As Jenny Barringer went through some hurdle drills on a recent Tuesday morning at Potts Field, Dave Albo and some of his fellow masters track athletes could not help slowing down and taking a glance over their shoulders to watch Barringer stride by.

Barringer, a University of Colorado junior, was going through some final hurdle drills in preparation for her entrance onto track's grand stage tonight in Osaka, Japan, when she competes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2007 IAAF World Track and Field Championships. It will be Barringer's first international track race.

If she makes it through her qualifying round tonight, Barringer would then race in the finals Monday night. That is the same session in which ex-CU NCAA cross country champion Dathan Ritzenhein will be racing the 10,000 meters. Ex-Buffs Adam and Kara Goucher are also racing, Adam in the 5,000 meters and Kara in the 10,000 meters. The meet starts today and runs through Sept. 2.

Barringer earned her trip to Japan by winning the U.S. national steeplechase June 23 in Indianapolis. Although just 20, she is already a favorite among local runners, especially those who appreciate fine track performances.

"Jenny is such a beautiful runner, just lovely in the way she runs," said Albo, 51. "I have to stop and watch her work out. It is going to be tough in Japan, but I think she will make the finals."

CU head coach Mark Wetmore agrees.

"We are feeling good about her chances," he said Wednesday. "Jenny is fit and responds well to competition. Making the finals is a good goal; if she is in there, she may outrace some people."

To do so, Barringer said she will have to "run the best race of my life. I am going to into the prelims thinking that and knowing that and believing that I am capable of it. I am really excited about the opportunity."

Barringer has taken advantage of the big-race opportunities before. As a prep star in Florida, she won eight state titles in track and cross country. Then, as a freshman at CU, she won the NCAA steeplechase title, followed by a second-place finish, and the top American, at the 2006 NCAA cross country championships. After a mishap with her shoe kept her from defending her NCAA crown earlier this summer, she rebounded to take the national title in Indianapolis.

"Athletically, there is no question Jenny has had a lot of success," said CU assistant coach Heather Burroughs, who is with Barringer in Japan. "In terms of leadership, maturity and responsibility, she is beyond a junior in college. It is a pleasure to coach her."

Barringer's personal best time of 9 minutes, 34.6 seconds ranks her 22nd in the field. However, Burroughs pointed out that many of those Barringer will be racing turned in fast times on the European track circuit this summer, while Barringer was in Boulder training with her CU teammates as they put in base training for the fall cross country season.

Wetmore and Burroughs kept Barringer in her regular routine, adding just a couple of track workouts for the World Championships.

"The most important part of training for both (the World Championships and the cross country season) is staying healthy," said Barringer, who is writing a blog that can be found on www.cubuffs.com. "That is the No. 1 goal."

Burroughs said one factor working in Barringer's favor is that she "tends to manage pressure exceptionally well," illustrated in that she ran personal best times at both the 2006 NCAA outdoor track championships and this year's U.S. national championships. "Our goal is for her to be ready to run a 'PR,'" said Burroughs.

Simon leads locals in marathon

Boulder's Lidia Simon, the 2001 World Championships marathon gold medalist, will be racing the women's marathon Sept. 2 with Romanian teammate and fellow locals Luminita Talpos and Nuta Olaru.

However, 2005 world championships marathon bronze medalist Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Boulder won't be racing the marathon, because of an injury.