Every year the eight lane, royal blue track at Eastern Illinois University is where every athlete in Illinois hopes to get the chance to run at the end of May. But only those who run a qualifying time for their event or win their event at Sectional are able to run in the State Meet at Eastern. It is a beautiful track stadium that doubles as a football stadium. The stadium is surrounded by a tall fence on all sides that is covered in ivy. There are two grandstands, a larger one that covers the whole length of the track which overlooks the finish, and a smaller one on the opposite side which has a better view of the field events.The meet is very competitive and crowded with over 3000 athletes and many more fans. So both grandstands end up being …show more content…
We had been training since December for this meet. Coach Hampton knew our goal was to place, or possibly win the 4x800 meter relay so he made our workouts harder than ever so we could have a chance at accomplishing our goal. Hampton, one of the best coaches in the state, has trained athletes to be state qualifiers in Track and Cross Country every year since 1989. Within his first five years coaching, his cross country team won Back to Back State Championships. And in Track he has coached the State Record holder in the 1600 and 800 meter run. I looked up to Coach Hampton, every time he advised me to change my race strategy or work on my kick I did. But he was never satisfied. He always wanted me to be faster and when I became faster he wanted me to be even …show more content…
Shortly after, he fell back to 10th place. Harris passed the baton to Zach who took off like a gazelle attempting to put us back in the race but there was a 15 meter gap to 9th place. He came around the first 400m and had closed the gap to about 10 meters. Along the final 100 meters of his leg Zach was closing in on the runner in front of him and passed the baton to Cameron in 10th place right behind 9th. You could tell from Cameron’s painful facial expression that he was doing everything he could to stick with the runner in 9th but the other runners were very talented and he handed the baton to me in 11th place with a 15 meter gap from 10th and about a 30 meter gap from 9th. I took off running as hard as I could and before going into the final lap I had already moved us up to 9th place, we had our medal. My heart was throbbing, it was getting hard to breathe, and my legs felt like they couldn’t move. But I wasn’t going to settle, I wanted the highest place possible for our team. So I kept pushing and when I crossed the finish line I had a new personal record in the 800 and what I thought was 7th
I am now officially in my Senior year of Cross Country , and am close to the end of my season. My first race of this year though was a big accomplishment for me, because I hadn`t been able to run. When I ran that race though it made me just so happy I was able to finish it, I was`nt happy with the time, but there is always time for improvement. I was glad to be racing again and being apart of the team again. I believe that my injuries were a barrier in my way, but they did not stop my sports career.
I continued to push myself to do better, but my coach relentlessly would call me out and embarrasses me in front of the team. When my teammates questioned why I was not a part of their varsity team, my coach would call an organized team meeting, one I was not invited to attend. She was cruel and her words were demeaning, insulting and she seemed to be on a mission to have my teammates shun me on and off the court. She told the girls that I was not “physically or mentally ready for varsity”.
The Head Coach of the JV Football team has given me the honor of being his Special Teams Coach. This job requires me to train his kickers, punters, long snappers, and holders. Starting August 1st I began working with a kicker for 2 hours per day and he has shown major improvement over the past month and a half. In the beginning, though he was very pessimistic about his success and it took a lot of motivation on my part for him to not quit. When I began training him we had to begin from the ground up because he had never kicked a football before in his entire life which was a major barrier to his success we had to get over. The head coach thought that I did such a good job with the first kicker that now I am training 3 kickers. My job includes
As I got back on Loopy I felt a sense of relaxation come over me. I heard the announcer say that my time was 10.1 seconds. I knew that this was a good time and could possibly win the short go at the State Finals. I sat through the other fourteen calf ropers to listen to no other times faster than 10.1 seconds. Not only did I win the short go but I showed everyone that I was someone to watch.
I signed up to run track in the spring and went to summer conditioning for cross country. That’s when my coaches, teammates, and myself noticed that my running has improved significantly from when I first started. I knew that I had to work hard my senior year to achieve my goals for running. Running is a mental sport. The workouts I had to do were brutally painful and I had stay positive throughout the run because I know the training I had to do will help me during a race.
stadium on oval to circular tracks. Usually you need an sponsor to get into one of these
It then started to get harder and each day was a different workout to help me and my teammates improve. I was at a point where all I could do was attend school, go to practice and go home. Each day I was beyond tired. At a point of time I felt like giving up and going back to my regular life, and regular schedule. As the coach started to notice how I felt, he pulled me to the side and started to question what was going on. I explained, but everything I said was not a good enough reason. My coach told me, “If this is what you really want you won’t give up, no matter how hard it may get you will overcome it.” That day I learned a valuable lesson, to never give up.
He asked me, “Do you want to join the varsity team for the playoffs?” Without hesitation I said, “Of course coach.” I started practicing with them and couldn’t wait for this great opportunity to play on varsity in eighth grade. There are a total of five rounds in a high school playoff and the fifth round of course being the state championship, and to win a series you have to win two out of three games. Coach said, “You’re being called up to be a pitch runner for the pitcher and catcher during the games if they reached base.” I said, “Sounds good coach, thanks for the opportunity.” The first three rounds were pretty easy and then we had to play Mars Hill and they were really good. They had two great pitchers, one was going to Alabama and the other was going to Mississippi State. We won the first game and ended up winning the second game on a walk-off homerun to send us to the state championship game. I could not believe that this was happening. I have been dreaming of this ever since I was a little
The author in “A Relay Race to Remember” uses foreshadowing by showing Malik’s ankle getting worse. When Malik’s ankle gets worse, Sean has to take over and swim for Malik. Sean doubted himself because he wasn’t a good swimmer as Malik is. At the end, Sean wins the race from practicing and determination.
Last night I made my first trip ever to, Fleming Stadium, home of the Shadyside Tigers, Before the game I stopped by the big tailgate party being thrown, right beside the stadium. I wanted to first say that this stadium was well lit and in pretty good shape, for this time of the season. The P.A. system was very loud on the home side. The home crowd was very large and loud and the P.A. guy was one of the better ones, I have heard this season.
The timers near the finish lines start their timers and the intense rivalries between individuals and schools start with the gun as the runners take off. The course, now filled with hundreds of hot runners, is matted down as the runners run over and trample it. Action and intense competition filled the air. The fans all crowd around the edges of the course pushing and trying to get the best view of their favorite athlete or team. The parking lot’s now packed to a max with only a few forgetful spectators running back to their cars for forgotten items. Similar to the parking lot, concessions only has a select few little children to whom candy is more important than their older siblings. Team tents vacant, except for the food and it’s wafting aroma left to be eaten after the race along with numerous numerous sweat stained smelly duffle bags. The finish line shoot, now bustling with activity, has the clock running, bustling with the activity of exhausted sweat drenched runners stumbling across it. The smell of sweat now filled the air along with the sound of the occasional cry from the medical tent which was now filled with runners who either had dropes out of the race or had already finished and hurt themselves and were in
I love to run hurdles, but unfortunately last year, little pulls and strains prevented me from running to my full potential. One Thursday, we had a home track meet against Lake Stevens. For the first time I was in pretty good shape for my race, the 100-meter hurdles. I began jumping up and down partially to stay warm, and partially to let out some of my excitement. By this time, I had butterflies in my stomach and the adrenaline was pumping. The starter asked us to 'Take your sweats off and stand behind your blocks.' 'Runners take your marks.' Hands shaking, I crouched into the starting blocks. The gun was up. 'Set!' 'Bang!' I bolted out of the blocks. I was way ahead of the other girls when suddenly, I realized I didn't have enough speed to carry me over the next hurdle. Gathering all of the strength I could, I grabbed at the air in hopes of guaranteeing clearance. I had just brushed over the wood when my foot hit the ground and my ankle gave out. I fell. I heard a gasp from the crowd and the other racers' feet pounding past me. I got back up. I had never gone over a hurdle with my right leg first, but I did after that fall. Sprinting as fast as I could in between hurdles, I found myself basically bunny hopping over the rest of them. My goal was to cross that finish line and to be able to say that I did the very best that I could, even if I didn't look very graceful along the way. Although it might have seemed like a bad day, I was proud. It was the first time I had ever fallen in a race, and not only did I get back up and keep running, I managed to place second.
I devoted so much time and effort into that sport and to stop playing seriously like this was heart breaking. I listened to all my family and friends about how fast I was and decided to try out track. I knew that I wouldn’t hurt by doing this and I didn’t want to stop playing sports. I always thought how track would be a sport where if you have natural talent, you will be good. I decided to give it a go and after running over a mile in the first practice I was a little reluctant to keep going. I couldn’t keep running all these long distances when I’m not in shape for it. I kept telling myself this so I would just keep pushing through it. My mind was in a million places questioning if I should have just stuck with playing basketball even though I didn’t find it was fun as it used to be. So, after a few months of hard training and practice, I stuck with track. My coach, my family and my friends all persuaded me to do it because they thought I would do good and strive throughout the season. This was a hard change for
Derek didn't walk away with the gold medal, but he walked away with an incredible memory of a father who, when he saw his son in pain, left his seat in the stands to help him finish the race.
Next, we went down to the bleachers and watched the rest of the teams from our section. I was amazed at how good their routines were and how many people were on their’ teams. Before I knew it the awards ceremony was up. We got down from the bleachers and sat in a circle on the gym floor. Surround by about twenty other teams sitting exactly like we were. My heart was pulsing loudly, and my hands were shaking. I was super nervous. The announcer said,” In 3rd place, the team from Decorah.” Everyone cheered. Once it is quiet again he said,” In 2nd place the team from Cresco.” Then after everyone was done cheering the announcer said,” Drumroll please.” We all started a drumroll loudly on the floor. Then he said, “ In first place…” Everyone went silent from the anticipation. The gym was still. It's not going to be our team we did our best that is what matters. Then he finished “, The team from West Union!” I immediately jumped up and started hugging everyone around me. “ I can’t believe we won!” I said to the person next to