A year ago, Lisa Brown hoped one day that her health fitness degree at Gustavus Adolphus would allow her to train Olympic athletes. After a whirlwind last two months, her dream has changed, hoping one day she’ll be an Olympian.

“There are a lot of things out there that I didn’t know existed,” Brown said. “There are a lot of new opportunities.”

Brown, who will be a senior at Gustavus, returned this week from the U.S. Olympic Trials at Eugene, Ore., having competed in the javelin throw. Though she didn’t realize her goal of making the finals, missing by one place, she learned that with a little more training and experience, she could someday be an Olympic athlete.

“I’ve only been doing this for three years,” she said. “These girls have been throwing since high school. I just need to continue practicing to get to the next level.”

It’s fair to say that back in the spring, watching the Beijing Olympics was a lot more realistic than competing in them. She had won a Division III championship as a freshman and placed second as a sophomore, but it wasn’t until she threw 174-feet-5, a personal best by nearly 12 feet, to win the national championship in May that she opened Olympic doors.

Last weekend, competing against the best throwers in the country, she finished 13th at 157-9, a disappointing result, but all of the competitors’ distances were down, possibly because of the hot, humid weather. She stayed at the Trials through Monday’s finals, watching the athletes and making some contacts that she hopes to use for future training.

“I didn’t throw as well as I hoped,” she said. “But it was a huge learning experience. It’s tough, the first time at the Trials. I didn’t think I’d make it this far.”

Brown still has one season left with the Gusties, and she’ll continue to train for the javelin, as well as the shot put and discus. Then, she’ll try to figure out how best to keep training, and add some 40 feet to her throws, with an eye on the 2012 Olympics in London.

She’s counting on her dedication and determination to make that next leap.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “It boosted my confidence, I believe I can compete with these women. I’m ready to get going (for next year) already.”

Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To contact him, call 507-344-6353 or e-mail at ccourrier@mankatofreepress.com.