Shapard says she has an advantage as a hurdler because she has "quasi-ambidextrous legs," allowing her to use her right or left as her lead leg.

"A lot of hurdlers have a favorite side, but I feel comfortable with either," she said.

Now she just has to hope some of her dreams don't come true.

Like many athletes, she dreams about strange things that can happen to her out on the track.

In a recent dream, she was in a hurdles race and one hurdle was set to the men's height and she didn't know what to do. Then after that, the rest of the hurdles were missing.

Recently, she has switched from anchor leg to lead leg on the 4x400 relay, which causes her some anxiety.

"I'm afraid of dropping the baton," she said. "I have nightmares that I'm going to start the race and the baton will still be lying on the ground."

Kepler credits Shapard's switch from anchor to lead as the reason the relay team — which includes Whitney Wellington, Chelsey Kaplar and Ashley Patterson — has lowered the school record by four seconds in two weeks.

"That's been all the difference in the world," he said. "There were no complaints — she said, 'Coach, what do you need?' She puts us in the lead and that set the tone. She's made everybody better."

Besides Shapard and her 4x400 relay mates, other Utes competing this week include Sarah Grimm and Josefin Berg in the hammer throw, Kladia Rokossa in the pole vault, Langley Iverson in the high jump, Chelsea DiGrazia in the 1,500 meters.

After the NCAAs, Shapard would love to continue her track career and perhaps compete in meets in Europe or Japan with a dream to eventually make the Olympic trials.

Not a bad goal for someone who used to despise the sport.

"Running has always come natural to me," she said. "In high school I didn't like running at all, but now I appreciate the fact that I've been given this amazing gift to be able to run well."

e-mail: sor@desnews.com