Woman has come far with miles to go

Diane Nukuri-Johnson has spent years in preparation for this opportunity. Hours and hours of hard work are finally about to pay off in a win on the biggest of stages. Yes, Nukuri-Johnson is hoping to triumph in Wednesday's Alliant Energy 8K Race - oh, and the Olympics.

The returning champion from last year's women's division, Nukuri-Johnson is primed and ready to head the field again in this year's race. She is coming off a second-place finish in the Steamboat Classic 4 Mile Race in Peoria, Ill., and a first-place finish in Iowa's Dam to Dam 20K Race in Des Moines.

Nukuri-Johnson began running at the age of 13 in her home country, the Republic of Burundi. As a 15-year-old she represented her nation in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, where she placed 14th in the 5,000-meter run. After moving to Canada in 2001 she spent three years going to high school in Toronto before she started college at Butler Community College in Kansas.

Despite being recruited by numerous schools across the country, Nukuri-Johnson chose to transfer to the University of Iowa for track and cross country in 2006. She cited the effort from Coach Layne Anderson as her main reason for choosing Iowa.

"Layne was so great to me, he started recruiting me while I was still in Canada and actually came to visit all the way from Iowa. He made me feel comfortable and ready to run at an American university."

After a successful collegiate career in which she won the 2008 Big 10 outdoor 5,000-meter run and placed fourth in the 2007 NCAA cross country championships, she has been traveling across the country doing various marathons and races, including many in her home-away-from-home Iowa.

Last year she won the Marion Arts Festival 5K race and the Alliant Energy 8K race, and in 2010 she won the Drake Relays 8K.

Even though she's ran in big cities like New York, New Orleans and Philadelphia, Nukuri-Johnson still loves coming back to Iowa.

"Obviously there aren't as many international women and not as much publicity, but it still appeals to me very much. This is one of the biggest local races, so everyone shows up to watch, and it's a bonus that I have family living in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City area."

The Alliant Energy 8K is just another step in her journey to the 2012 Olympics in London, where she'll be running in the marathon.

"After running in the Olympics as a 15-year-old, this time will be much, much different. I have so many more miles in my legs and I'm full of confidence. Back in 2000 it was nice to just be there, now I want to see how well I can do."