Blogs : Roman Henry

A revival?

Im over it now!

Its been a while since I've written an entry, it wasn't because I've been lazy (Although I am.) its because it took me a while to get over the way my collegiate career ended. We made it to Cali for the outdoor national.

The entire trip, off the track, was pretty damn cool despite the fact that it seemed like Cali was going thru some sh** weather wise. On the track was another story, after a 3 hour rain delay on the 1st day our 4x1 DNF in the trials. Our 4x4 made it to the finals but couldn't get the job done in the finals.

I was pretty hurt because my coach switched the relay order, he switched myself and our usual 3rd leg, so I ran 3rd and he ran anchor in the final. My coach planned  to swtich us because our 1st leg, was in the hurdles but he was good after running the final.So I was a bit confused as to why there was a need for a switch but I didnt say anything. Well when I got the baton we were in 8th, I passed somebody, in the home stretch I tried not to tighten up but some how tripped myself up which slowed me down a lot.Our anchor got and just couldnt hold onto the the position, which was 7th at the time. I was devastated after the race, I felt like someone broke my heart. I spent the night moping around Hacienda Heights, eating burritos and drinking free hotel coffee (the only kind of coffee i drink).

Now that it is all over, Im taking some time off to figure out what I want to do. Should I continue to run and hopefully by next year, be able to go down to Panama and try out for the World Champs.

Or

Do I persue my new dream of becoming the next Clyde Hart? There is a large part of me, that would rather an athlete reach their potential then be out running.

God Bless Trackshark. 

Georgia

This was surely a very disappointing weekend. We flew down to Atlanta on Thursday and drove for what felt like 5 hours(it was really just 2hrs but when you drift btween sleep and wake it feels like more) to Athen. We ran at the U. of Georgia.

Our coach has been telling us about this trip since the beginning of the outdoor season, so Ive been super hyped about going to Georgia and getting my a** kicked by some great quarter milers, which would push me to run a good time. Well none of that happened. The meet really wasnt what I expected, it was a small meet with with a few unattached runners and some smal local schools.I had to run the 400 and 4x4, in the 400 a lot of the sprinters didnt show up and one guy false started so there were only three of us.Easy win right? Nope! My entire race was weak start to finish. I got out weak, chilled down the back stretch then tried to kick, nope! wasnt happening. The guy next to me and I went head to head down the final straight, he beat me by .03.The time sucked so Im not even going to mention it here.I was pissed off ecause that was my last open 400 of my college career and I really wanted to end on a good note.

The 4x4 didnt go as well either. Or first leg was cooked after PR'ing in the 400mh. With the womens 3000 being cancelled and having one heat of the mens 3000 and womens 4x4 he didn get enough time to recover. By the tme our 2nd leg got the baton we were in last place. He moved us up one spot, our 3rd leg kept the place, i got the baton and moved to 3rd. I closed the gap on 2nd place but couldnt get him. We got 3rd place, the 1st place team was an unattached team that featured Olympian Chris Brown and quarter miler Gary Kikaya.

Well enough about me, the meet wasnt a complete bust because it seemed like everybody else had a great meet. Our 4x1 finally broke 41 secs by crushing the school record and the meet record AND making the regional mark AND punched their ticket to Cali.In the 400mh our hurdler Neil, dropped his time from consistant 53's to 52.1, I guess thats what you get when your in lane 8.In the sprints our two sprinters  did thir thing, our freshman Nana ran another 10.6 and Larry went 10.7.Larry then went on to run 21.5, dspite not breaking 22 all season. The funny thing is the announcer spent the entire time hyping up one of the UGA sprinters in his heat, putting a spotlight on him. The funny thing about it was that the sprinter that the announcer was talking about was Demiko Goodman of Georgia, a great quartermiler who is like 6ft 3. Our sprinter Larry is not even 5ft 5.Larry won his the heat out of lane 8.

Next up, I am hoping is Nationals in Cali, right now we're on that "bubble". We just have to sit  and wait to see.

Conference Champs

Theres nothing like winning a conference championship to bring an entire team together. This weekened we were in cold and rainy Rhode Island for our conference championships. There were many great performances at the meet from my teammates, despite it being in the 40's and raining all day.

The day started with a two hour drive up to Bryant University in Rhode Island, usually the men and women take seperate buses to meets but for some reason our coaches decided to make everyone hop on one bus,which was cool because we got to chill with the ladies. Most of the team,including myself, spent the day on the bus because it was to damn cold outside.

The day start with mens 4x1, plain and simple our 4x1 crushed the field, cruising across the line in a new meet record(previously held by us) and provisional mark. After that I got back on the bus to stay warm before my open 400m. I was pretty disappointed about my race because I had another mental lapse, I was too cautious because of the cold. I got out pretty relaxed and smooth, at the 150 I started to kick and catch most of the field with the exception of two guys. I crossed the line in third, I know I can finally get my goal of running 47 next week but I need to be way more aggressive.

After my race I went back on the bus and just laid out and slept for awhile, meanwhile my teammates continued to dominate the meet. Both the men and women finished with over 200 pts.  and thats without running a 4x8 and 4x4 and we took home most of the individual conference awards.

Next up, both the relays are going to Georgia to imporve out times so we can punch our ticket to Cali.The rest of the team will be attending the New England champs.

Penn Relays

This weekend we were in Penn. for the Penn Relays. We left CT, Thursday afternoon by van, 2.5 hours cramped in a van, with no leg room or room to sleep in a comfortable position, later we arrived at our hotel in Penn. As we arrived, we saw a Hooters restaurant was now outside the hotel, we usually stay at the same hotel every year and last year there was a regualr Mom and Pop's diner. Everybody is excited to go to Hooter's, of course for the great food they have, but all that was squashed when our coach informed us that we were banned from Hooter's. DAMN!

Here is a pic of there disappointment:

Friday, we had the 4x1 and the 4x4 to run. The weather was good, which is unusual for Penn.The 4x1 went first, they ran pretty well, not what they wanted to run but they made it to the IC4A finals on Saturday.The 4x4 was another story, we were in a pretty good heat. Our 1st leg lead off pretty good, he made up the stagger on some team pretty early, our second leg got the baton and moved into 1st place but was passed on the final curve but we were still in a good position. This is where the trouble came, our 3rd leg got the baton and and with his usual running style he lets a few people pass him, what usually happens is he comes back with a crazy kick but this time he got trapped,not boxed in but TRAPPED. He was running on the rail.As he came down the home stretch, he was still trapped with runners in front and on both sides of him. I stood there waiting for the baton but all I could see was a Savannah State runner coming towards me, I push the dude in front of me and got the baton. As I took off, I heard a lot of "oh's" from the crowd, as a group of runners fell.I tried my best to catch the two runners in front of me but it wasnt happening. We got 3rd in the heat but our time wasn't good enough to make it to the IC4A final the next day.

We were pretty disappointed after the race but all that disappointment was out the window when we saw Jeremy Wariner standing by the track and hiding in a corner was Darold Williamson. When we walked further down we saw Tyson Gay and Doc Patton. Doc Patton was pretty cool, when we asked to take a pic with him he was more suprised than we were.

The next day at Penn, we watched our 4x1 run the final and watch the pros do their thing.The entire weekend was pretty good despite our poor performance. Next week is the conference champs in Rhode Island, chances are I will be running the 400m and if we need the points the 4x4.Im trying to pull off a win in the 400m, which would be a major upset since our rivals Umass Lowell has two 400m All-Americans.

Ok Trackshark Stay Safe and God Bless

-Rome

Relay Weekend

Last weekend we were at Princeton U. again.Once again the weather was damn near perfect. I had to run the open 400m and the 4x4. Overall the team did good again, outr 4x1 brought their time down again, we had a guy on Friday Night provo qualify inthe 800m, on Saturday our freshman sensation (thats what I call him!) ran provo qualified in the 100 and broke 22 in the 200, which is pretty impressive considering he is coming off a pulled hamstring.Our 4x4 didnt run because one of our guys were sick.

As for myself, I was stuck in lane 1 for the 400, my 1st 100m looked like I was doing stride outs by the time I hit the 200 I was in last, at that point I would usually tell you that I started my kick but if I did I would be lieing, I got to the 100 mark and I just continued, no kick. I crossed the line in 48.90. I wasnt mad or happy about the time because I really didnt run, what my excuse? I have none,I just had a serious mental lapse(I guess that counts as an excuse). But I can say that the time was an improvement from my time in North Carolina and the best I've done this early.The sad thing about that fact is that I have probably one or two open 400's left.

This weekend is what I call "Relay Weekend", your either at Penn or Drake, if not your a loser! J/k. Of course the place to be is Penn Relays and theres nothing you can say to convince me otherwise. Where else could a mens team run a 3:32 4x4, where the anchor just walked down half the field, and have the entire stadium going crazy like a world record was just broken. Our goal is to make it to the final on Saturday, we've come really close every year, we either miss qualifying by a spot or two.

If, God forbid, we dont make it to the finals, we will be running at Yale on Sunday. My coach has me doing a "Michael Johnson"(running the 200/400 double). I'm excited about running the 200 since its the only one I get to run competitively all year and plus all the sprinters on the team is entered in the 200 and they're all talking smack to each other.But we will run good at Penn and make the final so that will not happen(That positive thinking people!)

Good Luck to everybody this weekend!

Stay healthy and Safe!

-Rome

North Carolina

This weekend we traveled down to U.N.C Chapel Hill for the Tony Waldrop Invite.We left Ct,  at 8:30am, our flight was supposed to depart at 12:30pm but as usual our flight was delayed and we didnt leave until 1:30pm. Let me take some time give y'all some more insight on myself, when it comes to flying, I am a b***, every bump or dip  and I'm ready to cry. So, it didnt help  me any when the pilot, who I think took flying lessons on a playstation, started doing donuts in the air. For a good 15 mins we just went in circles because supposedly a plane was on the landing strip, it really didn't help that I had the window seat and as i looked out the window I saw nothing but trees and houses, no airport.

We arrived at Raleigh/Durham Airport at 2:30pm and drove to the hotel.That night we just chilled by the hotel pool.We left the hotel at 8:30am on Saturday because the 4x1 team had to run at 10:30am. The 4x1 team did their thing, they provisionally qualified.Soon they will get that 40.x mark and take down the school record. I had the 400m to run, my first 400 of the outdoor season, the third open 400m all year. I was in the second heat in lane seven. I took out like a mad man for the first 250m, after that the rest of the field caught me and the bear jump on my back. I'm disappointed but seeing that I went into the race with aboslutely no strategy, I am not that disappointed.

After the 400m  there was about a two and a half hour delay because of a pending thunderstorm. The entire stadium went inside the fieldhouse until the storm passed.We found it funny because whenever we leave the New England area we tend to bring bad weather with us, last year we went to the Sea Ray Relays and it was cancelled because of a thunderstorm. The delay helped me since I had the 4x4 to go,I was more than well rested for the relay. The 4x4 went well, I got baton, on achor, in about 4th or 5th place, as I got the baton I got out slow but I cut off about one or two teams and just held on. We provisionally qualified for Nationals.

After the meet, we all went downtown to explore the night life by club hopping. Thats all Im going to say about Saturday night, if I say anymore I might get in trouble. 

Before I go, shout out to Letecia for qualifying for Nationals in the 400mh, Danielle for just missing the provo mark in the 800 and the womens 4x1 for almost getting the school record and finally to my boy Neil for moving up on the list in the 400mh.

God Bless Trackshark ! 

Finally some good weather...

We had a pretty good weekend, we competed at Princeton U. in New Jersey.Our distance runners competed Friday and the rest of the team on Saturday. Once again I was in the 800m , the outcome was a little better than last week but still not impressive.

I planned on going out hard for the first 400m but all that we thrown out in the first two hundred when I let all the other runners just straight bully me and push me to the back of the pack. For the rest of te race, I tried to play catch up which was unsuccessful. After the race, I expressed my "love" for the 800m, which gave my teammate something to laugh at before his race. I would repeat what I said but I'm sure TB has restrictions on rated R language.

The 4x1 ran pretty well despited having 3rd grade baton passing and the same for the 4x4. We really havent practiced baton passing since the season started so we are very rusty. The pass between our 3rd leg and I looked like we just started running track. For some odd reason I jumped behind the triangle, which made our 3rd leg run up on me. At that point of the race we were in the lead and I just kept it and cruised home.

Before I go ,shout out to Mr.Tyrone Ross, I had the pleasure of meeting him for the first time at the meet, despite the fact that I've seen him run numerous times.

God Bless Trackshark, Stay Safe and Healthy

- "Rome"

Im tired of being cold...

There was nothing special about this weekend track wise. We had our home meet which pretty much sucked because it was too damn cold. Here is some proof...

You wouldnt think that its spring the way I'm dressed. Anyway, I was supposed to "run" the 800, I put run in quotes because thats what my coaches wanted me to do but I didnt do. As we stood on the line freezing our a**es off, the started decided to  take her sweet a** time. After five minutes, we get ready, then somebody false starts. Let me repeat that, somebody false started in the 800m. Atfer a good minute or two of cussing and swearing everybody got back on the line.The gun goes off and at the point I realize that my muscle feel like they are frozen. So I was reduced to striding the entire race, no matter how hard I tried to pick it up, I was done before the race even started.Im not even going to mention the time because my time wouldnt get me into the womens NCAA  800 final.

Next week is the  infamous Princton Invite, you may be wondering what makes it so infamous.Well to us it is, every year that we've gone mother nature decided to give everybody one last taste of winter. Its ALWAYS cold, one year it was 20 degrees and freezing rain, another year there was a blizzard, last year we were blessed with sunshine and curse with 30 plus degrees.Chances are, my coaches will punish me with another 800 :(.The next time I see a 400m will be in North Carolina in two weeks, which we all are looking foward too.

- See you next week, God Bless Trackshark and Please stay safe in this cold world.

A pittiful spring break.

This week is our Spring Break, so I went back home to Brooklyn.

Monday

I went to practice, we jogged a mile to on the outdoor track to get used to the environment (the cold, the wind, the track, the goose sh** that covers the track). After we lifted and then argued about some track related things, thats all we really do is debate and argue, its fun.After practice I went back to NYC(in my practice clothes and all).

Tuesday

Woke up at 12pm and then just sat around until my sister took me out driving, thats right I dont know how to drive, sh** Im from Brooklyn,NY all I need is a metro to get to where I need to go. Kinda had fun learning how to drive with my sister, I almost took out a fire hydrant and three men  and then I almost crashed into an SUV.

Wednesday

I didnt do a damn thing. I literally stayed in the house all day, Im suprised I even took a shower, I was so damn lazy.

Thursday

Got up a 12pm again, I sat around until the NCAA Champs came on tv.That was the highlight of my day.I also went to Coney Island to visit a friend.

Friday

I had a father/son day. My father and I spent the day together, we started out with driving lessons, which went a lto better then the lessons with my sister. A few more lessons and I will be one of those S.O.B's speeding down the highway, hutting people off . After that we went to an All-you-can-eat chinese restaurant, where the workers sucked. We sit down and the waiter comes to us and asks what we want to drink, we both tell him lemonade. The dude comes back with two bottles of Minute Maid Lemonade (No glasses with ice), puts the bottles down and walks away, that was the last we saw of him. So we get up and get our food which wasnt all that great, while we are sitting there I notice the waiters names tags.ALL of the waiters had fake names! They all had generic names, like Tommy, Susie and Tammy.So, we get up to leave and pay the bill, one of the waitresses brings my father and I two fortune cookies and while he is paying, the waitress has the nerve to ask my father if she can keep the changes that he is getting back as a tip. Keep in mind that this lady did not come to our table at all, not one time, she basically wanted a tip for the two fortune cookies that she gave us. My father completely ignored her and walked out the restaurant, I was rolling.It was a good day, I havent spent time like that with my father in years.

Saturday

Today, my cousin and I are going to the NYC International Auto show.It should be fun on a bun, I havent been to the show in years but the last time I went it was fun seeing all the exotic cars. 

Well its back to school on Monday (),  and it the beginning of outdoors.Since Im in the homestretch of my collegiate career, I plan on training like a mad man because come May, I NEED to be in California for nationals .Our first meet is on the 29th at our school and Im running the 800m.Chances are the day of meet, it will be cold, wilndy and cloudy.

Anywhoooo! Have a great day trackshark peoples and stay safe!

Bitter sweet weekend!

This weekend we were in Mankato Minnesota for the DII champs.I must say that this trip was the best I've had in a long time.

Thursday

We left for Minnesota in the morning, we arrived at Bradley Airport in the afternoon, we went thru the necessary procedures, I was "randomly" searched and they took my boy Neil's bottle of S-curls.We arrived in Minneapolis and drove straight to the hotel,where we had to rush to get ready for the banquet. We had some poeple get awards, afterwards we went to the track to see how it was.

Friday

We got up early and went over to watch our weight thrower compete and to loosen up. We went back to the hotel and passed out before we went back to watch our hurdlers and 60 runner compete. They didnt do as well as they wanted but its cool as long as they made it to the big show.Afterward we went back to the hotel and chilled and get mentally focused for the next day.

Saturday

The 4x4 slept in late instead of going to watch our triple jumper and **** putter.We left for the track at 4pm to watch the finals of the 400m.We moved to the warm up area and just chilled until it was game time. We watch the rest of the meet on the screens in the warm up area, who ever thought of that needs to get a bonus back in Boston you had to rely on the crowd noise to figure out what was going on. We warmed up and went out on the track, we had some time so we nervously watch the womens 4x4 (Shout out to SIUE women team, they did their thing).

I gave the team speech before the race then it was game time, our goal was to run smart and thats exactly what we did. Our first leg went out at a reasonable pace, compared to the other guys who went out blazing in the 1st lap.Our 1st leg Neil reeled some guys in and passed it off to our 2nd leg Ty, who stayed patient, when he passed to our 3rd leg Kendon we were in 2nd and had a good gap, SIUE passed us on the 1st lap but Kendon but down their lead on us, at this point S t. Augustine took control of the race, so we were in 3rd place. I had some baton trouble and I couldnt get it from Kendon, by the time I finally got the baton SIUE 's anchor widened the little gap they had, I just brought it home for 3r place in the heat and 4th place overall.

We were pretty hype about the results after the meet we went back to the hotel to celebrate. Some of our guys hopped into the hot tub and other in the pool.Afterward we spent about an hour argueing about what we should do for the rest of the night, Adams state was in the same hotel and they were planning on having their own celebration (Their womens team won and thei mens team were 3rd) and thy invited us to join but other wanted to go downtown because we heard there were a lot of clubs down there and a lot of people hanging out. After some more debating we decided to pack (7 of us) into a taxi after we found out it would only cost $8 to go downtown.

Once we got downtown, we were all pretty disappointed because no one was really out there and all the clubs were 21 and over and we had some youngings, so we went over to the Holiday Inn, where a lot of other teams were, and ran all over the place.After we saw security coming upstair we left to go back to the hotel, again packing in a taxi, this time smaller than the last one we had.Ive never had a grown man sit on my lap untill then and I am ashamed to say that.I will not speak of what happened for the rest of the night.

We left Sunday morning and arrived in Connecticut in the afternoon, after almost not being after to get on the flight. Before leaving, my boy Neil went to go see if could get his bottle of S-curl back but we figure that homeboy that took it is probably sporting some sick curls right now.

Anyway, the trip was fun as hell, we got to meet a lot of new people. The Mankato people definately showed all the athletes some real love out there. I hope where ever they have indoors next year that they shwo the athletes the same kind of love.

Well, thats it for my last indoor season of my collegiate career. Its back to work for us, we are already back in the weight room because  we have proven ourself to be one of the best 4x4's in the nation, I know Im probabl sound crazy saying this, but I see ourselves almost like the Baylor of the New England regoin.Its now time to prove that we are not just good when it comes to indoors....Our goal is California!

Im out !

God Bless Track fam...

Uneventful week(Track wise!)

Im going to switch up my blogging style a little today.

Monday

I had my 8:10am Literature class, still dont know why the hell theUniversity thinks college students can function that early the morning. Unfortunately due to crippling lack of money(Being broke should be considered a disease) I do not have a car, so I have to walk a half hour to campus because I live off campus in an apartment. So imagine how fun it is to wake up at 6:30am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (Friday's hurt the worse). After my class I have a two hour gap, where I just sit in the computer lab and surf then net and have the breakfast bacon, egg and cheese on a plain toasted bagel with a small strawberry/banana smoothie.

After my two hour gap, its Physical Geography, the professor for this class is the definition of hippie. His natural tone sound like hes high. I usually sit there and listen to the dude next to me rant about how Snoop Dogg's wife is his cousin and other B.S. like that.

After that class is another two hour gap (I screwed up my scheduling this semster!) and once again Im in the lab surfing the web and enjoying my lunch, usually chicken tenders and a medium Hawaiian Punch.

Next up is Commercial Recreation,  another boring class, like watching paint dry. I usually play with my Sidekick and talk to people on A.I.M.

Practice time, we didnt do much. 10 lap jog and then stretch.

Tuesday

More boring classes.First up Recreation, where there is a total of  2 people in the class (that including myself). The professor, the definition of a tree hugger, doesnt really talk about anything at all, so once again I am on my Sidekick.

My Rec. class ends at 1:40pm , my next class Recreation: Senior Reserch Studies, starts at 1:50pm in the same exact room (I told you I screwed up my schedule!). We had a test today, so the night before I decided to take my $90 textbook out of my library a.k.a my locker and open the book for the 1st time this semester.

I skipped practice to catch up on some work.

Wednesday

Same schedule as Monday. For practice we had 6x200m with short rest.Nothing too hard.

Thursday

Found out that I killed my Research Studies class with an 83 and with a 6point curve I walked away wit an 89! Pretty damn good for a lazy a** procrastinator. As for practice once again nothing hard a 1x200m and 1x150m. Jog then stretch.

Friday

I just came home....

Well thats a week in the life of boring Roman Henry...

- Good luck to everybody at their lance chance meets and people starting there outdoor season.Next time y'all hear from me, hopefully I will have another All-American plaque.

New England Champs...

This weekend we were at the New England Champs in Boston Mass. Why is it always like 20 degrees colder there than everywhere else and to make it worse people there act like its normal.Anyway we had a lot of work to do since we were shooting for 2nd place overall, I know! you dont train for second but we don't have the numbers that UConn has so we were realistic and knew we had more than a good chance to get second place, especially since that Univ. of Rhode Island wasnt as strong as they were in previous years.

Day One.

On day one, there were guys in the prelims of the 1000m, 55m, 55m hurdles, there were guys in the DMR, long jump and the weight throw.I had the prelims of the 500m. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have never made the finals in any event at the N.E. Champs. Every year something happens, I dont know whether its a case of bad luck or just lack of talent. My first year, I missed the 400m finals by like .02, the next year, a year where I was on course to make it to the open 400m at Nationals, I got sick a week before the champs and had to just run the 4x4. Last year I got boxed in in the last 50m of the 400m, missing the finals by a narrow margin again! 

So, I was going to make sure that I was going to be apart of the finals one way or the other, it was my goal all season. I was in the 4th heat in lane 6, which for some reason didnt bother me. I stuck to my usaul game plan, which is, after the cut in I slip into 2nd place and just sit until there is 200m left then kick like a mad man (.I've been working on my finish all season, so I got a mean kick like David Beckham!) I opened up a gap and cruised home. I made the fastest of the 2 heats and got lane 3.

After Day 1, we  won the weight throw, got second in the long jump, scored in the DMR and made the semis in the 55m and 55m hurdles and made the finals in the 1000m. After day one we were in 3rd place in the team standing, not to far from URI. Uconn was already out of reach.

Day Two

Going into Day 2, we knew we had to work our a** off, like I said before we did not have the numbers that both URI and Uconn did. We scored in the 400m a 5th place, which was kinda crappy because our guy got boxed in. We got 3rd in the 1000m, then we score in the 55m hurdle (3rd) and the 55m dash 6th.

In the 500m, my goal was to win. Like I said I got lane 3, I can see everyone that I needed to focus on. After the break, I came thru the 200 in like 24, which was slow, I am in second to last. I tried to move because I saw a chance to take over the race but just when I start to move a Uconn runner also picks up speed pushes me out into lane 3 and also elbows me.Heres a little sidenote on this dude, now I dont like to trash talk people, its just not my style but for some odd reason everytime this dude runs he gets so close to the person next to them they he elbows them and I do not eaggerate when I say everytime.Anyway I let him take over, which was a costly mistake. In the last 100m its the Uconn runner and the URI runner going at it and a few meters back it was a Northeastern runner and myself.I finish 4th, with a new P.R. but way off the school record.

Here is the video:

http://www.flocasts.org/flotrack/coverage.php?c=198&id=10010

Next up were the relays, the 4x8 scored a 5th place finish which helped us get closer to URI. In the final event of the day the 4x4, with oneof our guys injured, we had to go back to the team from last year, but with a different order, I was anchor. With UConn out, who had the fastest seed at 3:14.3, out of the relay, we felt like there wasn't anybody who could really hang. We were in the 5th heat, with U. of New Hampshire, Umass Lowell and I cant remember who else,sorry.Our 1st two legs kept us in the race by staying behind New Hampshire who had the lead,when our 3rd leg got the baton there was a gap to make up and he did that within the last 100m. When I got the baton there was a bit of a gap, I opened up the gap a little more and just brought it home. In order to get 2nd place in the team standing we thought we had to run faster than URI, who ran 3:17.3 in the previous heat, and we did run faster than them. Unfortuntely they got second place in 4x4, we gave them a total of 72 pts. and gave us a totla of 71 pts.. Second place in our heat was 3:17.8!

Heres the video:

http://www.flocasts.org/flotrack/coverage.php?c=198&id=10038

It was a bitter sweet weekend, we didnt get the 2nd place finish that we wanted but we still got 3rd and showed everybody how tough were are.

Next up, hopefully a trip to Mankato,Minn.

God bless Trackshark.

What the?

Let me start off like this, normally I am not one to show emtion (typical man!) but something really got to me today, so I'm here to vent. So, here goes...

I am sitting in the student center enjoying my bacon, egg and cheese on a plain toasted bagel and strawberry/banana smoothie breakfast and going thru the school newspaper. I dont usually read the school newspaper because, to be honest, I dont care about most of the crap that they write in there. But today I picked one up because I knew that they had a story about the conference meet this past weekend.  They HAD write about my boy Neil breaking the school record in the 55mh, they HAD to  write about the men's team winning its 6th straight conference title, they HAD to write about the women's team winning its seocnd conference title, they HAD to write both teams winning with over 200 points demolishing the other teams, they had to write about that stuff,right?

So, I proceed to go thru every section of the paper. NOTHING! But what DID they cover? Basketball!

Let me give y'all some info on the Bball teams, the women's deserve the coverage, since they are the defending Nationals champs and have made the conference tournament but are not as good as they were last year. The men got the most coverage because they won ONE game after losing God knows how many games.

I sat there a little stunned and mad. As I sat there, I lost my appetite so I put down my $3 sandwhich and set aside my $4 smoothie, and thought to my myself "Is track and field really that irrelevent on this campus?". As I thought about it more and more I started to believe that track and field really is irrelevent and for those of who know me, knows thats a sad fact.

Please forgive me if I come off cocky, thats not my intention and I am in no way cocky, if y'all really knew me, you would know that even if I ran a 42 secs 400m, I would be the first to sh** on it like a true hater. I dont want the coverage for myself, I want the coverage for my team. I love this sport and my team more than anything and I am willing to do anything for them. I work to hard to be ignored and so does my team.

Anyway, Im done venting. Good luck and God bless to everybody!

One Down!

This weekend was our conference meet and a successful a meet. The men and women swept the meet, both scoring over 200 points. Finally I have an individual conference title, of all the events the 500m. The time was incredible horrible but I dont care, that was one time where I will have an easy race. The race worked out perfectly, I entered the meet as the top ranked 500m runner,  I sat behind one of the slower runners and then passed him with 200m left and coasted home. 

Next up is the New England Champs in Boston, where once I again I will be running the 500m, which I something that I am happy about but at the sametime Im mad about.Im happy because it will be my chance to destroy the school record but I mad because I wanted to qualify for the 400m for Nationals.Yea I know, the 500m will get me stronger for the 400m outdoors but who won the 500m last year at Nationals? My point exactly! Oh well!

Our goal for next weekend, will be to win the New England champs! Which will be difficult seeing that we have to face the newly crowned UCONN men(Congrats to them!). In previous years we've placed second and third, so we're trying to step up this year.

Until next week Trackshark Fam.Be safe and God Bless!

Championship season starts....

This past weekend we went to the Armory track for the last time this season (and in my collegiate career).Once again I had to run the 500m, an event I hate more than any other. I won the event overall and my teammate took 2nd, for a 1-2 finish, but the impressive thing about him is that it was his first time running it and he did it in the third heat.Overall the rest of the team did good, this should be a bit of a confidence boost for us before the start of our championships season.

Next week is our conference, which is usually held at our school since we are the only school with an indoor track :). Seeing that we are used to our crappy little track, with it tight turns(and I mean TIGHT!), we usually win the conference title.The Northeast-10 is a small conference but it produces some good people every years.On the men's side, wih the exception of the mens high jump, there is somebody from the Northeast-10 conference ranked nationally. Anyway, most likely I will be running the 500m again, just to clarify I hate the 500m more than any other event.But I will suck it up and try to get the win, something that,for some reason, havent been able to do. Last year I just plain ran like sh**, the year before I got sick and ran a blistering 51 in the 400m. Theres nothing like losing in front of all your friends to brighten your day (sarcasm!).This year will be different!So, hopefully next time y'all hear from me, I will be able to say I am finally a conference champ.

On a side note, Ive been writing these blog entries thinking no one would read them, I was wrong. Thanks to everybody who reads my blogs and to those who leave comments.

Until next time Trackshark Fam.Good luck to everybody and God Bless.

Disappointed!

This weekend we went to Boston University's Valentine meet. The women ran on Firday and men on Saturday. The meet was disappointing for many people on the team,in cluding myself. I ran the 400m, I was expecting to be in a fast heat and expecting to get my a** kicked but come out with a good time.NOPE! All the 46 secs seeds were a no show so the 400m started with heat 2 and I was in heat 4 with two other guys.I won my heat but my time sucked, it was a provisional time but when converted to a flat track time, its not.BOO!

Anyway, the rest of the day was incredibly long, especially since there were ridiculous amounts of heat for each event.There were 36 heats of the 400m, so by the last heat I was fully recovered and had my sweat on and eating my pasta and pork dinner i brought from home :).There were 50 heats of the 200m and like 12 or 13 heats of the mile, you get the point. I guess the highlight of the day was seeing 400m Olympian Michael Blackwood run the 800m(he came in 2nd place at 1:48) and also meeting some people from Adams state after we took over there seats.Sorry! But they were cool people.There no relay action on our behalf because most of our guys were sick but we will be back in action on Friday at the Amory.   

Until next time Be safe and God Bless Trackshark Fam.

A long weekend...

We had a long weekend, we were at Yale U. invite, which was a two day meet.On day one, I had run the 400m leg of the DMR on friday and on Saturday I had to anchor the 4x4.On friday the weather was terrible, you maybe asking what does that have to do with the meet, well, for some reason it was raining inside and it was cold as hell. We did ok, in the DMR, my hammy was bothering me for most of the week, so I ran with caution, especially since it was cold.We ended up getting 4th place and I think we made the provisional mark for DII.

On saturday, I had to sit around all day and watch the meet. THe race of the day was the mens mile where Andrew Bumbalough dominated the mile and broke the meet and facility record and also auto'ed in 3:58. The 4x4 was also exciting,from a by standers point of view. We came in 3rd and auto'ed, some of our guys ran didnt run well tatically, also out 2nd leg tripped twice,so that hurt us.Im kinda happy about the race, I know with all the mistakes and mishaps, I know that we can drop something descent when everything is in our favor.

Well that was my weekend but before I go, I would just like to address some thing that has confused me, Cocky or over confident people.Now if your are Olympic caliber then I understand but in the past two weeks Ive seen displays of over confidence and cockiness by people who should be that way at all. Last week in NY was a prime example,now keep in mind Im an ok sprinter and i will be the first person to say that, but I saw someone several people wearing shades INDOORS! Yea I know X.Carter did it, but remember what happened to him last year at the Tyson invite. Anyway, I saw one guy in the open 400m, wearing shades, now he wasnt in the seeded section of the 400m and definately didnt have a fast seed. As soon as I noticed his sunglasses, I made sure to see his time, which was a blazing 51.2!

I dont know what the moral of that long winded story is, I just needed to get that off my chest :)

Have a good night and God Bless Trackshark Fam.

WOW!

I finally gathered up the courage to get my own blog! Anyway, lets get down with the intro. My name is Román, I am a senior at Southern Ct. State University.  I have been running track since my freshman year of high school. This is my final year of college track and I just trying to end on a good note.There a lot more info about myself but I dont want to bore anybody.But I would like to say that I've been addicted to this site for years now, trackshark is the homepage on both my laptop and Sidekick.

My season has started already,we've had 4 meets already, all of which werent to bad. i opened up my season with an 800m at Yale U. on Dec.8th. After that  was our Alumni meet, then  the Xmas break,which I spent the entire winter break working and practicing (I havent seen my family since the weekend after Thankgiving).

Our next meet will be at Yale.U's Giegengack Invitational(I cant pronounce it either!), which everybody is looking forward because every year since we've gone theres been great competition.Not to be cocky but one reason is because of our 4x4, every years we've brought the heat to some descent school and that not appreciated at all. Who really want to lose to a small DII?

Anyway,Good luck to everybdoy this weekend and God Bless..