Ask not what your team can do for you, but what you can do for your team. This is one philosophy Tania Longe of the Michigan women's track team has followed throughout her collegiate track career.
Longe, known for her strong performance in the heptathlon and pentathlon, is one of the nation's finest multi-event athletes.
She has consistently stepped up her performance to help bring Michigan success. In 1996, she finished ninth at the outdoor NCAA championships in the heptathlon. She also placed first in the outdoor heptathlon and second in the indoor pentathlon at the Big Ten championships last year.
What are the ingredients that go into making this successful athlete? The hard work ethic, high level of confidence and mental toughness that she has developed over her young career are big parts of her success. As the 1997 Big Ten championships approaches this weekend, Longe will draw from these strengths to aid her in her performance.
Even though she is recovering from a nagging back injury, Michigan coach James Henry still considers Longe a serious threat to her opponents.
"Tania is an extremely tough competitor and will not let her back injury hold her back in her performance," Henry said. "I expect her to step it up and put in a good showing with the rest of her teammates."
Longe has never had much of a problem dealing with the pressure, which inevitably followed her success - perhaps another reason she is such a strong competitor.
"I do not feel hardly any pressure because I have the support of my teammates and my coach," Longe said. "I do not deny that it is going to be stressful to go out and perform, but I will perform to the best of my capability."
Longe said the Wolverines' success is important to her.
"Although I am have not completely recovered, I still want to turn out a good performance for the team," Longe said.
An important factor in Longe's ability to handle pressure is that she is part of a strong team.
"We have a really well-balanced squad this season and I expect six to eight of the teams' athletes to put forth really good efforts, including Tania," Henry said.
MICHIGAN SPORTS INFORMATION
Michigan's Tania Longe will have a lot to live up to at this weekend's Big Ten championship. Longe placed first in the heptathlon at the 1996 outdoor Big Tens.