Blogs : Eric Simmons

Florida State

This past weekend, we competed at the Seminole Invitational down at Florida State University. We left school at 6 a.m. for a 5 hour bus ride to the meet, which was horrible to say the least. I'm not good with long rides the day of meets. Add to that the bus constantly sounded like a tea kettle signaling for someone to take it off of the stove and the back spasms I had to and from the meet and it is obvious as to why the bus ride was thought to be horrible.

We got to the meet and the weather was beautiful. It was probably near 80 with nothing but sun. The weather changed for about 45 minutes with a quick thunderstorm and the track was soaked, but the FSU team did a good job getting everything back up to speed very quick, which makes me think they will do a great job hosting the region meet.

For me, this was the first meet I was to run the open 400 this outdoor season. I stepped away from it for 4 weeks after indoor, thinking it would be wise to do so after racing my life away every weekend in life or death situations (okay, maybe it wasn't that serious). I was in the heat with some burners like Ricardo Chambers, Erison Hurtault, and Charles Clark. Those dudes were not playing as they all ran 45 something. I, on the other hand, ran a comparitively modest 47.85. I felt strong through about 250 and looked as such through350, but with 50 remaining, once again I became wacky wild inflatable flailing arm man. I came through the 200 at 22. flat and immediately tried to make a move. I probably should have maintained a bit more and then tried to go with about 150 left.  Even though my goal for the race was 47 low, 47.85 is a D2 provisional mark. I know it will not get into nationals, but it is a solid opener and something I can build on as I try to join the sub 47 club here in the next 4 weeks.

In the 200, I ran a horrible curve and ran 21.81. There's not much else to elaborate on in regards to that. The 4x4 was the best we've run all year, which was 3:17, but then again it was the first time we've had all 4 legs as we were always missing someone due to injury or other shenanigans. I had about 35-40 minutes to recover after the 200, and Ahmad literally triple jumped, walked off the runway, changed shoes, and jogged to the blocks to run first leg for our relay. All things considering, I feel like it was a solid run and it gives us the confidence that in the near future we can make a strong run at hitting at least the provisional standard, which I believe is 3:14.50.

The bus ride home can be described as deplorable. I caught a back spasm immediately and spent most of the time lying on the floor, writhing in pain and wondering what I did to deserve the feeling that some sort of alien was about to burst out of my back. I got home around 2 a.m. and fell asleep at 3, then heard the doorknob jiggling to my room. I got up to potentially attack someone and saw my brother standing at the door for no apparent reason. I feel asleep again around 4 and then I got up at 5 to take Ahmad to the airport. I got home around 7, and fell asleep for another 2 hours or so until I was hit with a barrage of text messages and phone calls, of which 97% of them were unimportant. Needless to say, I'm very tired.

I'd also like to give a shoutout to Ahmad and Keisha for hitting provisional standards in the triple jump and the 400 hurdles. Ahmad jumped 14.64, and because I don't know the conversion and am too lazy to look, I can't comment on what that is or how it matches up against anyone else. Keisha ran 62.22 in the 4 hurdles, and I think that should get her into nationals. Then again, I may not be a reliable source in that field either.

Our next meet is the Penn Relays on April 25-26th. Hopefully, we can hit some provisional marks in the 4x1 and 4x4 and then I can come here and tell you guys about it.

Untitled Comment

11:56 PM, April 14, 2008 .. Posted by ULMSpeeddemon

I saw the results man they weren't playing. A good opener though, good luck on the rest of your season

Thanks

3:25 AM, May 14, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Thanks 4 the shout out E my hero!!! Love ya