Ladies Day
Kim and Tameika were both competing in the 60m Hurdles. Both athletes arrived in plenty of time, to relax and soak up the atmosphere. There was plenty of field events in progress, and 200m sprints on the temporary (and very noisy) track.
The warm up area was down 3 floors, and just looked like a long sports hall, with lots of athletes warming up, and sports masseurs on hand to massage tight muscles. It was all very official, coach badges had to be worn, and only coaches were allowed in the warm-up area with the athletes. The quiet room where athletes go 20mns before their event was sectioned off in a corner of the sports hall ( not very quiet at all ! )
Tameika and Kim went down to the warm up area around 12:00, to go through their warm up and drills. The U15s were scheduled to start at 13:40, and Kim was in Heat 2. (8 athletes per heat). She was positioned pretty much in the middle, and got a good start….and looked very determined. It was a fast heat and Kim clocked a PB of 9.9s and 3rd position, which meant she was through to the semi-finals….Fantastic result.
14:00 the U17s were brought up from the warm-up area, and Tameika was in Heat 1, again she had a good position in the middle. The gun went off, but sounded twice so they were all pulled back, so 2nd attempt they all got away cleanly, Tameika was in the middle but was closing in on the leaders, after each hurdle, and she crossed the line with a time of 9:05s and 2nd position, and also through to the semi-finals, and in the last 16 of the nationals!
The semi-finals were after 3pm, so athletes had time to relax before going down to warm-up again. Kim again was in Heat 2, and not a bad position bit more to the outside lanes. All athletes got away cleanly, and grouped together, Kim worked hard and kept with the group and got 10:13s and 8th position.
Tameika was in Heat 2 in her category, and positioned in the middle, this time there was no false starter. Tameika was with the leaders in a group of 4…..which she just managed to hold onto with a time of 9:07s, and through to the Final, which was brilliant.
The Final was around 17:10, so Tameika took advantage of the Sports masseurs to loosen up her hamstring niggle, using an ultrasound machine they could pinpoint where the tightness was……so has a handful of new stretches to do each day.
The Final soon came round, and the last 8 in the nationals took to the line, as hushed silence around the arena, the athletes got themselves ready The gun went off and straight away the leader was Alicia Barrett…who kept her position to the finish line, Tameika put in a great effort, and clocked a 9:16s, and 8th position.
Both athletes did fantastically, both getting to run in semi-finals and one racing a Final.
A very enjoyable day with lots of PBs and new National records, and very high standards.
Cath Hurst
Kim and Tameika were both competing in the 60m Hurdles. Both athletes arrived in plenty of time, to relax and soak up the atmosphere. There was plenty of field events in progress, and 200m sprints on the temporary (and very noisy) track.
The warm up area was down 3 floors, and just looked like a long sports hall, with lots of athletes warming up, and sports masseurs on hand to massage tight muscles. It was all very official, coach badges had to be worn, and only coaches were allowed in the warm-up area with the athletes. The quiet room where athletes go 20mns before their event was sectioned off in a corner of the sports hall ( not very quiet at all ! )
Tameika and Kim went down to the warm up area around 12:00, to go through their warm up and drills. The U15s were scheduled to start at 13:40, and Kim was in Heat 2. (8 athletes per heat). She was positioned pretty much in the middle, and got a good start….and looked very determined. It was a fast heat and Kim clocked a PB of 9.9s and 3rd position, which meant she was through to the semi-finals….Fantastic result.
14:00 the U17s were brought up from the warm-up area, and Tameika was in Heat 1, again she had a good position in the middle. The gun went off, but sounded twice so they were all pulled back, so 2nd attempt they all got away cleanly, Tameika was in the middle but was closing in on the leaders, after each hurdle, and she crossed the line with a time of 9:05s and 2nd position, and also through to the semi-finals, and in the last 16 of the nationals!
The semi-finals were after 3pm, so athletes had time to relax before going down to warm-up again. Kim again was in Heat 2, and not a bad position bit more to the outside lanes. All athletes got away cleanly, and grouped together, Kim worked hard and kept with the group and got 10:13s and 8th position.
Tameika was in Heat 2 in her category, and positioned in the middle, this time there was no false starter. Tameika was with the leaders in a group of 4…..which she just managed to hold onto with a time of 9:07s, and through to the Final, which was brilliant.
The Final was around 17:10, so Tameika took advantage of the Sports masseurs to loosen up her hamstring niggle, using an ultrasound machine they could pinpoint where the tightness was……so has a handful of new stretches to do each day.
The Final soon came round, and the last 8 in the nationals took to the line, as hushed silence around the arena, the athletes got themselves ready The gun went off and straight away the leader was Alicia Barrett…who kept her position to the finish line, Tameika put in a great effort, and clocked a 9:16s, and 8th position.
Both athletes did fantastically, both getting to run in semi-finals and one racing a Final.
A very enjoyable day with lots of PBs and new National records, and very high standards.
Cath Hurst
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