The Olympics Games are a time of athletic achievement in the highest, most competitive form. It is a place where world-class athletes come from all over to compete for top honors and the chance to don gold around their necks. And like the cliché goes, "It's the place where dreams are made."

The Penn State women's track and field team has been bursting with talent this season. It has been continuously showing signs that it has a big future in the Big Ten. But none of the team's athletes are headed to the 2004 Games in Greece. Their coach is.

"It is a huge honor," Alford- Sullivan said. "It's been something that every coach and athletes desires."

Alford-Sullivan was nominated to the Olympic staff in June of 2002, much to her surprise. She was chosen by a committee comprised of fellow esteemed coaches, U.S. track and field officials and former Olympic athletes. Six coaches and one manager were picked overall.

"It's overwhelming," Alford-Sullivan said. "I want to represent Penn State, the United States and myself as well as I can."

The cross country and track and field coach will be working with the middle distance runners. Her events will range from the 800-meter run to the 10,000 meter run. She will be training veteran Olympians and new stellar athletes over the course of six to seven weeks. The competitors will be named after the Olympic Trials next summer. Alford- Sullivan has worked with most of the people in contention previously, which should make her job a little bit easier.

"My experience is pretty good with knowing the athletes through the world of track and field," Alford- Sullivan said. "I know their needs and desires."

This is not the first time Alford-Sullivan has been associated with international athletics.

In 2001, she was named to the U.S. World Championship team and will take another world championship team to compete in Korea in the near future. She also held a coaching position with the World Junior Cross-Country championship team in 1997. With these past achievements filling her resume, she was an obvious choice.

Over a span of approximately four years at Penn State, Alford-Sullivan has also been able to revive a once mediocre track program and turn it into a competitive and progressing team.

"I think she is a really good coach and really knows what she is doing," freshman Tracey Brauksieck said. "She is really understanding and good with her strategies."

Her team is behind her and this honor will serve to bring more pride to the women's track team and Penn State.