BOULDER, Colo. — It's hard to believe now, but three years ago Jenny Barringer wasn't a great finisher on the track.

She was a little too nice to her competitors.

That all changed when the future Olympian stunned the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase field with a school record time of 9 minutes, 53.04 seconds to become the first Colorado true freshman to win an NCAA title.

Earlier that season, Barringer placed second at the Big 12 Championships (10:21.90) and was fourth during the qualifying round of the NCAA Championships (10:12.38).

"It took a little bit of time to develop that killer instinct," Barringer said during a recent interview with the Camera. "I didn't show it until the last race that year and I surprised some people. Sometimes it takes a little bit of time to get that confidence."

Entering this year's NCAA Championships, which begin on Wednesday in Fayetteville, Ark., Barringer will be seeking her third national title in the steeplechase. She is the defending champion in her signature event after winning the 2008 final with a time of 9:29.20.

Barringer -- who ran thefastest time in the world (9:26.20) this year at regionals and is the current American record holder (9:22.26) -- plans to finish her outdoor career at CU with a third championship in the event.

The senior hopes to pass the torch in the event to CU freshman Emma Coburn, who is ranked ninth nationally with a personal record time of 10:06.54.