Being A Versible Athlete Analysis

It is safe to say that every athlete has been put in a situation that they were not exactly prepared for. But it is the lessons that are learned from those situations that determine what kind of athlete they will become. Because most teams will not be expecting an unplanned situation to occur, being a versible athlete is an important quality to obtain. When an athlete or a person is put in a position that requires oneself to step up, responsibility, teamwork and motivation must be required to gain success.
April 28th, 2015 is a day that I will forever remember. The end of track season was approaching as my team and I were headed to Lubbock, Tx to compete in the regional track meet. on our way to compete in the Regional track meet. at Fuller Field which is located in Lubbock, Tx. I got the privilege to go to the meet that day because my 400 time was fast enough to compete on the mile relay. Unfortunately, I was the youngest out of the six girls so I was put as an alternate. The mile relay is a team of

four with two alternates that are just as prepared to run as the girls running, in case of an injury or another serious event. Each person on the team runs a 400, which is one lap around the track. That morning was particularly stressful because it was not like the other meets I was the only underclassman so I had to follow the other girls around and do what they told me too. My main goal was to be responsible and make sure I was where I needed to be when I needed to be there. I did not want to mess up because I was trying to impress my coach and teammates to hopefully earn a permanently spot on the team.
The start of the 100 hurdle was about to begin, Carmen Sitz, a senior on my team was about to compete. As soon as the gun was shot she was up and racing right through the first, second, third hurdle and then a sudden stop as she fell to the ground. She broke her leg and could not manage to even finish the race. This was my time, it was my time to step up and show them what I was capable of. I was nervous and anxious but I knew I had to do this for my team. I needed to do the best I possibly could to earn my spot and now I was motivated and ready to race. At every meet the mile relay is the last event, all fans, coaches, and players would not miss this event even if they had to because it is unbelievable competitive. Warm up time has approached and I complete the entire warm up jamming out to Eminem and I am pumped. My adrenaline is rushing and my stomach is whirling. Before entering the track coach Baca pulled me aside and told me, “This is your time to shine, this is your race and you are going to do amazing. Don’t be too nervous just stay calm and remember to always turn left. Go get’em bud.”
The time has begun, the gun is shot and the race begins.

As I watch Hannah Yerby race down the track I see she is in first. Being second leg I had to keep the lead. The thoughts running through my head were unspeakable, what if I messed up and dropped the baton, what if I tripped and couldn't finish. I had no more time to think negative, the baton is handed to me and I am off. I hear absolutely nothing, I can not see anything but the track ahead of me and the girls to the left of me. This is what I have been dreaming of for years now, and it is finally happening, I am where I want to be. Coming into the the exchange zone ready to hand the baton off to Katie Beth, I held the lead. Screaming at the top of my lungs, I realized I just broke my personal record. “STICK” I yell as I pass the baton to Katie Beth and before I knew it Brittney was off, when she came down the home stretch, I jumped for joy, we made it, we did it. We take home the win today and state here we

come.
This experience was breathtaking, I have not felt so much happiness and this was the day that made a huge difference in my life. We got to run at state and it changed my outlook on track forever. Now I am looking into running in college because at one meet I felt successful enough that I want to take that success up to the next level. When an athlete is put in a unnormal situation and they succeed it changes the outlook they have for that sport for the rest of their athletic career.