As the title of the post states I apologize for the wait I know it’s been a few days. Most of you know by now I did not make the US Olympic Team in the triple jump and before I go on I want to congratulate the 3 men that did, Aarik Wilson, Kenta Bell, and Rafeeq Curry. 2 of the 3 men I’ve known for a while, Aarik being a friend, Kenta being my frat brother, and Rafeeq who I’ve just gotten to know through competition over the last few years. God Speed to all three of you and the best of luck in Beijing.
Things did not go the way I planned during the preliminary rounds. I was not aggressive at all on my first jump on registering a mark that I jump daily in practice from a 6 step approach 14.56m (47′ 6″) My coach looked at me as if another person had stepped into my body and told me to get aggressive. Some would call it nerves, but I was feeling good and felt fine before the jump. I did just what he told me on my second jump coming down the runway probably faster than I had all season hop, step, jump to what I though was a mark good enough to put me in the finals until I saw the red flag. I had fouled the jump, a plasticine (or clay) foul. My shoe left a small indentation in the clay showing that I had crossed the foul board. The jump although not measured was close to 53′ That one felt good and I knew what it would take to get into the finals at this point, no worries no pressure, last jump. So I’m coming down the runway faster and more efficient than the last approach and my coach even told me, after the event he thought that approach was the best he’d seen me do it. I took the hop and it felt great, but then that’s when things went wrong. The amount of speed I was bringing down the runway I wasn’t used to and I came out of the hop too early when I could have carried it further, causing me to get over rotated (leaning forward) going into the step. From there it was a fight to try to get back upright before the jump phase, but it was too late I was landing in the pit and my hard work and dreams were blowing in the dust with a final mark of 14.78m/48′ 6″ leaving me 23rd overall, the top 12 made it to the finals.
Now some will ask why did I go through typing all of that out, well for 2 reasons. The first being many people have called me and emailed me regarding what happened and there it is. I apologize to all of you who have contacted me and I have been slow with the response, but I needed some time to sort things out, you know have my pitty party. The second reason goes with the last statement I just made with time talking about it now is therapeutic. I’m a triple jumper with a PR of 54′ 6″ and I jumped 6 feet below my PR. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! It didn’t and still doesn’t make sense to me. Some of you may not understand what it takes to compete on this level of track and field dealing with the inconsistencies and the frustration of an event, or to work so hard to achieve something and come up short. Notice I didn’t use the word failure or fail, because I haven’t. 2004 I left the trials with a back injury and every doctor I talked to was trying to hand me retirement papers because of the severity of my injury. I’ve accomplished so much through this sport and God’s will to be back and this position and I have to be thankful for what I have been able to do and see through his will and this sport. Was not making the team or at least the finals a crushing blow YES. I think I would have been able to take it a little better if I were able to fight for one more day, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
Was I hurt? NO just my ego and pride were hurt. I felt like I let so many people down, so many who supported and cheered. Fourth and goal and fumbled at the goal line. God is good though because those same people I thought I let down picked me up and that made me feel like a Champion to know that people still cared regardless of the result. Sometime we get in our own way and block our blessings, but I realize now I’ve been surrounded by a support system that will never let me fall. Thank you ALL for that.
So what’s next? Are you going to retire? Are you going to try again in 2012? I know these are some of many burning questions that everyone wants an answer to……………………. I honestly can’t say right now, I would love to compete again this season just to end it on a better note, but it is so hard trying to find meets in the states with good competition this late and it’s going to be a task trying to get overseas to compete because I really don’t have any good marks (Outdoors) to go on. In regards to retirement, it’s up in the air right now. I love this sport it’s help mold me into the individual I am today and given me the opportunity to do some great things and all good things come to an end. Is it my end ummmmmmmmmm not quite sure I yet I’ve got some praying and thinking to do so we will see. 2012 falls into that line of praying and thinking, the physical commitment isn’t hard. It’s the mental and financial commitment of getting ready for another 4 years tough. One thing I always wished is that I had a sponsor or support to allow me to train at least one-year full time to see how much progress I could really make. As with the answers to the questions above only time will tell if that happens? God Bless I love you and thank you all.
written by lamontdagen
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