Training to participate in the Winter Olympics in bobsled or skeleton is not something most college track and field athletes dare to do. But for recent University of Idaho graduate and sprinter Mercedes Blackwood, the opportunity to compete again wasn’t one she was about to pass up.
Spencer Farrin | Courtesy
Former Idaho sprinter Mercedes Blackwood competes in the 4×100 meter relay at the Vandal Jamboree in May 2012. Blackwood is training for a chance to compete in bobsled and skeleton at the 2014 winter Olympics.
“I remember at the championship track meet in May in Texas … I remember finishing my last race ever and I remember feeling like I wasn’t done being competitive and being an athlete,” Blackwood said. “I just felt like there was still more in me and so I decided to go and train for that
Olympic team.”
Blackwood, who graduated in May, competed for Idaho Track and Field for two years after transferring from Utah State University.
Wayne Phipps, Idaho track and field director and Blackwood’s coach, said he thinks the opportunity is a great one for Blackwood and one she should take advantage of.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Phipps said. “There’s certain things that just kinda can’t wait. You can’t wake up when you’re 40 and say I want to do this athletically at such a high level. I think if there’s a time to do it this is a perfect opportunity
for her.”
Phipps said he was not surprised that Blackwood had the desire to keep competing because of the hard work and dedication she showed during her time as a sprinter, but he didn’t realize how serious she was about pursing bobsled
or skeleton.
Phipps said Blackwood had mentioned it to her toward the end of senior year.
“At the time, I didn’t realize this was something she was going to dedicate a year towards,” Phipps said.
On Sept. 5, Blackwood will participate in a combine test in Park City, Utah. She will be tested in eight categories including four different sprints, a standing long jump, shot toss, back squat and power clean max. Each category is worth 100 points. To qualify and be invited back to train for the Olympics, Blackwood must score above 600 for bobsled and 625 for skeleton.
“Right now I’m kind of comfortably sitting at 650, so room to improve but still comfortable,” Blackwood said. “Things look good for me and I’m excited to see where I can go. Obviously winning an Olympic gold and making the team would be the ultimate dream come true, but I’m just excited to have the opportunity even just to try out and see where I can go from there.”
Blackwood is not the only Idaho sprinter to make the transition to an icy terrain.
Sam Michener, a 2011 graduate and four-year sprinter at Idaho, is currently a member of the U.S. bobsled team.
Phipps and Blackwood said 2012 track and field graduate, Andrew Blaser, is also training for a shot at competing in bobsled or skeleton at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Michener and Blaser were Blackwood’s inspiration to look into the possibility of competing in the Winter Olympics.
Additionally, UI alum Chris Stokes competed for the Jamaican bobsled team in 1988 — the team that was the inspiration for the film “Cool Runnings.”
“Sprinters make very good bobsledders,” Phipps said. “This past year really brought light to it that there were some elite female sprinters and hurdlers that did bobsledding this past winter. I think it’s a neat transition from being a sprinter to some of these Winter Olympic sports because they require similar characteristics — speed and power — really the push at the beginning of any of the sledding events are very similar to the sprint start.”
Blackwood said the thing she appreciates about bobsled and skeleton is that they are sports to which athletes from all backgrounds can make the transition.
“The great thing about bobsled and skeleton — there’s a lot of Olympic sports you have to start very young and basically train your whole life for this one shot at the Olympics — and the difference between bobsled and skeleton is that they’re kind of an older sport, for older athletes that have developed their skills in other sports like track and field because those talents transfer really well,” Blackwood said.
During her time at Idaho she competed in indoor and outdoor track and field as a sprinter. She was a member of the 4x100m relay team, and competed in all of the short sprints. Before transferring to Idaho, the Twin Falls native was a sprinter at
Utah State.
Blackwood has suffered from tendinitis throughout her training and at one point thought she had a stress fracture in her foot. After three weeks off from running, she has just returned to the track to continue her training.
Blackwood graduated with a degree in Political Science and the intent to go to law school, something she still plans to do, but first her attention is on qualifying for the 2014 Olympic Games to be held in Sochi, Russia. If she can, Blackwood would like to pursue law school while training for the Olympics.
“I’m hoping to apply for next year to law school at Idaho,” Blackwood said. “I know it’ll be a lot harder, depending on the opportunities that are available to me at the time, but that would be ideal. I don’t want to put law school off too long so I would hopefully be able to train and go to law school at the same time. Ideally, I would go to the University of Idaho law school.”
Eventually Blackwood hopes to practice law in Zimbabwe where she made connections during a trip there in 2007.
“I don’t have any small plans. I get stressed out a lot because I have all these big dreams but I just wouldn’t be happy if I don’t fulfill them well and I think if I have the right attitude and I work hard I can do that,” Blackwood said.
Although law school and training for the 2014 Olympics may not go hand in hand, Blackwood said she is excited about the opportunitys she has and her decision to keep competing.
“I couldn’t be happier to keep fulfilling my dreams to continue my athletic career,” Blackwood said. “It’s kind of scary but I’m so excited. I think I’m heading in the right direction right now. When I know I’m doing the right thing I get this little burning feeling in my chest and I have that and I’m passionate about it.”
Kaitlyn Krasselt can be reached at [email protected]