A-10 Championships: Day 1

One day down and one to go! I have decided to have a new outlook on life and everything in it. Look at the positives. So this blog is going to be all about the positives of today, and there were a LOT of those. So lets get started shall we?

Our trip up here to good ole Rhody was quite long and tiring. Our plane was delayed almost an hour and a half, we took off in a thunder storm, Boston was freezing, and then we had to drive about an hour and a half to our hotel. Those might seem like negatives, but quite the contrary. I got to have Chinese for dinner with the throwers in the airport, who I rarely see. I got to catch up with Sara (aka Fox) while we waited and extra hour and amazingly enough we ended up sitting together on the plane. I ended up with a great roomie, Stephanie, and we got to sleep in the next morning then have a late breakfast before heading to the track for warm ups. While at the track I had some awesome jumps, I got over the 11' 6 bungie on my 11' 6 pole! That is quite impressive if I must say so myself. (Note: Clearing and getting over are not the same thing contrary to what some vaulters will tell you.) Pre-conference day: good.

Today was the day! WOOHOO! Oh my the nerves were out in full force today! My warm ups were great. Coach was impressed and I felt great. I passed opening height and came in at 9'4.25 for a confidence jump. I like that height for the purpose that I know its an easy jump and I can double check my step and standard settings. It works for me. Well I was up and then I hear from across the track my thrower buddy, Alex, yell "GO SHANN-ON!" (Yes he really says it like that.) Then it started. A chant and cheer from across the track from my teammates. It was fantastic. Its the first time that has ever happened, mainly because vault is always out of the way and people can't see it. It grows louder. I hear Shanice (Go Shannon. WOOOOT!), Lamara, Alex, Zack, Sam, Darius, Derek, John, and so many others. I could pick their voices out and suddenly I'm pumped. I have an audience! People are watching me! Oh you better make this a good one! Oh and it was. Clearing it by at least a foot and with good form at that. Then the stands send out a rawer like none I have ever heard and it was for me! Wow that was an awesome moment.

Height two! I lacked the audience, but I was relaxed. I was in the meet. First attempt, miss. Its OK, I got this. Second attempt, clear it by at least four inches and again good form. The next height was it! 10'4! My goal was within reach. Sadly, I fell short of my goal, but we aren't going to dwell on that because this is all about the positives right? I jumped 9'10 and change, two inches off my indoor PR, I jumped on my 12' 100 (and out grew it), my form was the best its ever been, and I looked the best I've looked since the first App meet of the year. I couldn't ask for much more than that could I? Well I could and I can. This is the best height I've ever cleared at a big meet, high school states and college conferences included. Not only that I've successfully ended an indoor season WITHOUT a no height! That's a first EVER! I have a lot to be proud of. Sure I didn't end up where I wanted to be with my place or my height, but I've come a long way and for that I should be proud.

Now moving on to even better things. My team. They are fantastic! That cheering I explained earlier was something we have been working on. At our team meeting the other night coach talked about how we had come together as a team after our tragedy with Steven and he was excited for that to carry over to today, and it did. It started with my jump then it moved to the pentathlon 800 meter run, where Kali beasted out a 2.30 placing her 6Th in the pent with a new school record! Then the runs, throws, long jump, and guys vault. Overwhelmingly all around the team people are doing really well. The team scores after day one, and six events in the books, are sitting us 4Th place and the guys are sitting in 1st. Now don't go thinking that's bad, the girls team is leading almost every running event that has finals tomorrow, in most cases sweeping the top three places. We are predicted to win by about 50 points, which is our smallest lead ever in the A-10, but we are supporting each other and we are pulling it out with better results than even coach could have predicted. I am proud to be a part of this team and proud to be here. I have no doubt tomorrow we will be yet again for the 4Th year in a row (and 7Th straight conference title) the Atlantic-10 Indoor Champions.

"Tomorrow is it. Seize the day. This is it." Coach Vought