With all of the stuff that I have taken on this year, jobs and training included, I tried to see where I was from a training perspective in January. So I decided to jump in one of the meets at Carthage from a short approach (8 steps total). I went out with no expectations because I had only been training for 1 ½ months and my training was so inconsistent I probably shouldn’t have been out there in the first place, but hey why not I love to jump. Long story short it wasn’t a good day, but it wasn’t bad either I walked away injury free and jumped 47 feet from 8 steps not bad for a guy who hasn’t really been training, but I knew I could do better than that with time and effort.

But instead of time and effort I tried to jump again 2 weeks later and realized that I was still weak and not ready to jump at a high level I jumped 46 feet from the same 8 step approach, but I just didn’t have the pop needed to get through the day, so I shut it down and said that I would just get ready for the outdoor season.

written by lamontdagen

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!! Well I know it’s been a while since I last wrote here and everyone who actually checks the site has been hounding me on my promise from late 08. Well Obama has been through his first 100 days as President and in between that time my life has been one hell of a roller coaster ride, so this entry will come to you all in parts.

At the end of the Olympic Trials I had a discussion HPC Director Mike Young about becoming an agent for the track club. At first I took the conversation as a “forced” retirement because of my performance at the trials, just kidding (retirement did come up though), but after thinking about it clearly I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to expand on life after track and field once I was done, so I accepted the responsibility officially at the end of November. The only problem was I had too much on my plate. I have a full time job as a teacher, I’m the new AD at the school district I work for, I coach at Carthage College and I’m still trying to train along with spend time with my family. WOW!!! What the heck was I thinking? I feel like a Jamaican with 10 ten jobs. Why do I put all of this stuff on myself? Suicidal????????? The day is already short with all that I do I need more than 24 hrs, or a clone to help me with some of this stuff. Either way I’m dedicated to make it all work.

written by lamontdagen

Well unless you were sitting in a cave or hiding under a rock yesterday you would know that we have the first black president of the United States……. Barack Obama. This is something that many thought would never happen in their lifetime including myself because of the hate that this country stems on at times, but boy was I wrong. The most exciting thing about it, is that I had a hand in it. I was able to cast a vote and actually have it heard.  Now most would say…. “oh your only voting for him because he’s black” No I voted for Gore (00′) and Kerry (04′) when they ran too and both times the election was stolen from them, but that’s another issues, but I voted because of the issues and the change that we oh so need right now. I’m just proud that a day of this caliber has come to our nation, and that is wasn’t about color mostly, but about issues of the people. Everyone who wants to parade around and say well all of the blacks voted for him that’s why he won….WELL black people only make up about 14-15% of the population in the United States so he had more than just the black vote. And the margin of victory proved that….. now that was a statement within itself. 

Positive or negative we’ve been apart of history our whole lives, we even make our own history everyday. Some things people see/hear about and others you never will. In regards to President Elect Obama whether you love him hate him, history was made and we were all apart of it and able to see/hear it.

written by lamontdagen

I know when I first started updating my blog again I said that I would be putting up some pics of me with my new look (BALD!!) Well here is one of the pics along with my Twin (LJ), Please don’t pay attention to my smile in this pic I was just trying to get him to smile. Enjoy

written by lamontdagen

I know some of you have heard or read about this already, but this is just another sad case of wasted talent. This guy had no clue of what he had in front of him if he just worked, but he continued to take the easy way out. He went from being an Olympian/world class athlete to common perp in a matter of 2 years. A hard and wicked spirial for anyone to deal with. BALCO, check cashing scheme then heroin charges all for what, an easy way out. Kids need to look at him and learn what mistakes not to make. Check out this article on him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/news/story?id=3635672

written by lamontdagen

It’s sad to say, but I will share this information with you all. I am somewhat illiterate when it comes to updating my own website. I normally send the information to my coach who also acts as web designer and makes the updates for me. As comical as it may sound I do not know all of the functionalities of the site that will allow me to make the necessary updates, i.e. pics & videos ect. I do enter the blog updates, but that’s about as good is it got until today. I was able to figure out how to add pictures to the site. Yeaaaaaaa!!!!!! for me Well I know some of you will ask, shouldn’t that be easy as uploading the files? Yes and no there are a few additional steps after the pics are uploaded that need to be taken prior to the pics being able to be seen……. Which took me almost an hour or so to figure out, but I got it done so am getting better. Now if I can only remember the steps so I can do it again

written by lamontdagen

Well I got my first weeks workout from my coach, and I must admit it did not go as planned. Don’t get me wrong it’s not what you think and if my coach reads this it will be the first time he’ll hear this because I haven’t talked to him this week ……………….. I have not worked out all week. It’s  not like I didn’t want to or haven’t tried to, but with my new found responsibility as Athletic Director along with my job I’ve yet to figure out the time management between work and working out. I am trying to find a balance and I think that I will have it all figured out by next week. So I will be repeating what I was supposed to do this week next week. Hopefully with better results.

written by lamontdagen

For those of you who follow the sport triple jumper Lejuan Simon passed early last week of a heart condition at the age of 27 and today is his funeral. Lejuan represented Trinidad & Tobago in the Olympics in 2004 and was a former national champion at LSU and Barton Community College. It’s never easy when you hear that someone has passed on. I didn’t know him personally, but I know people who do and he will be truly missed. Lejuan was a great competitor and from what I hear a great person that I never got a chance to meet. My prayers go out to his family and friends. God Bless. To read more about Lejuan check out these links.

http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=1595605

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeJuan_Simon

written by lamontdagen

Well as stated before I am the new Athletic Director here at the school district I work for Zion District 6 and I must admit this has been more work than I anticipated. I have the Jr. High in a conference with Waukegan Public Schools running a 10 game schedule for all sports with a playoff after the season. Right now my girls volleyball teams 7th and 8th Grade are undefeated !!!!!!!(WHOOOHOOO!!!), but my soccer teams are struggling. No problem they will pull it together.  Stressful, but so far so good

It has been a task organizing the elementary schedule, because so much was out of place with getting physicals for the kids and getting coaches lined up so this has been a little harder to organize, when I thought this would be the easier of the 2 levels. WRONG!!!!!!! I dealt with physical issues until last week, how hard is it to get a physical???? As far as the schedule goes they are running a 5 game schedule with a playoff afterwards. The season kicked off yesterday with volleyball. Great right??? WRONG!!!! I somewhat forgot to book the refs so I had to ref the games myself. WOW!!!!! Fun, but not for me. The kids enjoyed it and that was the main thing. The parent participation was great and it went off without a hitch. Thank God, but the refs will be there for the next game I guarentee that

written by lamontdagen

Hello everyone I am back from my extended break and of all days to come back, it’s MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! This summer I had a lot to think about and I have most of it sorted out, but right now I want to inform you on some of the changes that have happened in my life this summer.

First I am now the new Athletic Director for the school district I work for (Zion Elementary School District #6) I am over the elementary schools and the junior high so I am excited about my new task and the challenges I will face.

Secondly I have a new look. Before I go any further with that I apologize for not putting up the pics like I was supposed to but they will be up this week I promise. I cut all of my hair off!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!! Yes It’s gone, ALL GONE and the pic is forth coming. Why did I do it I don’t know just wanted to do something different.

Well what about track you ask…….Well that news is forthcoming and I think it will be something worth waiting for. As for now I bid you all farewell and to those new to the site welcome.  My goal is to update at least 2-3 time a week so I hope to stay on top of that.

On another note get out and VOTE VOTE VOTE things need to change and the only way they can is if we change them. GO VOTE if your not registered go get registered. Talk to you soon.

written by lamontdagen