Hoosier Morgan Uceny sets sights on Olympic medal - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Track and field is rocking the London Olympics and a Hoosier is at the heart of the action.

There's no mistaking Morgan Uceny. She stands out with lightning fast speed and that multi-colored plastic kid's necklace. Morgan qualified for the women's 1,500-meter final, which takes place in London Thursday.

"It's just something I have worn since I was in junior high. On Facebook I have seen my old junior high friends bust theirs out again that they have from back in the day. It's stuck with me for a long time. It's a part of who I am," she said.

Morgan is a Hoosier kid at heart. Instead of hanging out in the Olympic Village, the 27-year-old enjoys family time at a local London hotel. The Plymouth, Indiana runner is close to living out her dream.

"What kid doesn't dream of being in the Olympics? It's one of those events. Every four years the entire country comes together. Families come together. You watch every day of the Olympics. Everyone wants to be there. I never thought it would happen. I didn't think it was possible until the last couple of years. It took me a while to gain confidence and realize I could do it," she said.

Morgan grew up playing lots of sports. She was a very athletic kid. Her parents say Morgan always had that drive.

"Even in 4-H, she wanted the grand champion, blue ribbon, you know. Maybe she got that from us. She didn't like to lose no matter what it was," said Marty and Brenda Uceny.

Now Morgan is on the verge of making history - becoming the first American woman to medal in the 1,500 race.

"It would be great - the shining moment to my entire career since running or basketball," she said. "It would mean a lot. You are being rewarded for all the hard work you have done over several years. This journey started when I was a child. It's not just the past four years. It's a life long goal. To see something like that come to fruition would be great."

She's keeping it all in perspective. Her family will be there long after the Olympic glow is over.

"They are mostly just fighting over the free stuff I have been giving them," Morgan laughed.