Stephanie Brown Trafton didn't sound satisfied, although that Olympic gold medal from Beijing last August was a nice validation of where she ranks among the world's female discus throwers.
Her challenge now is staying at the top. So she's hoping to step into the ring and deliver another magical performance in the IAAF World Outdoor Championships, which begin a nine-day run Saturday in Berlin.
Trafton, 29, owns the longest throw in the world this year, a 217-foot, 2-inch effort May 24 in San Mateo that set a new personal best. Consider that ample evidence the Galt resident isn't resting on Olympic laurels.
"I'm pretty focused and determined to get the job done, go to Berlin and take care of business and bring home another medal," said Trafton, whose 212-5 performance on her first throw in Beijing was enough to earn the United States its first Olympic gold medal in that event since Lillian Copeland in 1932.
Several other Sacramento-area track and field athletes join Trafton on the U.S. World team: pole vaulter Stacy Dragila, the 2000 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion from Placer High School in Auburn; high jumper Amy Acuff, a four-time Olympian and Isleton resident; shot putter Jill Camarena, a 2008 Olympian from Woodland High School; and pole vaulter Derek Miles, a 2004 and 2008 Olympian from Bella Vista High School.
But Trafton is the one with the most medal potential, although the 6-4, 225-pound former Cal Poly standout will have to contend with the likes of Russia's Natalya Sadova, China's Aimin Song and Cuba's Yarelis Barrios, who have all thrown at least 212 feet this year.
Trafton also understands owning the world's top throw this year means nothing once you step into the ring.
"It's not a really great indicator of the way things might finish out," she said. "I know all too well how being overconfident can lead to upsets."
Trafton pulled one in Beijing, riding a big opening throw to the top of the podium. Can she unleash another early winner?
"It's important to really set a standard," she said. "This year, more than any other, I'm trying to get better with each throw.
"We'll just have to see what happens in Berlin. Most of the time adrenaline carries the discus far on the first throw."
It did in Beijing, where Trafton concedes everything went right.
"So many things could have gone wrong, I guess," she said. "Everything worked out perfectly."
Trafton spent the past several weeks training in the Sacramento area.
The U.S. will make its first team appearance in Berlin in a major international competition since the 1936 Olympics. U.S. athletes plan to wear singlets with the letters 'JO' to honor Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Games.
"We're kind of making history and letting that era become a part of our era as well," Trafton said.
Call The Bee's John Schumacher, (916) 326-5523.
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