The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
NCAA Championship Blog -- Kyana White
6/4/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Day Five From Eugene
I've had a great time here in Tracktown, USA. I really enjoyed exploring Eugene and competing in and watching the NCAA Track Championships.
Eli finished off her season well, leaving it all out there on the track to close out the 2013 Blazer T&F season on a great note.
Another highlight of the day was watching Kori Carter (Stanford) break the 400m hurdle collegiate record as she crossed the finish in 53.21 seconds, also the current world best. Perhaps more amazing was watching Bryshon Nellum (USC) win the 400m. Suffering gunshot wounds to both legs in 2008, his story will remain in my mind an example of facing adversity. In the coming season I'll think of it while doing those dreaded fall-conditioning workouts, "big" in season workouts and during meets just after I set to go.
It'll take a team effort to make it back to Eugene next year and I'll be sure to push my team to work as hard as ever to get back to the historic Hayward Field.
This has been an experience of a lifetime and I don't think I can say how proud I am to call myself a National Qualifier enough. I look forward to building upon this season's successes next season.
Meanwhile, Hellooo Summer :)
GO BLAZERS!
Day Four From Eugene
What a great day in Eugene! Oregon's campus is beautiful and their facilities are exceptional. Autzen Stadium stands alone, over the river and through the woods, literally, at the end of a 10-mile long trail used by students on game day ready to cheer on their Ducks.
While I opted for the five minute drive across the bridge with my Dad, a couple of the girls made the trek saying it was "amazing" and commented on the beauty of the river.
Autzen commands your attention as the almost highlighter yellow, Oregon "O" looms high above everything else in sight. I'm impressed by the intricate details that went into the facility, even the metal barrier posts surrounding the stadium flaunt a green metal "O".
After exploring the stadium grounds and grabbing some delectably fresh, west coast seafood from McGrath's Fish House (the other girls had Tracktown Pizza, they said it was great!), I made it back to Hayward Field in just enough time to watch the competition unfold.
What an odd feeling to finally spectate! (Damar) Forbes (LSU) leaped to a 27-4 3/4, the longest long jump in the U.S. to date this year, for a first place finish. (Brianna) Rollins (Clemson) took the lead in her 100m hurdles heat right out of the blocks, finishing in 12.47 seconds to break the collegiate record and I watched them, and other outstanding performances, all live.
I'm SO grateful for the opportunity to have competed at a meet of this caliber and I'm excited to see more records broken as the meet continues.
Eli (Kirk), the last, but certainly not least, of us will wrap up this long Blazer season Friday night as she competes for a top spot in the nation in the 5k. Tune into http://pac-12.com/live/goducks.aspx?&DB_OEM_ID=500 at 6:15pm PST to watch her live!
GO BLAZERS!
Day Three From Eugene
Although I am disappointed in our performance today, I am extremely proud of our team for making it to the NCAA Championship meet. We've learned a lot this season and I'm sure that last race will fuel our off season training as we prepare to be better next year. If we all put our heads to it we'll be back next year, only next time with a better result.
Day Two From Eugene
We seem to have brought the southern sun along with us, as the weather has been perfect for running! After breakfast we headed back to Hayward for our last practice before we compete. After ironing out the last few kinks we explored Eugene for a bit before dinner. The people here are amazing, asking us where we're from and wishing us luck as we pass by. Local school kids made us handmade cards to wish us luck :) I'm excited to compete and watch my teammate Rhi (Rhiannon Johns) compete in her last collegiate 10k, she's a truly outstanding runner and I know she won't disappoint!
We proved we were among the best in qualifying for regionals and again for this weekend's championship. When race day finally arrives tomorrow we'll do all we can to continue to make our fellow athletes, UAB and the City of Birmingham proud.
Tune into http://pac-12.com/live/goducks.aspx?&DB_OEM_ID=500 at 4pm & 7:10pm PT to watch us live!
GO BLAZERS!
Day One From Eugene
I woke up this morning with an eagerness incomparable to any I've ever had. I felt proud knowing I was helping to write part of UAB's track and field history as I boarded the plane for our first ever 400m relay appearance at the "big dance." It was smooth sailing (or flying, rather :) to Oregon and my enthusiasm instantly soothed the aches of the long, eight-hour travel day as we drove past clean streams towards Tracktown, USA.
I can feel the energy of the coming weekend, banners announcing the championship adorn Oregon's campus, billboards encourage fans to purchase tickets to watch the pinnacle meet of the collegiate season, posters in the fan zone introduce each event's returning champion.
The track bustled with the nation's best as we got in our final workouts before the big day(s) and I couldn't have been more proud to be included in that number.
Eugene is quaint and, with running stores and "Tracktown, USA" banners always in sight, I appreciate how it's truly centered around the sport I've grown to love. The historic Hayward Field is incredible, easily the best facility I've ever been to in my life.
Our team dinner was even more enjoyable than usual, we shared lots of laughs and talk of track, of course. This full-belly and overwhelming feeling of happiness will make for a good, much needed, night's rest.
Just one more night before we race!
