During that year one of the coaches Brandon Hon kept telling me this is another chapter of your story, what are you going to write? That kept me motivated to keep working harder and harder to run well. So after regionals he said, “do you want the story to end like this?” That statement alone had me focused and ready to go for the following year.
After finishing fourth at the big east conference our men’s team felt like we could have a shot at actually winning next year seeing that we lost 3 points from the team that finished fourth. So, I came up with an idea to get team wristbands so that everyone would remember the task at hand even when there just sitting in the classroom that is win conference as a team. I emailed the team told them my idea and asked for suggestions for the slogan. Troy Lammers came up with the slogan of “One Team One Goal”.
So the summer is here and I was focused more than ever! I stayed in Cincinnati to train and take classes. I went to morning lifting at 7 three days a week with teammate Chase Vancura, Alex Ramsey, Allen “Big Al” Moore. Chase and I would train twice a week running workouts and campus loops trying to get better. We busted out tales that summer training preparing for the following season. The entire team hd that same desire! Guys would come into the coaches office and talk about winning conference they were working out over the summer instead of not doing nothing so the dedication was there and we had to carry that the entire summer, the fall, and coming up the spring.
So fall is and its time for conditioning. Well, condition is going well and the team is focused and everyone is working hard. But, I get injured. I started having pain in my foot but I ignored it because it didn’t seem that bad but the pain got worse until I was forced to sit out workouts. I went to the doc got a MRI and I had a stress reaction in my foot and couldn’t run. Man, I was down. All that work over the summer and now I’m injured. But it wasn’t a major problem I spent 1 month doing pool workouts (Mike the greatest trainer in the world pushed me through all the workouts) and it turned out to help a lot! The day I was able to start running we were doing flying 30’s so I decided to jump in. I ended up with the fastest flying 30 and shocked myself. So now I’m back on track. Training is well going well and indoor is approaching. Time to get pumped! Actual meets are about to start! Again, the team is looking nice, was training hard, and was focused. On a side note I got a 3.7 this past fall quarter which was my second deans list award ever J (hey babe thanks for the motivation!)
Just a tid bit about my fiancée. She has been on dean’s list every quarter of her 3 years here at Cincy. She’s graduating a year early with a 3.9 something gpa in communication and she got into grad school with a full ride here at cincy!!! I saw one of her dean’s list certificates and I said I want 1 of those and so far I have 2! Without God and her support, I would not have been able to make it to this point in my life!
Now its time for indoor. We start the indoor season off with the intrasquad meet which is a lot of fun. We split the team into two teams and compete against each other. Of course the RED dquad won! (my team) but I didn’t participate in the 4x4 because my foot started to bother me again. I am named a team captain along with Alex “Man child” Ramsey, Troy Lammers and Chad Hanson. A bunch of great guys I might add.
We don’t have an official indoor mens team so a lot of the time we have to compete unattached. But we can particiapate as a team in three meets indoor. To start the season off my coach Chris Wineberg told me the qualifying standard for USATF indoor nationals is 47.4. I said ok I’ll get it. I decided to go to the first Indiana meet to run. Im there you know and I notice I’m in the second heat and Chris tells me win the meet from the second heat. I watch the first heat the winning time was a 48.43. I do my usual routine then its time. I get into the blocks say a prayer and the gun goes off. I get hard and smooth catching the guy in lane 5. Im first to the break still relaxed and fast. I stay at the pace through the back stretch and down the home stretch. I won my heat my 2 seconds and I run a 48.04 a pr! (my previous pr was 48.54) I didn’t pick up the pace at all on the back stretch like I normally would so that time let me know that I can definitely go faster.
The next weekend I take off before we really start to get into our indoor season. That rest paid off! The following weekend we were back at IU and this time the team was there and it was a different atmosphere. I decide to run the 200, 400, and 4x4. This was my first 200 indoor and I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect, it’s the invite and I didn’t want to lose. So, I get into the blocks and the gun goes off. I get out hard catching the guy next to me and cruising to the back stretch. I keep my speed, I’m relaxed, and I’m running fast. I get midway thru the back stretch and I pick it up again. Im in first and rolling! I cross the line at 21.75 and winning my heat by a half a second and the meet by a less than half a second. Then it was the 400 invite. I ready to go and focused. I get into the blocks and again I the guns goes off and I immediately catch the guy on my outside. I’m rolling thru the back stretch and its almost time for the break. I pick it up a little to be the 1st there. I make it there in first and I’m running relaxed and smooth. I get to the back stretch and I pick it up! I start gaining speed and pull away from everybody. I ended running 47.64. Now going to Boston is a reality. The 4x4 was nice as well. Our first three legs run well but were still back a few meters. Indiana is in the lead and I get the baton a few meters back. I get out and im trailing the guy thru the first lap chilling and staying relaxed. Then, I kicked it into high gear on the back stretch of the second lap and I pull away from him big time! We win the race with a 3:17 and IU went 3:19. Overall, this meet was a success for the team a lot of great marks and pr’s. That lets everybody know that we are headed in the right direction.
Next was the Rod McCravy meet. 300 meter track. I knew this was my only chance to get that USATF 400 mark. I am entered in the 60, 400, and 4x4. My first time running a 60 and I don’t have a great start I just didn’t want to get beat REALLY bad! So the race goes off and I get out not really fast but acceptable. Im net thing you know I hit hands with the guy next to me and Im running with one arm moving because my hand hurts lol. But I still manage to finish in 6.87. Then it was the 400. I am in the second heat and the winning time was 46.58. I was like shoot! Cat was rolling! I then realize that I have to roll! I get into the blocks and the gun goes off. I get out HARD! Going into the first curve I have the lead already. I get to the back stretch and Im relaxed like none other rolling. Then it was time to pick it up and bring it home. I get the knees up, arms pumping, and I start pulling away. I hit the home stretch and I continue to roll. I cross the line…..
46.57 pops up unofficially. The final time was 46.59 one hundredth of a second from first. I am a lil disappointed but I soon cheer up realizing I just booked my ticket to Boston and set another school record! Man all I can do is thank God! I call Mandy (my fiancée) and say were going to Boston! I then get off the phone walk to the trash can and throw up! I know im soft lol. But now its time for 4x4! Im feeling like crap and I don’t feel up to the challenge of running. But then Western Kentucky is rolling! There leading the pack by a good 50 meters or so and the lead is just getting bigger. So I get the baton in 4th and I take off. I pass two guys going into the back stretch then I just kick it in and put the pedal to the floor! I start closing the gap but the lead was too big for me to make up. WKU ends up running like 3:12 or something and we go 3:15 I think. But after the race Chris walks up to me and said you didn’t do enough. I was like what did I split? I’m thinking 48 or 49. He said no! 45.6 I was like WORD! I didn’t believe him at first I was just like no way he said yeah you hit the back stretch and never slowed down. These races can be seen on youtube just search: ucdrakefam. The meet was again a good overall meet for the team more pr’s which is always good! Got to shout out Terrence Sommerville the freshman that’s following in the footsteps of silver medalist David Payne running a 7.91 his indoor season I see you freshman!
The following of practice wasn’t to hard. I co-op with Perfetti Van Melle (they make airheads, mentos, and chupa chupas) and I get up at 530 in the morning mon-fri to get to work and be able to leave to get to practice at 330. Well that Thursday I wasn’t feeling the greatest my legs were sore and tight and I was a lil late for practice. I didn’t warm- up well and we were doing flying 30’s and I wanted to jump in! I told Chris I wasn’t feeling well he said you don’t have to practice save your legs and watch. But being a hardworking guy I decide to run. NOT GOOD AT ALL! I run the 1st one in 3 flat. Not bad but we had a few 2.94, 2.97, 29.5 and I was like shoot I gotta get that low! So I go again and Im rolling but 5 meters before I get to the sensor I feel my hammy tighten up. So I shut it down hit the mat and fell to the floor still running a 3 flat tho! Haha but the trainer’s come over and I can barely walk straight. I tried to jog around the track but that wasn’t happening. So I go to the training room and get some treatment. I’m feeling terrible I qualify for nationals then I mess up my hammy what luck do I have. I hold off on buying a ticket for the trip. I take the next few days off not doing anything but rehabbing and doing pool workouts again. Heading into the weekend I’m feeling a little better but nowhere near 100% its all-ohio weekend and I cant run. I decide to have a Wii game nite at my place for the men sprinters. Kyle, Chase and CJ Carroll show up I make the pre-meet meal for champions lol. On a side note Chase is terrible at Wii!!!! A solid 400, 4x1, 4x4 guy but on the Wii?!?!?! OH NO!! But we have and they leave around 9 or so.
I decide to get on the bus at 630 and travel with the team on valentines day weekend instead of sleeping in. Gotta show support!! ONE TEAM ONE GOAL!! While at he I my hammy is feeling better bout 75% so I’m icing throughout the day and I get stem. There was a point during the day when I couldn’t feel my foot and I almost tripped over it. I already walk funny for those who haven’t seen me. But Im pigeon footed and my feet go in when I walk they look like this: / \ just to give you a lil idea of what they look like.
Overall all-ohio was a good meet some surprises and good marks so yeah it was fun to cheer on teammates yelling all over place with a gimp leg!
So I decide to scratch nationals so that I don’t risk injurying myself more for outdoor. It seems like that was a good decision hearing about the snowstorm that swept thru cancelling 300 Delta flights.
Well, that has you all caught up until this point training is going well, I’m bout to start classes again and outdoor is about to begin!!! YES I AM PUMPED!!!! I have never been so focused on anything this much. There are times when all I can think of is getting into the blocks, the gun going off and me sprinting, putting every muscle and ounce of energy in winning and putting up points for the team.
The desire to win and to allow my teammates to feel the feeling I felt when I won conference as a part of the 4x1 relay and an individual is what drives me. The feeling of being the best is what I want this team to feel. To the men who read this that are apart of this team I have one thing to say, “ONE TEAM ONE GOAL”
LETS GET IT!!!!
Twan