Former Shippensburg University standout Neely Spence is training for the Olympic Trials. Shippensburg U. photo.After an illustrious running career at Shippensburg University, Neely Spence is prepared to embark on the next phase of her life. And to realize a lifelong dream.
In late December, Spence signed a professional contract with FSM, founded in 1989 by former Olympian and world-class miler Ray Flynn. For the past five years, FSM has been ranked No. 1 in the country and No. 4 in the world among track and field management companies.
The company has clients such as 2004 Olympic 100-meter silver medalist Lauryn Williams, U.S. miler and record-holder Alan Webb and American marathon record-holder and Athens Olympic bronze medalist Debbie Ferguson.
Spence will be training for the 2012 Olympic Trials in June at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. She will focus in meeting the A standards in the 5K (15:20) and 10K (31:45). The top three finishers in either event will earn a berth on the U.S. Olympic team that will compete at the Summer Games in London.
Spence had to forgo her eligibility for her senior indoor and outdoor track and field seasons with Shippensburg, but she will continue to take classes at the school and is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in human communications with a minor in coaching.
Spence, who won eighth NCAA Division II national championships — six in track and field and two in cross country — is an 11-time All-American. She has won 17 of 19 PSAC championship races and is the only athlete to ever be named the PSAC Athlete of the Year in all of her collegiate seasons in every sport.
Spence’s father, Steve, is a former U.S. Olympic Trials marathon champion. He represented the nation in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Steve Spence is the cross country coach at Shippensburg.
Q: When did you decide to sign professionally?
A: It's been a very exciting last month or so. I had to extend by cross country season and I competed at the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Seattle last month. I made my third U.S. team to compete in Edinboro, Scotland. Once it was determined that my cross country season was going to be extended beyond January, I decided it was practical to forgo my indoor and outdoor track and field season and to become a professional runner. This has been my goal forever to become a professional athlete, so I felt it was time for fulfill my dream.
Q: Talk about the process you went through to sign with FSM.
A: My dad talked to a bunch of different agents and he shared with me all of the information he gathered and I made one phone call to Ray Flynn. After talking with him for an hour, I was comfortable with having him represent me. I asked him what I had to do to make it official, I think it was around the Friday before Christmas, I signed the agreement terms with Ray.
Q: So what else has been happening in your life besides turning pro?
A: On Christmas Day, I got engaged to Dillon Gracey, a former runner at Shippensburg who is now a volunteer assistant coach a the school. Dillon is also my training partner. My dad called me and asked me, "You signed to become a professional athlete and now you got engaged. Is there any more news you have for me?" I told him yes, I want to buy a car. So my next quest is buying a car.
Q: So, when is the happy [wedding] day?
A: We're getting married in Carlisle on New Year's Eve. That way I don't have to have wedding plans interfering with running season.
Q: Talk about you training leading up to the Olympic Trials.
A: My dad will continue to train me; I don't want to mix things up because things have been working well for me. I will continue to work with him since he knows me and I trust him and I don't want to mix anything up before the Olympic Trials. Then after this summer, I am definitely looking at joining other running groups and working with another coach. I've already began talking to coaches and I will be making visits in the next two weeks. I'm trying to get a feel for the different running groups to see what works for me.
Q: Looking back on your career at Shippensburg, what are your thoughts about what you've accomplished?
A: Really, the university has helped me reach my goals. Being here in this atmosphere and environment really helped me become and athlete and person that I wanted to become. My time here has really influenced me in a positive way. Now here I am reaching my goals and making running a career because of the environment that fostered me here at Shippensburg.