By Julian Lopez, Digital Communications Intern
When she steps on the track this weekend at the Drake Relays in Iowa, Sun Devil track and field runner Shelby Houlihan will be returning to where it all started.
A four-time state champion at East High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Houlihan had a storied high school career, but where she flourished the most was the Drake Relays.
Houlihan won eight Drake Relays titles in high school and became the first high school female athlete to win three individual events in one year. Houlihan said that becoming the first high school female to win three individual events in one year was a great accomplishment and something she will always be proud and she is excited to be racing in the relays again.
“I can’t even describe how excited I am to be able to race at the Drake Relays again,” Houlihan said. “I raced there every year in high school and it was and still is one of my favorite meets to compete in. It really means a lot to be able to come back and compete as a college athlete.”
Houlihan is entered in the women’s 800 meter elite race and will race against some of the top runners in the world, including some that she competed against in the 2014 USA Outdoor Championships where she finished seventh in a career-best 2:01:12. Houlihan is expected to have a lot of family support with her at the meet and she is excited to see them.
The 5’3” senior has always had a passion for cross country from a young age, a passion that has led to numerous school-records and titles.
“I have always had a passion for long distance,” she said. “I started running cross country when I was five years old and it has always been something I love to do. I didn’t start running track until I was twelve and I liked it but I didn’t really start to love it until my sophomore year of high school when I started winning races.”
Besides running cross country, Houlihan also played soccer for nine years and did gymnastics for a couple of years when she was younger. She also played basketball, but didn’t have a lot of success.
“I was fast but I was horrible at shooting,” she said.
At ASU, Houlihan owns just about every school record in the 800 meters, 1500 meters, and 3000 meters races. But out of all her races that she has won and records she owns, the one that sticks out the most took place last June.
“My proudest moment as a Sun Devil would have to be winning the NCAA 1500m title last year,” the defending national champion said. “It was always a big goal of mine and I hope to do it again this year.”
After Houlihan graduates, she will begin training for the Rio Olympics in 2016.
“I plan on running professionally after I graduate and will definitely be training for Rio,” she said. “It has been my dream ever since I can remember to run professionally and be the best in the world so I am very excited to have the opportunity to be able to do that after I graduate.”
But for now, the focus isn’t on the Olympics or defending her national title, it’s on returning home to a place where her career began.