As I’m now back in the States preparing to go to the World Championships in Berlin, I cannot help but reflect on our Nationals, and the selection process.
Although I was fortunate enough to make the team this year it wasn’t so long ago that I was in the same position as many of my peers, disappointed that on THAT day things didn’t go as I hoped.
This season again some of our best athletes will watch the meet from home. Lolo Jones, Bryan Clay, Hyleas Fountain, Walter Dix, Dexter Faulk are just a few medal contenders that won’t have a chance to line up and compete.
Now I am all for someone getting an opportunity to represent our country, and I know that one man’s misfortune is anothers’ treasure, but shouldn’t our goal ALWAYS be to send our best team?
Every year after our Nationals, I arrive overseas and the buzz is always about another country’s excitement that a great American athlete won’t be at the meet. One of their biggest rivals, has been left off the team with NO HOPE of being reinstated.
Is that the purpose of us having these extremely grueling Nations? To make other countries cheer as one of our best athletes falter?
No other countries’ athletes bare the burden that the American athletes are forced to bare. Twice a year we have a do or die championship meet and I just think it’s time for a change.
Most argue that it helps prepare us for the major championships…..well after the Olympics last year, I’m sure that argument packs a lot less punch.
There is absolutely no reason to force an athlete to be in peak shape two months before the big show. Yes, it is nice to go through rounds and have a trial run before getting to the majors, but at what cost?
I believe that the top two should automatically get a spot on the team and the third spot should be left open until the team roster has to be declared. There should be a clear list of criteria, or a non-biased (if possible) committee that reviews each event to make the final decision.
Most of the time the top three will be our best contenders, but in the rare occasion that they aren’t, we should have the flexibility to send the ones that are.
I’m so happy with how my season is progressing so far! Although the number one goal each season is to win races, it’s frustrating when you’re not running fast times. I train so hard each year to improve my personal best, but I always believe that each year is a learning experience, and will only better prepare me for the next season.
People keep asking me what I’m doing differently this year, and although I have changed a few things, the most rewarding change is that I am having FUN again. It seems so elementary, but it’s true. Having fun alleviates all the pressures that come with being a world class athlete.
When you elimate the desire to be undefeated, make good money, keep your sponsors happy, win medals, improve your place in history……all you have left is the pure joy of competition. Just like my elementary days when all i wanted to do is see if I was faster than the next girl.
I know that I love to run, but for a bit, it became more of a job than my passion. I’m very lucky to still be doing the one thing that I’ve enjoyed since a child and I pray that I can continue to do it for many years to come.
I wish the atmosphere could be recreated in other places in the U.S. It reminds me of competing in so many meets in Europe, especially Zurich. No matter what the stands look like before the first race you can rest assured that it will be totally packed before the first gun fires. It makes racing so much more exciting when there are thousands of fans interested in your performance.
I felt very prepared going into the race, but you can never truly predict your time in the 400 because the wind can be such a huge factor. The race was pretty early and it was cool with mild winds. At this point, I wasn’t overly concerned about running a really fast time, I just wanted to win. I was thrilled when I looked up and saw 49.85. I felt as though I held back a bit on the backstretch so going sub 50 was really exciting!
However the highlight of the meet happened by accident!
After the race I saw a really nice lady and felt the urge to give her my flowers. I had no idea who she was but I prefer to give my flowers to someone I make eye contact with than to just randomly throw them in the stands. After the meet was over, I went to the restroom and found out I gave my flowers to Mrs. Prefontaine! What are the chances? She was so happy. She rarely goes out anymore because she’s blind but of course enjoys honoring the memory of her son, Steve, every year. I was so excited to meet her and she felt the same way.
After the Pre meet, I went home for one day and headed to Europe to prepare for the meet in Berlin. I wanted to get one more race in before going to Nationals, and why not run on the track I hope to be back on in August! There’s just something about the blue track that I love. Not sure if it’s only in my mind, but it just seems a little easier to get around. I hoped to run 49.5 at the meet but knew it was a bit presumptuous because I’ve never run that fast so early. I was elated to see the time I’d hoped for and only desire that I will continue to get faster as the season progresses!
I hated missing the Reebok meet this past weekend.
We have so few meets in the U.S. and the meet on Randall’s Island is by far one of the nicest to run in.
NBC and Universal Sports did a great job broadcasting the meet and the performances were amazing!
The weather seemed really good other than the noticeable strong winds on the backstretch.
I’m so happy for Tyson and Wallace! 19.58 and 19.91 are great indicators of how well they are both recovering from injury.
Lauryn looked great in the 200m and the women’s 100m was spectacular!
Allyson looked strong holding off Sherika in the 400m.
Leo Manzano rebounded well after a disappointing run the week before and Bershawn ran a great opener in the 400mH and looks to be ready for Nationals!
I could go on an on with all the great results but you get the picture…
I will be running the 400m at the Prefontaine Classic this Sunday and I can’t wait. My training has consistently been going really well and I look forward to my next couple races!
I had the best time at my Nike shoot on Venice Beach last Monday.
I had been to California so many times but always in and out for competition. This was my first time hanging around after a meet and going to the beach. It wasn’t the nicest day, wished it were a little sunnier, but it wasn’t too bad. We took some really cool pics for the new Delicious line on the beach and in the famous outdoor weight room. The photographer, Ben, was really fun to work with. Most of the time he preferred to shoot me dancing and goofing around, than doing my actually lifts or running drills.
It was a lot of fun!
I also shot for NIKE behind the scenes. My dad, my strength coach Bruce, Ross, and our publicist Erit, were all there. They showed me interacting with them throughout the shoot. I think it’s really nice for people to be able to see all that goes into getting that perfect picture they see on the magazines or online, and this B-Roll gives fans that opportunity.
While we were there we had some close run ins with the locals. There were a lot of homeless people around and they were not too pleased to have us invade their homes with video and photo cameras. Most of them wouldn’t budge and we’d have to totally adjust the shot to get a good picture.
The one guy that stood out the most, walked right over to me during a shot. One of the producers moved towards him and asked if he would mind stepping out of the shot, he got really upset and asked, “Are you the police?”
I wasn’t sure how the producer would handle this man, then without reason he just looked at us gently and said, “All I want to do is dance,” and he started dancing to the music. I joined in and the man finally walked away.
It was hilarious!
We were listening to Reggae on an iPod and all the man wanted to do was join in the fun! Sometimes the simplest things make people happy!
It was a nice shoot and everything, the pics and behind the scenes video, should be out in June on NIkewomen.com….
Also don’t forget to keep up with me and Aaron on twitter……
Even though I hate to open up with a loss, I’m more concerned with finishing strong than starting with a bang! Jamaica was a good experience. I competed in the 400 and placed second to Novlene Williams. She ran a great race and I look forward to racing her again.
Lots of my family and close friends were there and catching up with everyone was special.
I still get mixed reception from the fans, but I totally understand. Some people still wish I ran for Jamaica,where I was born and spent some of my childhood,and that’s why I make it a point to go back and run each year. I love returning to the place it all started for me. Every time I step on the track I can remember competing as a seven year old and it inspires me to just have fun!
I also got a chance to meet some of the kids in my Fast Track Program. I was scheduled to go down and visit with them earlier in the year but due to a bad flare up I had to cancel my trip. The kids were disappointed but so was I. It was nice to see the majority of them in the stands cheering me on and I’m so happy that they are reaping the benefits of the program that is geared towards increasing literacy in children.
After Jamaica I changed speeds and competed in the 200m at the Adidas meet in Carson, California. I finished second in 23.0 to Allyson who ran an excellent race. Overall I was pleased with the run. In Coach Hart’s program we don’t do a lot of sprinting so I always feel as if I’m getting my speed work as I race. However I believe that I am more consistent in the 400 when I get in a couple 200m races early in the year. I also enjoyed watching, or hearing, all the results from the meet! I was one of the last races so I didn’t get to see all of them live.
With the caliber of athletes competing, if in Europe, we would have had at least 30,000 people watching. Unfortunately it’s so hard to get that kind of crowd in most places in the U.S. It was a decent turn out but with so many great American athletes competing, I wish there were more people on hand to watch. LaShawn Merritt looked great in the 200, Jeremy Wariner in the 400m, Carmelita Jeter in the 100m, Dawn Harper consistent in the 100mH, and many other great races!
After the meet I did a signing with Nutrilite and track fans are the best! As people walked up, some not seeing the line, I thought they would just continue on but they didn’t! They patiently waited in line to interact with me and get an autograph. It was really nice and I felt as if everyone had a good time and enjoyed the meet!
The next big meet in the US will be the Reebok meet in New York, I’m not 100% sure if I’ll be competing there or not but I’m sure there will be some great performances there!
There was no better place to start my 2009 season than the Penn Relays!!! I had been there year after year but there was something really special about this year. With the weather always being an issue we were lucky to have a beautiful 87 degree day. Also most memorable about the Penn Relays is that you almost feel as though you’re competing in Jamaica. The fans come out and support the Jamaican teams on all levels and they proudly boast their gold, black, and green, and wave their flags high. Being born in Jamaica I know how much our people love track and field and after the 2008 Olympics, most of the fans were still on a high! In the press conference most of the media asked about the rivalry between the US and Jamaica, especially in the 4×1 as both teams weren’t able to face each other in the final.
The rivalry was real and it was palpable on race day. I would have loved to be a part of the 4×1 as well but after missing some training due to my illness I didn’t want to sprint at 80-90%, my team deserves athletes at their best! However I was there and was so pleased to see my teammates get the stick around the track and run well. Of course neither team was at 100% with some key athletes from the US and Jamaica missing but it was nice to see both teams compete! When it was time for the 4×4, everybody was pumped to run well. The Jamaicans had a great team and I knew it would be a great race.
As I stood on the side watching the race unfold, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. While Monica Hargrove handed the baton to Natasha Hastings she stepped on her heel and ripped her spike completely off her foot. I heard someone scream, “She lost her shoe!” I hoped it wasn’t Natasha’s, but it was. I could not believe how well she ran with one spike! She went to the lead early and held on, to give us a chance to win the race. I know most people didn’t even notice but you just can’t imagine how BRAVE it was for her to run without a shoe. The track was so hot that my feet hurt in my spikes, let alone running barefoot. She had a bruise so severe under her big toe, that I’m truly not sure if it was worth the run. It’s early in the season and I really hope this incident won’t hold her out of training or competition. With that kind of heart, we’re definitely going to need her in Berlin this year!
I’m happy to get the first race under my belt and I can’t wait to go to Jamaica this weekend and compete in my first open 400m race. The meet in Jamaica is always well supported and lots of fun.
It’s always been such a distinct pleasure to be sponsored by Nike. They’re such an amazing company and they really do a great job to support and promote running! However why I really love the company is because they take the time to focus on WOMEN! Whether professional or not, Nike does a phenomenal job including everyone. Since I’ve been with the company I have been a part of countless events, in on meetings where they actually want to hear my input, and I’ve also benefited tremendously by having a great team around that caters to my needs. Recently Nike has launched a program on NIkeWomen.com that allows women of all ages to log on and pledge to train their best. They included eight women athletes: Kristen Kjellman, Maria Sharapova, Gretchen Bleiler, Jessica Mendoza, Diana Taurasi, Hope Solo, and myself. The program is intended to be up for about three months and allow young women to make a commitment and stick to it. Then Nike will select winners to receive a limited edition Sister One with a piece of our ACTUAL Olympic uniform stitched in the shoe!
I love that Nike is always thinking creatively and progressing, but what’s most important is that we always find a way to get ladies of all ages healthy. I have been very lucky to be involved in sports all my life and to have been able to make a living doing it. However if that didn’t happen, I would have forever been a better woman because I took part in sports. I learned discipline, I learned how to be a team player, I learned how to set goals and understand that you will always have to make sacrifices to achieve them. I learned how to push myself and never limit my expectations!
I encourage all young ladies to get involved in some organized team sport! Not only will you stay healthy, make tons of new friends, build your self esteem as you accomplish things you may have otherwise not thought possible, you’ll have lots of FUN!!!
Go to Nike.com and go to the Women section and pledge to train harder today!!!
It’s been a while since my last entry and although I’m back to serious training now, before I returned to Texas, I was in New Jersey enjoying watching my fiance’s New York Giants play. After coming off a Superbowl Championship season we all had high hopes for the team and it was looking like they might pull it off again. However with so many elite athletes in the NFL it’s really hard to repeat. With some20unfortunate happenings and unforeseen distractions the Giants were not able to make it back to defend their title. It was still an amazing accomplishment for Ross to win a title in his rookie year and for the Giants to go so far again. As usual I was their biggest fan.
Also in my off-season I planned a huge New Year’s Eve party. I’m used to attending nice events for the New Year, but for 2008, Ross and I had a terrible experience. It was so difficult to find a nice party to attend and we ended up ringing in the new year at a gas station. Not my idea of fun! I always think its a blessing to live to see another year and there is nothing more special than spending it with your friends and loved ones! So after my season was over I went all out to put on an amazing party. We hosted it at the famous 40/40 club in New York City. We rented the entire club and had 500 of our CLOSEST friends all come to town. It was incredible! Maino, a rapper from Brooklyn, helped us bring in the New Year with his hit song, “Hi Hater!” It was a memorable evening..
I love running and it has been my passion for a very long time, but one of my other favorite things to do is plan events and bring people together……Maybe after I’m done running I’ll be a professional event planner! MAYBE!!!
Right now I’m training and really looking forward to competing. Watching the=2 0indoor meets always gets me excited about the upcoming season. One thing I love about sports is that you get to do it al again the next year! Its best to have short term memory whether things go really well or really bad. I’m happy to be healthy and have another chance to do what I love!
My time off from training has been a great opportunity to relax and reflect. I’ve had the chance to do some amazing things and meet some amazing people. Being on Oprah and meeting Jay Leno were definitely major highlights and something I’d only dream of being able to do. I’ve been to boxing matches, visited my old high school, walked with other Behcets patients, watched some exciting football games, I’ve been to concerts, and traveled all around the country doing appearances for my sponsors, but nothing I’ve done or seen in my time off compares to voting in this years election and going down to Dallas to visit with the Marines.
I was a registered voter in 2004 and turned in my absentee ballot as a Florida resident while going to school at UT, but it didn’t compare to standing in line in Miramar Florida, and casting my vote! It was extremely thrilling for me because you know that you are participating in something so much bigger than yourself. I could not have been more proud or more excited as I sat in bed with my fiancé and watched Barack Obama become our new President-elect. Most people said that they didn’t believe that they would live to see a black president and although I am only 23, I shared the same sentiment. It’s been a long time coming and forty years after Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I have a Dream” speech, what he longed for, and so many others with him, finally happened. A man, desiring to hold the highest office in the United States, was judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin! What a glorious day that was for him and so many others. I never had this much interest in politics and although I can’t speak for others, President Obama’s election has given me a new found love for this country and a desire to know all the challenges he faces and how he will fulfill his calling.
Not that I wasn’t feeling proud enough to be a naturalized American, I was then invited to Dallas to visit with the US Marines! It blew my mind. I always saw men and women in their fatigues and wondered where they were coming from or where they might be going, and I always did what I heard so many others do, salute them for their service and protecting the country, without much understanding or feeling behind it. But now I’m different. After being around these amazing men and women who VOLUNTEER to go into service to protect our country I have been humbled and made acutely aware of their significance in my life. I know I take so much for granted and if it weren’t for men and women just like me, sacrificing their life, and training harder than I ever could, I wouldn’t have the freedoms that I so fleetingly enjoy.
In closing I’ve had an amazing off season and in spite of things not going exactly as I hoped at the Beijing Olympic games I start my training with a renewed hope that all things work according to God’s great plan! If Barack Obama can become president I can be anything I want to be. Thank you Mr. Barack Obama and the US Marines for giving me the hope I truly desired……You’re the BEST!
