Like other student-athletes in the heat of postseason competition, Rice University pole vaulter Beth Hinshaw-Spearman has her eye firmly on the the proverbial brass ring -- a team championship for the Owls and an individual title for herself.

The fifth-year senior is on a good pace to achieve that lofty goal. Hinshaw-Spearman helped Rice earn the Western Athletic Conference women's track and field championship and went on to capture the NCAA Midwest region pole vault title in late May to advance to the national championships.

Such success would be satisfying for any student-athlete, but Hinshaw-Spearman's accomplishments are made even more special given that she didn't touch a pole or set foot on a track until she arrived at Rice as a freshman.

A two-sport athlete in high-school, Hinshaw-Spearman excelled in basketball and was a 15-year veteran of gymnastics. Although she initially enrolled at Rice only as a student, she soon wanted more.

"I missed competition and wanted to do something," she said. "I remember in high school people saying I should go out for the track team and I had said no because I don't like running. But I always said if I did anything else I would try pole vaulting."

Hinshaw-Spearman said she was attracted to the sport because it looked like, well, fun.

"You get to swing on a pole and go upside down and land in a big pit," she said.

Undaunted by her lack of experience, Hinshaw-Spearman moved to match her desire with action.

"I called the coaches and told them I wanted to do it," she said.

Although that long-ago first day of practice with the pole vault is understandably fuzzy, one thing that soon became crystal clear was that Hinshaw-Spearman had found her niche.

"I remember thinking 'what did I get myself into here?' " she said. "But once I did it a couple times I got addicted to it. It was great."

Fun and games aside, Hinshaw-Spearman has been all business since then, making quick and steady progress in her new discipline. She said the most difficult part of her transition into pole vaulting has been learning how to sprint.

"Coming from gymnastics, they don't really teach you how to sprint. I'm still working on it now, but I spent the first year, at least, relearning how to sprint fast and learning how to be a real runner," she said.

By contrast, Hinshaw-Spearman said clearing the bar is one of the most exciting things she's experienced.

"You work so hard for that. When you start clearing bars and getting personal records, it just gets to be a lot of fun," she said.

Beyond what she's been able to accomplish in the sport, Hinshaw-Spearman said pole vaulting has produced some important personal insights.

"The most important thing this has taught me is that I've been blessed with a lot of ability," she said. "God's really done a lot of work through pole vaulting to develop my character and making me realize that I'm really gritty and I work hard. It's really been eye-opening over the last few years."

Although she is extremely driven, Hinshaw-Spearman said her family, her coach, and Olympic pole vaulter Stacy Dragila all have served as role models and have helped keep her motivated to achieve new heights.

In turn, Hinshaw-Spearman has been willing to serve as a role model to younger students as well. She and her husband work as adult leaders for a youth group at her former high school.

"I've told them my story. I hope they see that hard work and determination can get you far in life," she said.

In reflecting on her success, Hinshaw-Spearman points to earning all-American recognition during this year's indoor season and scoring points for her team for the first time during a 2001 indoor conference meet in which she also established a personal record as her proudest moments yet.

But the recent graduate believes those moments are just the beginning, and she is committed to continuing to train hard. In fact, Hinshaw-Spearman is seriously eyeing a possible run at making the Olympic team in four more years.

"When I started I decided that I was going to be the best that I could be and work hard to be the athlete I knew I could be. I know that I'm still working toward that and I don't think I've accomplished what I can accomplish yet," she said.