Olympic bound

Six-time TCU All-American will race for her home nation in Beijing.

She is one of the most accomplished track and field athletes in the NCAA and has earned a spot on her home nation's track and field team for the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

She's also received more All-American awards than any woman in TCU history. But senior Virgil Hodge just doesn't know how to slow down.

After dominating the Mountain West Conference Indoor season, in which she beat the field in the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes for the second straight year, she won the Women's Outstanding Performance Award and the conference's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

In May, she graduated with a degree in communication studies. Then, in the outdoor conference season finale, she finished with a personal best time of 11.21 in the 100 meters, which won her a third consecutive outdoor Mountain West Conference title. The time was also seventh fastest in the U.S. this year and set a new record for the league, TCU's Lowdon Track and her home country of St. Kitts and Nevis.

But there's still more to be excited about.

In June, she'll race in the NCAA Championships, and it will be the first time someone from her family will get to see her race as a Horned Frog.

Then it's home to prepare for China.

"I am always excited when I get an opportunity to go back home," said Hodge, a native of Caribbean islands St. Kitts and Nevis. "Whenever I also get the opportunity to race while I am back there, it makes the visit much more meaningful for me and my family."

But while she's in Fort Worth, she has the Flyin' Frogs to keep her company.

"When we get off the track we hang out, laugh, cry and spend time with each other just like we do with other friends," she said.

Hodge even cooks Caribbean dinners for the whole team.

"Anytime Virgil says she is cooking there's no doubt I'll be able to make it over because I love to eat," said teammate Jessica Young. "I never used to eat red beans with rice, but now it's one of my favorite things."

After track, Hodge would love to combine her love of travel, food and learning about other cultures.
"I really would like to use my communication degree to work for an airline and see where it takes me," she said.

But for now, the prospect of the grand stage of the Olympics - the world-class athletes, a new culture, the food - is almost overwhelming, she said.

"I am planning to rest as much as I can because once I am there, I am going to want to experience it all," she said.

Later this summer, she'll enter some events in Europe with top competition as a ramp up to Beijing.
"I know that I just have to keep working year-round if I want to be the best I can be. Waiting is the hardest part. It can't get here soon enough." 

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