talks to The Sandy Post
BY MICHAEL CADE
The Sandy Post, Jun 28, 2007, Updated 2.4 hours ago


Tommy Skipper in action during his school-record fifth title earlier this month.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEOFF THURNER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

Sandy’s Tommy Skipper competed at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis over the weekend and finished an uncharacteristic seventh in the pole vault. Just two weeks prior to that, Skipper broke Steve Prefontaine’s school record for most individual titles at the University of Oregon. Skipper recently found time between both events to talk with The Sandy Post about his past, present and future.

Q: How does it feel to have reached such an elite level in your sport and to have accomplished so many great things?
A: I guess it’s nice to have done those things, but I know that those things wouldn’t be possible unless I put my faith in the Lord and put the right people around me. It’s a combination of a lot of things and I really would like to thank all the people who supported me through those four or five years and made it so those dreams came true for me.

Q: What’s your take on having the 2008 Olympic trials on your home turf in Eugene?
A: I think it’s really getting back to where it was in the 80s when people said that Eugene was the track and field capital of the world. I think it’s really getting back to it.

Q: Would you say it’s been a humbling feeling to have broken Steve Prefontaine’s school record for individual titles?
A: You know, it is very humbling and I’m thankful that I was blessed to have done that, but I kind of look at it in a different sense and say I’m happy and I’m honored to have done that. But I also look and see what Steve Prefontaine did after his collegiate career. He competed in the Olympics, he did a lot of amazing things. I can’t get stagnant in my training and say “Hey, I broke this guy’s record, now I’m great.â€Â