Final!!!!
Lane 6
After eargerly awaiting the lane assignments, they were announced on the usatf website. I was happy to see my name in lane 6. I would have two fast girls on the inside and two on the outside of me. I could not have asked for a better lane!
Throughout the days of being in Indianapolis, I had many tremendous supporters, my husband, my mom, and a host of family and friends! I felt as if this track was my home turf and I wanted to prove everyone who doubted me that I could place and go to the World Championships!!
Finals are always nerve wrecking but it takes someone who is mentally strong to attack and conquer what everyone else is attempting to do. Oh my.... was I nervous during warm up....all the runners pass each other and we simply give a nod here, or a quick smile there. There is definitely not much talking, let alone being around your competitors. Everyone has their go to war face on, and I knew that I was ready with mine.
I felt good during warm-up, I felt confident that the Lord would be by my side! Once it was time to go check in for the race, I ran the race over in my head...and prayed and let out a long sigh. Deep down inside I was ready......
The race was over in a new PR for me 50.24!!! I was able to shoot out of the blocks in the first 200 meters in the pace that I wanted to hit! I arrived at the 3rd 100 of the race and lagged behind unable to turn it up a notch like I wanted, but I stayed calm and knew that I would be fine. In the last 100 meters I was in fifth place and knew that I would have to dig deep in my heart and move up several spots. Again I told myself that I HAD TO MAKE THIS TEAM.....I mustered up and gave my all in the homestretch and moved into 3rd position, putting myself on the TEAM to JAPAN.
I crossed that line and clapped with joy because I did it....I had made it. I really wanted to cry but I was so shocked with joy that a big hearty smile took over. Osaka here I come...........
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
AT&T Outdoor Nationals - Semi-Finals- 400meters
Day 2
Heat 1, Lane 5
It is now day two of the women's 400 meters here in Indianapolis. The weather has been holding up well for me, but I questioned if my body would be able to run another round. I came into the race with my lower back being slightly sore and my legs were also a little sore from the previous day. As a sprinter when you get to these championships, you realize that you body may be in pain, but the race must go on. I ignored that my back was sore and stuck to my game plan of completing the race.
I was very excited with my day one, I didn't take it out too hard, and I was able to run a relaxed race. I can remember commenting to my coach after day one..."that race suprisingly didn't feel that great , but it was a 2nd best time only to the 50.95 run last week" My coach assured me that I would be fine and just needed to get the first one out of the way. He reminded me to run my race and finish in the top 2 so that I could get a good lane in the final. So with that said the goal was Top 2.
The outcome of this race was just as I had planned. I got second in my heat and was relieved that it was over. Unlike the day before, I felt great in this race. After coming around the 2nd curve I was able to relax down the final straight away and easily hold off the straining girls behind me. The time was a 51.06, my second best time ever and I knew I had alot more left in the tank. It gave me a great deal of confidence going into the final the next day. I was still very nervous though, knowing that one of the most important days of the year would be tomorrow, the women's 400 final. This is only my second time ever making it to an Outdoor Final. Last year I had placed fifth and was taken as a relay alternate to Athens, Greece for the World Cup. I didn't get an opportunity to run at that meet and it reminded me what it felt like to be on the outside looking in.....this would be my motivation to finish high in the final.
Heat 1, Lane 5
It is now day two of the women's 400 meters here in Indianapolis. The weather has been holding up well for me, but I questioned if my body would be able to run another round. I came into the race with my lower back being slightly sore and my legs were also a little sore from the previous day. As a sprinter when you get to these championships, you realize that you body may be in pain, but the race must go on. I ignored that my back was sore and stuck to my game plan of completing the race.
I was very excited with my day one, I didn't take it out too hard, and I was able to run a relaxed race. I can remember commenting to my coach after day one..."that race suprisingly didn't feel that great , but it was a 2nd best time only to the 50.95 run last week" My coach assured me that I would be fine and just needed to get the first one out of the way. He reminded me to run my race and finish in the top 2 so that I could get a good lane in the final. So with that said the goal was Top 2.
The outcome of this race was just as I had planned. I got second in my heat and was relieved that it was over. Unlike the day before, I felt great in this race. After coming around the 2nd curve I was able to relax down the final straight away and easily hold off the straining girls behind me. The time was a 51.06, my second best time ever and I knew I had alot more left in the tank. It gave me a great deal of confidence going into the final the next day. I was still very nervous though, knowing that one of the most important days of the year would be tomorrow, the women's 400 final. This is only my second time ever making it to an Outdoor Final. Last year I had placed fifth and was taken as a relay alternate to Athens, Greece for the World Cup. I didn't get an opportunity to run at that meet and it reminded me what it felt like to be on the outside looking in.....this would be my motivation to finish high in the final.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
2007 AT&T Outdoor Nationals- Day 1
Heat 4, Lane 6
Thursday June, 21
The time has come and the Outdoor Nationals are finally here. This is what all of the athletes train for. We work hard, train hard and at the end of our road this is where we would like to peak. I am so excited coming into Nationals, and I have set some high goals for myself. I am currently ranked with the fourth fastest time coming into the meet. Many individuals have stated their predictions on different websites, which don't include me finishing in the top five. I definitely plan on proving them wrong!
When you come into a big Championship Meet like this, 50% of the competition is mental and the other 50% is physical. Your body goes through the cycle of competing at hard levels for three days straight. At the end you are thankful that it is over. For this meet I had many supporters!! I would just like to thank my mom, Chris, my in-laws and many other friends who came all the way to Indy to show support. Without you all I don't think I could have made it past round one. But like they say having positive support allows you to soar to higher levels.
Day 1 was very relaxed for me, I was confident that I would win my heat and move on to the next round. I visually saw myself getting out of the blocks and powering down the last 100 meters. I came through the line first with a 51.15, and that put me into the next round. My competitors also ran well in their heats, but my time was the second fastest overall. After the race I got a rub out and an ice bath.
Thursday June, 21
The time has come and the Outdoor Nationals are finally here. This is what all of the athletes train for. We work hard, train hard and at the end of our road this is where we would like to peak. I am so excited coming into Nationals, and I have set some high goals for myself. I am currently ranked with the fourth fastest time coming into the meet. Many individuals have stated their predictions on different websites, which don't include me finishing in the top five. I definitely plan on proving them wrong!
When you come into a big Championship Meet like this, 50% of the competition is mental and the other 50% is physical. Your body goes through the cycle of competing at hard levels for three days straight. At the end you are thankful that it is over. For this meet I had many supporters!! I would just like to thank my mom, Chris, my in-laws and many other friends who came all the way to Indy to show support. Without you all I don't think I could have made it past round one. But like they say having positive support allows you to soar to higher levels.
Day 1 was very relaxed for me, I was confident that I would win my heat and move on to the next round. I visually saw myself getting out of the blocks and powering down the last 100 meters. I came through the line first with a 51.15, and that put me into the next round. My competitors also ran well in their heats, but my time was the second fastest overall. After the race I got a rub out and an ice bath.
Monday, June 11, 2007
2007 Prefontaine Meet
Hey everyone,
I am so happy to share with you my first experience at the Prefontaine Classic Meet. I was able to see why many athletes enjoy their experience while at PRE and love coming back to Eugene, Oregon. The people were all very supportive, and the city was very inviting. For them track and field is like football. They breathe, eat and sleep track and field. To my surprise many of the fans knew a lot about the competitors and were eager to cheer everyone on. The entire atmosphere was a definite booster and helped me gear up for my race.
Sometimes you just have that feeling of being ready! On this day I was excited and just ready to run. I knew my competitors in the race and was very happy to get lane 6. The nervous jitters began as I got into the blocks, but I immediately changed that into positive energy that I could use during the race. In this race I wanted to run my race and not let my competitors pull to far away during the first part. As the gun went off....bang.....we were all out of the blocks. My competitors on the inside actually made up the stagger, but again I reminded myself to stay calm and relaxed. One thing I did not want to do is stress at the fact that they were ahead. I mentally knew that I would be O.K., as long as I stuck to my original plan.
Coming into the last 100 meters, I felt that I needed to push it home and give it all that I had. I actually was in fifth place coming into the straight, and realized that I would not be satisfied if I didn't dig hard! Somewhere, somehow I got a surge and was proud to cross the line in 50.95 seconds, placing second to the number one ranked 400 meter runner in the world. At first I didn't realize the time when I saw it. It took me several minutes to realize that I had just broke 51 seconds. This is something that I have been working hard to do and finally it came through.
After the race, the lactic acid hit my legs tremendously, I was hurting and happy at the same time. I said to myself...this is what it feels like to run 50 point. Sometimes your body will hurt and in training you still have to fight through it. I am extremely excited about the upcoming National Meet. I will continue to work hard in practice and trust that the Lord will allow great things to happen.
He definitely helped me at Pre and I am thankful for that......
I am so happy to share with you my first experience at the Prefontaine Classic Meet. I was able to see why many athletes enjoy their experience while at PRE and love coming back to Eugene, Oregon. The people were all very supportive, and the city was very inviting. For them track and field is like football. They breathe, eat and sleep track and field. To my surprise many of the fans knew a lot about the competitors and were eager to cheer everyone on. The entire atmosphere was a definite booster and helped me gear up for my race.
Sometimes you just have that feeling of being ready! On this day I was excited and just ready to run. I knew my competitors in the race and was very happy to get lane 6. The nervous jitters began as I got into the blocks, but I immediately changed that into positive energy that I could use during the race. In this race I wanted to run my race and not let my competitors pull to far away during the first part. As the gun went off....bang.....we were all out of the blocks. My competitors on the inside actually made up the stagger, but again I reminded myself to stay calm and relaxed. One thing I did not want to do is stress at the fact that they were ahead. I mentally knew that I would be O.K., as long as I stuck to my original plan.
Coming into the last 100 meters, I felt that I needed to push it home and give it all that I had. I actually was in fifth place coming into the straight, and realized that I would not be satisfied if I didn't dig hard! Somewhere, somehow I got a surge and was proud to cross the line in 50.95 seconds, placing second to the number one ranked 400 meter runner in the world. At first I didn't realize the time when I saw it. It took me several minutes to realize that I had just broke 51 seconds. This is something that I have been working hard to do and finally it came through.
After the race, the lactic acid hit my legs tremendously, I was hurting and happy at the same time. I said to myself...this is what it feels like to run 50 point. Sometimes your body will hurt and in training you still have to fight through it. I am extremely excited about the upcoming National Meet. I will continue to work hard in practice and trust that the Lord will allow great things to happen.
He definitely helped me at Pre and I am thankful for that......
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
2007 Reebok Grand Prix
Hello everyone,
Upon arriving in New York City, I was once again reminded of what I had left behind. Many years ago I use to live in Brooklyn, New York and I was actually born in the Coney Island Hospital. I can remember the loudness, the lights, the constant motion, and of course the speeding taxi's and crazy drivers. I could not believe that I was in the city again. There is something about New York that you just have to love. It's a great diverse place and a wonderful city to visit. Most of all it's always exciting to run at Icahn Stadium!!!
Since I had not raced in two weeks before this, I was very excited about the meet and even started to get nervous as I picked up my bags from baggage claim. I had set some goals for myself while on the plane ride and definitely felt pretty good coming into the meet. The day of the meet is always very critical for me, starting with what I eat for breakfast, how I arrange my uniform, and even how I put on my lucky gold eyeshadow. Yes... that right that is my trademark, I will always wear gold eyeshadow in all my races.....it makes me think of going for the gold. Once I arrive at the track, I usually go through my routine warm-up and mentally prepare for my race. I knew that I was in lane 2 for the 400 meters, and my goal was to get out quickly for my first 200 meters of the race and really pick it up and finish strong.
That's is not quite what happened.....for those of you who aren't familiar with the 400 meters, here's the break down. In the race you always want to work on making up the stagger and getting out quickly. In my race on Saturday I got out slow in my first 200, which made me have to work harder on the third 100 meters and then really push it in the last 100 meters. I was able to push myself into a third place finish. I wasn't too excited with my overall time, but I was happy to place third among such an elite field of women 400 meter runners. My time of 51.35 is not too far off my PR of 51.19, so staying consistent is definitely what I wanted to accomplish. Looking back I can see my areas that need improving, so the plan is to work on those daily in practice for the upcoming weeks leading to Nationals. So look out here I come!!!!!
Thanks for stopping by....
Upon arriving in New York City, I was once again reminded of what I had left behind. Many years ago I use to live in Brooklyn, New York and I was actually born in the Coney Island Hospital. I can remember the loudness, the lights, the constant motion, and of course the speeding taxi's and crazy drivers. I could not believe that I was in the city again. There is something about New York that you just have to love. It's a great diverse place and a wonderful city to visit. Most of all it's always exciting to run at Icahn Stadium!!!
Since I had not raced in two weeks before this, I was very excited about the meet and even started to get nervous as I picked up my bags from baggage claim. I had set some goals for myself while on the plane ride and definitely felt pretty good coming into the meet. The day of the meet is always very critical for me, starting with what I eat for breakfast, how I arrange my uniform, and even how I put on my lucky gold eyeshadow. Yes... that right that is my trademark, I will always wear gold eyeshadow in all my races.....it makes me think of going for the gold. Once I arrive at the track, I usually go through my routine warm-up and mentally prepare for my race. I knew that I was in lane 2 for the 400 meters, and my goal was to get out quickly for my first 200 meters of the race and really pick it up and finish strong.
That's is not quite what happened.....for those of you who aren't familiar with the 400 meters, here's the break down. In the race you always want to work on making up the stagger and getting out quickly. In my race on Saturday I got out slow in my first 200, which made me have to work harder on the third 100 meters and then really push it in the last 100 meters. I was able to push myself into a third place finish. I wasn't too excited with my overall time, but I was happy to place third among such an elite field of women 400 meter runners. My time of 51.35 is not too far off my PR of 51.19, so staying consistent is definitely what I wanted to accomplish. Looking back I can see my areas that need improving, so the plan is to work on those daily in practice for the upcoming weeks leading to Nationals. So look out here I come!!!!!
Thanks for stopping by....
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