After Stephanie Brown Trafton won an Olympic gold medal last August in Beijing, it would have been easy for the Galt resident to relax, savor the spotlight and ease up on the throttle.
Instead, she's unleashed a 2009 season that's enhanced her status as the world's top female discus thrower.
Trafton, 29, owns three of the top six throws in the world this year, including a 217-foot, 2-inch effort May 24 in San Mateo that broke her personal record by an inch.
The former Cal Poly San Luis Obispo standout also threw 209-11 to win the Nike Prefontaine Classic on June 7 in Eugene, Ore., and 209-10 to capture the Reebok Grand Prix on May 30 in New York City. Those performances make her the favorite in her event Thursday when the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin in Eugene.
"I've kept my nose to the grindstone," said Trafton, who won the Jesse Owens Award as USA Track & Field's top female athlete in 2008.
"I've been working hard. I've been very successful. I've gotten help from my coaches and therapists. It's just a matter of putting it all together again."
Trafton needs a top-three finish to earn a spot in the IAAF World Championships (Aug. 15-23 in Berlin).
"I feel somewhat comfortable," she said. "At the same time, that makes me nervous. The good stress that's needed to have a good performance isn't necessarily there.
"My method of getting myself ready for meets is a little bit of drama. If (stress) isn't there, you create it."
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Trafton certainly put herself in the right frame of mind in Beijing, her first throw of 212-5 earning the United States its first gold in that event since Lillian Copeland in 1932.
Since that breakthrough, Trafton spent a lot of time making community appearances, hoping her story motivates others to find the torch inside.
"I'm really loving the thought of inspiring these kids," she said.
Trafton has put those appearances on hold in the past few weeks, though, turning her attention to on the training that sent her to the Olympic medal stand.
"I've got to make the team this weekend," she said. "Then there's a lot of (cage) work."
USA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
When: Thursday through Sunday.
Where: Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore.
TV: Friday, 5-7 p.m., ESPN; Saturday, 4:30-6:30 p.m., ESPN; Sunday, 1-3 p.m., Ch. 3.
LOCAL MOTION
Area athletes in the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships:
Stephanie Brown Trafton, women's discus.
Jill Camarena, women's shot put.
Jessica Pressley, women's shot put.
Amy Acuff, women's high jump.
Stacy Dragila, women's pole vault.
Brysun Stately, women's pole vault.
Derek Miles, men's pole vault.
Scott Roth, men's pole vault.
Jamie Nieto, men's high jump.
Call The Bee's John Schumacher, (916) 326-5523.
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