One down for ISU's Nelson in another NCAA quest

(Note: This is a revised version of an article that ran in the Thursday, May 23, 2013 edition of The Gazette.)  

Meaghan Nelson's rise as a distance runner has propelled her to rarified realms.

So much so that the former Xavier standout-turned-Iowa State all-American's willing to ponder the term “professional” with respect to future plans in the sport.

“I'm definitely going to try - give it a shot next year,” said Nelson, who competes in the final NCAA Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Round of her remarkable Cyclone career this weekend at Austin, Texas. “I think I'd regret it if I didn't.”

First things first.

Nelson, who has overcome various nagging injuries this outdoor season, finished ninth in Thursday's 10,00o-meter run (teammate Betsy Saina won) to advance to the NCAA Championships, June 5-8, at Eugene, Ore.

Nelson will compete in the 5,000 meters Saturday at 8:05 p.m.

A top-five finish in her 5K heat - or posting one of the two fastest times outside of the top five in either heat - advances her to “TrackTown USA” in that event, as well. “I think I can still put something together,” said Nelson, who finished fourth in the nation in the 10K last season. “But it definitely hasn't been quite as easy as last year, just because of those setbacks, but that's a part of running: It goes up and it goes down. You deal with injuries; it ebbs and it flows.”

Ups - some of them bordering on meteoric - characterize most of Nelson's time in cardinal and gold.

She's a two-time cross country all-American and could add to three combined indoor/outdoor all-American finishes by performing well in Austin, then Eugene.

Nelson said she's still not 100 percent after battling through some knee and plantar issues.

Her best mark in the 5K this season is 15:51.63.

“I still feel good about how I can compete - and, mentally, just preparing myself, just putting myself out there on the track,” said Nelson, whose teammate, Betsy Saina, is a strong contender to win both events. “Regionals and nationals never really always go true to form. The people who are there on the day tend to do well, so I'm just going to work on (that).”

It's an adaptive, roll-with-it approach that's served her well - and may pave the way for more track glory once Eugene's in the books.

“I definitely had a huge jump last year,” said Nelson, who competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials. “This year it's trying to maintain that and stay in good form. Keep moving forward.”