For the second installment in our interview series 'Legends of the DRD,' a one on one with 2 time competition winner & international superstar "Austrian" Stephen Meier. From M.K. (that's missionary kid for short) to missionary man, and all the stops in between. I spoke with Austrian last month at his home in Bunker Hill, West Virgina.
DRD: Good evening Steve - Thanks for taking the time to chat with me... 19:10
Austrian: Yes, in Ecuador I will get a small salary for being a Principalbut I will still need to raise support for living expenses.
DRD: What if one of the DRD competitors or a reader of this blog wants to help support you guys -- how would they go about doing that?
Austrian: The easiest way to learn about giving to our ministry is to visit Resourcing Christian Education International's donation page. Funds can be directed to the Meier family account by using the code #3930
DRD: Good evening Steve - Thanks for taking the time to chat with me...
Austrian: Nice to chat with you...
18:51 DRD: Steve it's hardly news now that you are quite possibly the greatest DRD athlete of all times, and yet despite all that, you won't be competing this year.8:52
Are you just trying to let someone else win for a change or what?
18:54 Austrian: It's true, no one have ever outscored me ! John Khan is the only one that even came close - we tied at the '99 event. Timing for DRD 2008... simply didn't work out.
18:56 DRD: I have to tell you that many of the other competitors expressed disappointment when they found out that youwould not be at the 2008 event.
18:57 Between you and me I think that deep down they really wanted to hear another Austrian style rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner."
18:58 Austrian: Look, Robin was sick that day. So I sang it with a sheet of paper in my hand. I think I had like 10 minutes to warm-up...
19:01 DRD: All right, all right, seriously though...
19:02 It's been almost 8 years since you stood atop the red winner's chair at Fazoli's and received the Chalice of Victory...
I know this is a pretty open-ended question but: Austrian Steve, What have you been doing with yourself for the past 8 years?
19:05 Austrian: Right after I completed my first Master's degree God opened a door for me to serve by teaching English in South Korea. It was there that I met Cristina, my wife.
In 2004-2005 I become the Graduate Assistant Coach for Liberty University Track. In 2005 I finished up my second masters and for the last three years I have been the Upper School Principal at Shenandoah Valley Christian Academy in Winchester, Virginia.
The school has about 300 students K4- 12th grade.
Austrian: I'm currently finishing up my 3rd Master's degree ... Ohh yeah and on July 25th of last year (2007) our son, Jared Anthony Meier was born.
DRD: Now correct me if I'm wrong -you will be leaving your current position as a High School Principal as you have now signed on with Ecuadorian Football (Soccer) Club El Nacional as their back-up keeper...??
In 2004-2005 I become the Graduate Assistant Coach for Liberty University Track. In 2005 I finished up my second masters and for the last three years I have been the Upper School Principal at Shenandoah Valley Christian Academy in Winchester, Virginia.
The school has about 300 students K4- 12th grade.
Austrian: I'm currently finishing up my 3rd Master's degree ... Ohh yeah and on July 25th of last year (2007) our son, Jared Anthony Meier was born.
DRD: Now correct me if I'm wrong -you will be leaving your current position as a High School Principal as you have now signed on with Ecuadorian Football (Soccer) Club El Nacional as their back-up keeper...??
19:08 Austrian: Well, not exactly. This summer Cristina, Jared and I are going to Quito, Ecuador to serve the Lord. I will be the Secondary Principal at Alliance Academy International.
The school has about 420 students & serves missionary kids, embassy kids, business kids, and local Ecuadorians.
The main language is English, but I will be learning Spanish soon.
The school has about 420 students & serves missionary kids, embassy kids, business kids, and local Ecuadorians.
The main language is English, but I will be learning Spanish soon.
DRD: Wow, three master's degrees, South Korea, Ecuador, marriage, a child, & another language...
19:13 What's that, 3 languages for you now?
Austrian: Yes! English, German, Spanish and some Korean...
19:14 DRD: Whoa...English too...?
I had no idea.
Very Impressive!
Very Impressive!
19:15 DRD: Now Steve I want to turn our attention to LU Track & eventually we'll get around to the greatest event of all times - the Distance Runner's Decathlon.
You mentioned that you were a track coach at our alma mater...
What was that all about?
19:17 Austrian: It was a opportunity to be back at LU after a VERY stressful time in Korea. It was a good year. I was working with some of the distance runners, but mostly with the sprinters, middle distance, and some with the decathletes...
Taking down times, watching video, writing out the results, and encouraging the athletes...
19:23 DRD: That sounds like a perfect job for you...
My first impression of you back when we met in 1997 was that you were very passionate about competitive running, and over the years I found you to be a great encouragement (to me personally) ...
It sounds like the G.A. coaching bit was right down your alley...
Do you miss it?
19:25 Austrian: Yeah but it didn't pay enough to raise a family. - only about $4000 a year...
19:26 DRD: Ahhh yes...money.
So now you've chosen the lucrative life of a Christian missionary in South America!
19:28
Austrian: Yes, in Ecuador I will get a small salary for being a Principalbut I will still need to raise support for living expenses.
DRD: What if one of the DRD competitors or a reader of this blog wants to help support you guys -- how would they go about doing that?
Austrian: The easiest way to learn about giving to our ministry is to visit Resourcing Christian Education International's donation page. Funds can be directed to the Meier family account by using the code #3930
19:31 DRD: Steve, I have to ask the question, and we'll get back to the DRD in a sec but: why not back to Europe, where you grew up & your parents live or why not back to Korea where you and Cristina met? Why did you feel the Lord was leading you to Ecuador?
Austrian: God opened a door for us to go to Ecuador, and we are blessed to go there. My wife's family were missionaries to Ecuador & she actually graduated from the same high-school where I will be Principal.
19:34
DRD: Phenomenal! Now I want to talk DRD...
As i mentioned before, you are the most decorated DRD competitor of all times and I wonder what it was that you attributed all that success too?
19:43 Austrian: Well I think I am an all-around good athlete. I had run the Vienna City Marathon back in 1996, 100m in HS in 11:73, a 200m at LU in 22.73 and a 400m at LU in 50.30.
As a freshmen at LU, you and I ran a 10,000 m in 35min+
DRD: Well, in full disclosure I really only ran 9,600 meters...
Austrian: Right... anyway... about my competitive spirit - I love to compete & I have a very hard head: just ask John Khan.
As a freshmen at LU, you and I ran a 10,000 m in 35min+
DRD: Well, in full disclosure I really only ran 9,600 meters...
Austrian: Right... anyway... about my competitive spirit - I love to compete & I have a very hard head: just ask John Khan.
19:44 DRD: You are referring to the infamous Spring 1998 basketball cage match...right?
19:45 I will remind the readers that this was a pick-up basketball game between you, me, & Rob Bartels & John Khan on the last day of the Spring semester in 1998. It is best remembered for the punishment that you meted out to the little Pakistani when he had the audacity to attempt a text-book lay-up!
Austrian: Yep!!! John didn't talk to me for about two months - But I got his respect... and now we are BFF!
19:46
DRD: I'm sorry - what was that? BFF?
19:47 Austrian: Nevermind... all I can say is that I am a fearsome competitor - John & I are both competitors & the 1999 DRD [editor note: also known as the Austrian-Paki Debacle of 1999] was just competitive fun...
DRD: We'll after the 1999 event - you really put that draw well behind you and came out for blood in the Y2K event...
19:48
...the rest is History. Johnny Khan was left wheezing on the side of the track and you were sipping RC Cola from the Chalice of Victory....
19:49 19:50
DRD: Who do you think will still be in the shape to tackle this event and win it?
19:54 Austrian: This year, (without me) I predict that Matt Zealand could pull it off.
19:55 DRD: Matt Zealand ? - You think he has the stuff?
19:56 Austrian: He will struggle with the 1km steeple, but the sprints and the field events; He is the one I pick.
DRD: Well, we only have to wait until October 17th to know for sure!
19:57
If you could offer a slice of Austrian advice to the 2008 competitors what would it be?
If you could offer a slice of Austrian advice to the 2008 competitors what would it be?
19:58 Austrian: Right, I am excited to see who can make it out.
1st is to show up at the event
2nd is pace yourself
3rd is to finish without injury
19:59
4th is to have great time
DRD: Wise words from a great competitor!
Austrian, thanks for spending time with me this evening.
Austrian, thanks for spending time with me this evening.
20:00 I feel free to speak on behalf of the other competitors and let you know that you will be missed this year and...
that our thoughts and prayers will be with you & Cristina & Jared as you serve the Lord in Ecuador.
Austrian: Thank you.
Austrian: Thank you.
11 comments:
Stephen, will you need a ride to the juvenile detention facility this Wednesday?
Are you the feller I seen at the gas station down there off 'a 460 on that damp spring night in '99?
That were a bold move to come into our place wearin' nothing but a red vest and a pair of jammie-jams...
As you can see from the picture, this is what a Festiva looks like when it's really lost it's gears. We found this car abandoned down by the creek in Sheetz, VA.
From the tagline of the poster, you'll see that it relates very closely to the man the blog was about. I believe the DRD has created a monster. A force to be reckoned with that is an unstoddable DRD dynasty. Go get 'em blue juice.
To anyone that sat in the movie theater with Steve, forgive him for walking out of the Movies 10 and saying "whaz up my ni---?" And by the way this movie also got tagged blue juice.
Yo Johnny K, I'm feelin ya. That whole story about the knot on your head...let me guess you played some ball with Austrian Steve? Check this out, we played a pickup game while I was nearby Schroon Lake. As you can see from the picture and from how the DRD moderator describes this, we both probably had the same incident occur. You only had to hide this knot from that Joey cat, I got a lot of flack from MJ for mine too. FYI, I might try to attend the DRD since Chuck will be there too. Peace #33.
That's great Steve, That's great! C'mon, you were great.
That's Great Steve...Really is!
Steve,
instead of going with "rideinmybenz" why don't you and I go grab a bite before prison ministry starts. I wanna run a few new inflammatory lines by you so you can let me know what you think. We'll see if we can't incite some real carnage this week!
Stephen was one of my most memorable students. He had a great attitude, a wonderful work-ethic and a preternatural understanding of the Greek language. As I recall he was also feared on the track and respected on the basket ball court. Or, er...uhhh...was it feared on the court and respected on the track? Anyway, I'm off to a round in Pebble Beach. Congratulations Stephen, best of luck on the dark continent!
Dude - the 'delta' button on my Playstation 2 hasn't worked since that Thanksgiving when you came home with my brother!
oh no. I knew this was going to happen. I just lost my gears.
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