As stated in my last post sometimes as athletes we go through struggles and those struggles can range from personal to performance. I am working out the problems regarding performance, but today I am dealing with a combination of the two. Let me fill you in….
Track and field has a system or a running list of performances throughout the year. These performances are listed on 2 websites, www.trackandfieldnews.com and www.usatf.org These are the 2 major web publications regarding track and field in the US and the 2 sites that USA track and field and the USOC (United State Olympic Committee) use to fund athletes to track meets and give funding to particular athletes if they meet certain performance criteria. Well indoors I jumped 16.39m or 53’ 9” and my mark was listed on the indoor marks list. Since then the outdoor season has started the list on both of these sites have comprehensive lists listed (List including indoor and outdoor marks based on best performance) and my mark is not on the comprehensive list. Why? That is the question I’m trying to figure out. My coach and I emailed the proper parties regarding this issue and we have yet to receive a response or see a change in either list.
This is not the first time I’ve had this issue. I had this same exact issue in 06 when I jumped my PR it took track and field news and USATF all summer to put my mark on the list. Why is this a big deal some of you may ask? Well as I’ve stated earlier. USA track and field and the USOC (United State Olympic Committee) use to fund athletes to track meets and give funding to particular athletes if they meet certain performance criteria. Not only that, but meet directors and potential sponsors my use this list to see who they may want to allow into meets or pick up as a new athlete. Without this information being published “technically” I don’t exist. I can state what my stats are until I’m blue in the face, but without the physical proof then it means nothing.
Why am I or do I have the feeling that I am being blackballed out of an opportunity or opportunities? I don’t know. Who did I piss off, when and why is probably the better question. I don’t know the answer to that either, but one thing I do know it makes me mad and want to jump far. That seems like what I’m going to have to do in order to change the status of my name being excluded from these lists and stop dealing with the nonsense.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:06 am
You had told me about it before but it was worse than I thought. I couldn’t believe some of the stuff that’s gone down.
Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. In the end it won’t matter.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:11 am
Thanks for your support Mike. The hard work has and will pay off and in the end, your right, it won’t matter.