100th FSS athlete chosen for U.S. Air Force Track in Europe team

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Not content with just making the U.S. Air Force Track in Europe team, a staff sergeant from the 100th Force Support Squadron, together with the rest of her team, went on to leave the competition standing, at the Headquarters Air Allied Track and Field Championships, Sept. 6 to 8 in Belgium.

Danielle Todman, a fitness craftsman in the 100th Force Support Squadron, was one of just seven women chosen from the U.S. Air Force to be on the Track in Europe team, along with 17 male athletes. Sixty-five percent of the team was from U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

For Todman, being chosen for the U.S. Air Force team for the heptathlon event meant excelling at 100-meter dash, 800-meter run, long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin and Swedish relay events.

In addition to the U.S. Air Force team, air force teams from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium and Germany also competed at the event in Belgium. The American women's team won overall.

One of the events Todman participated in was the Swedish relay. Four people in each team compete, with the first running 400 meters, the second running 300 meters, third running 200 meters, and fourth (anchor) sprinting 100 meters. Todman ran the first leg of the event.

"It wasn't supposed to be that way, but they changed it at the last minute," she said. "We smashed the competition, winning that event by 100 meters!"

The Scotch Plains, N.J., native has been in the U.S. Air Force for five years.

The 26-year-old has been running competitively for the last 10 years, but started off playing basketball in high school.

"At the time, I hated running. My mom wanted me to do it, but I didn't like it," Todman said. "She eventually persuaded me to give running a try, which I did, hoping it would help me with basketball and make me faster."

"I was suckered into it - I wasn't even a track person! But the coach thought I had talent, so I ended up dropping basketball and took up track. I got a scholarship, and went to college at Bucknell University [Penn.]."

When she found out she'd been picked for the U.S. Air Force track team, she said she was shocked.

"It was an honor and a humbling experience for me to be competing with top-ranking runners, some of whom are in the Olympic trials," Todman said. "It was nice to know that they trusted me to be on the team and represent the Air Force. It was a dream of mine. Finally, everything is starting to fall into place.

"You have to have a different mentality in competitions and training. When I'm sprinting, I'm constantly thinking, 'I've got to be light on my feet and quick as I can!' over and over, as opposed to when I'm training for the 800-meters or overall endurance for the heptathlon, then I'm telling myself, 'Sit comfortably in your pace, but don't settle in your pace.' You still have to push your pace, but you still have to be light on your feet," she said. "I want to go against the best of the best, to battle. Battling fatigue and battling myself."

And as if making the U.S. Air Force track team wasn't a big enough achievement for her, Todman is also working on qualifying for the heptathlon event in the 2012 Olympics.

She said there are three people who have been her inspiration and role models, starting from even before her running and heptathlon career began.

"I remember watching Florence Griffin Joyner run in the 1992 Olympics. She still holds the record as the fastest female sprinter of all time, holding the record for both the 100-meters and 200-meters in the 1988 Olympic trials. When I watched her, I thought, 'Wow! She's a graceful runner.'

"When I started running track in college and I was training for the heptathlon, my coach showed me a video of Jackie Joyner Kersee, who is ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women's heptathlon," she said. "I remember she pulled her hamstring in the first event of the heptathlon, yet she still got the world record - that was an inspiration to me. What she taught me was that as long as you have determination, and you're dedicated to what you want to do, then anything is possible."

Todman said her third and most important role model is her mother.

"I found out that she used to be a track and field athlete, and she taught me the beauty of running and how to appreciate it," said Todman. "She never actually thought that I would go full time into track events, but when I did she was always there cheering for me. She encouraged and supported me, and when I took up track in college, she pushed me when I needed it, but didn't go overboard.

"Every home meet I had, and every meet that was near New Jersey, New York or Connecticut, she was there," Todman said proudly. "My mom inspired me to be better, to always strive to be the best and constantly push myself. She told me to, 'Be better than you were last week, and be better than you were two seconds ago.'"

Maj. Adrian Hageman, 100th FSS commander, said he's very impressed with what Todman has achieved.

"I think this is a phenomenal accomplishment and is a testament to her drive, enthusiasm and work ethic, which she displays on a daily basis," he said. "The ability to compete, build partnerships and represent the Air Force in this manner is another way for our Airmen to showcase their talents, both in and out of their respective career field."