SHAYNE CULPEPPER
Events: 800m, 1500m
Height: 5-4.5
Weight: 112
PRs: 800m - 2:02.51 (2000); 1500m - 4:07.99 (2000); 3000m - 9:06.86 (1997).
Born: December 3, 1973, in Atlanta
Current Residence: Boulder, Colo.
High School: Haverford (Pa.) '92
Colleges: Vermont '94; Colorado '97
Coach: Jason Drake
Club: adidas

Career Highlights: 2000 Olympian; 3rd in 1500m, 1999 USA Outdoor champs; former Big 12 Conference champion.

2000 was an exciting year for Culpepper. After finishing 4th at 2000 Olympic Trials, she was placed on the roster when Regina Jacobs dropped off the team due to an illness. Culpepper's PR of 4:07.99 beat the Olympic 'A' standard by .01 seconds... she happened to be at the Team USA training camp in Brisbane, Australia, accompanying husband Alan when she was informed that she had made the Olympic Team. As a child, Culpepper (maiden name Wille) competed in gymnastics for 10 years. She ran four years of cross country and track in high school but never qualified for the state meet: "I only ran 15 miles a week," she says. Ran a high school best of about 2:19 in the 800...attended Vermont, where by her sophomore year she became the number one runner and placed in the top three at the NAC XC meet...one summer she worked at a dude ranch near Boulder, where her parents had gone to college: "I fell in love with Boulder, and I couldn't go back." She took a year off school to establish residency, then transferred to Colorado, where she walked on the team. "Colorado was such a talented team, and I was only ninth on the cross country squad. I had a realization that I couldn't be the best on the team without working out." That was 1996, and she made All-American indoors in the 3000m... graduated with a degree in political science...married to runner Alan Culpepper on November 9, 1997... son Cruz Samuel was born April 10, 2002.

2000: 9th in first round 1500m heat at Olympics (4:12.52)...4th at Olympic Trials (4:08.38); ran PR 4:07.99 at Harry Jerome Classic in Vancouver...placed 4th in Short Course at USA XC Champs... 5th at GMC Envoy Open 800m (2:02.51)... skipped World Cross Country Champs because of training concerns...ranked #4 in U.S. in 1500 by T&FN... bests of 2:02.51 and 4:07.99.
1999: 4th at USA XC Short Course race...3rd in 1500 at USA Outdoors...ranked #4 at 1500 in U.S. by T&FN...bests of 2:03.37 and 4:08.69.
1998: 6th in 1500 (4:10.77 PR) at USA Champs...won Falmouth mile (4:33.62 PR)...7th in 3000 at USA Indoor (9:17.11)...8th in Mt SAC 5000 (16:09.64 PR)...won 800 (2:04.73 PR) at Owens Classic...5th at Prefontaine Classic (4:14.27)... ranked #5 in U.S. at 1500...bests of 2:04.73 and 4:10.77.
1997: 3rd in 3000 (9:06.86) at NCAA...6th in 1500 (4:12.69) at USA Champs...31st in USA XC Champs ...won mile (4:49.67) and 3000 (9:37.83) at Big 12 Indoor...7th in 3000 at NCAA Indoor (9:24.65)...won 1500 (4:16.66) and 3000 (9:36.48) at Big 12...ranked #9 in U.S. at 1500 by T&FN...bests of 4:10.81 and 9:06.86.
1996: Won Big 8 Indoor mile (4:48.23); 8th in 3000 in NCAA Indoor (9:26.38)...2nd in Big 8 1500 (4:21.58) and 3000...800m PR of 2:11.95...7th in 3000 heat at NCAA...3rd in Big 12 XC...45th in NCAA XC...bests of 4:21.58 and 9:26.38.

5/1/02