Lindsey Anderson still has a hard time believing it.
    Only a year and a half ago, the Morgan native was just another runner getting ready for her final college season at Weber State University. But now, she's among the top contenders to finish in the top three in the women's steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Trials for track and field and reach the 2008 Beijing Games in China.
    "It's definitely not going to be a walk in the park," she said. "But I'm feeling confident."
    She's not the only one.
    Provo's Josh Rohatinsky and his former Brigham Young teammate Josh McAdams are strong contenders in their events - the 10,000 meters and men's steeplechase, respectively - while a half-dozen other Utahns will be competing at the trials that begin Friday at legendary Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
    "This is probably the best chance I've had of making the Olympics," Rohatinsky said. "But at the same time, I just like to look at it as one race. I've put in the preparation, I feel like I'm ready, and whatever happens that day, I want to look at it as a good experience."
    While Rohatinsky and McAdams have been elite runners for years - McAdams won the national steeplechase title last year, while Rohatinsky competed at the Olympic marathon trials - Anderson is relatively new to the prospect of being an international track star.
   
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Only during her final college season did she burst onto the national steeplechase scene, turning herself into one of the favorites of her 3,000-meter race, which will be contested at the Olympics for the first time in Beijing. Like McAdams, she enters the trials with the fourth-fastest qualifying time, and will have to advance through a semifinal heat before taking a shot at a sporting dream.
    "When I think about it, I do get kind of nervous," Anderson said. "But at the same time, I'm just really excited because this is just such a huge opportunity and if I do get too nervous, it's just not going to be any fun. I'm just really excited at the fact that I have a good shot at making an Olympic team."
    Both Anderson and Rohatinsky expect they will have to run several seconds faster than their best times to qualify for Beijing, but that they're capable of doing it after focusing close to a year of training on the trials. McAdams is regarded as perhaps the strongest favorite of all, considering his national title last season and the relative weakness of the men's steeplechase field.
    Rohatinsky actually will run the semifinals of the men's 5,000 meters on Friday, in an effort to "get my pace down" for the 10,000 a week later. Even if he qualifies for the 5,000 final, he won't compete in it, saving his energy for the longer race.
    The schedule is perfect, he said.
    mcl@sltrib.com
   
   
    Track and field
    Utah's top runners
   
    Utahns at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials starting Friday:
   
    Athlete Event Local ties
    Kassi Andersen Steeple Provo HS/BYU
    Lindsey Anderson Steeple Morgan HS/WSU
    Jennifer Grossarth 400 hurdles Tooele HS/BYU
    Sariah Long Steeple WSU
    Josh McAdams Steeple BYU
    Mindy Neely Long Jump BYU
    James Parker Hammer Northridge/USU
    Michael Spence Steeple Ogden
    Josh Rohatinksy 10,000 Provo HS/BYU