May 28, 2009
| NCAA East Region Championships | Fri.-Sat., May 29-30 |
Championship Central | Live Results | Meet Notes  |
Each day this weekend, freshman and senior members of the track & field team will blog about their experiences at the NCAA East Region Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Senior pole vaulter Liza Todd, freshman hurdler Radiance Basden and freshman shot putter Stacee Roberts blog today about the Wednesday’s travel day to Greensboro as the team prepares for competition that begins Friday.
Senior Liza Todd
Today the team traveled to Greensboro, NC to prepare for the East regional track meet. I remember this same trip four years ago as a freshman but instead of traveling with the team, I made the drive with Emily, former pole vaulter, who did not make a regional qualifying mark that year either. We made the trip to support and cheer for those competing. Attending the track meet and not being able to participate made me realize that I did not want to be in that position again. Making the same drive four years later with the team was just one of the goals I’ve meet during my time at USC. When we drove up to the hotel with “Welcome Gamecocks Track Team” on the hotel entrance sign, I felt truly glad to be part of the team again. The team headed to a successful practice at Irwin Belk Track this afternoon after the relatively quick trip to Greensboro. At dinner, Coach Frye reminded us to support each other and work together as a team in order to produce the best results in the competition. After dinner, things settled down and we headed back to our rooms to get ready for the meet ahead.
Freshman Stacee Roberts
Being a freshman and traveling to regionals is a huge honor. For me to have made it this far in my first season competing was a pleasant surprise. On our first day traveling, we stopped to eat lunch at the mall and then continued to the hotel. After settling in, we went for a shake out at the track. While attempting to hydrate, I noticed that the Gatorade cups were extremely small which some of the team found amusing. The team dinner at the hotel was appetizing. We had salad, alfredo pasta, chicken, lasagna and garlic bread. The best part of dinner was the brownies that Coach Frye said only the throwers could eat! After dinner, I went back to my room and watched “Blades of Glory” and “Get Smart” with my roommate Aimee Kodat. Overall, the day was pretty decent except that I am sick and hoping to get better before competing on Saturday.
Freshman Radiance Basden
The NCAA East Regional couldn’t be in any better place than Greensboro, North Carolina because this is where I call home. Being here makes me feel much more comfortable, plus, this was the original place where I qualified. When I loaded the bus this morning all I could think about was how I am about to show out for those who I love the most. I already felt great to be at regionals because it’s not just a meet where my name was on the itinerary, there were standards for the meet. I met that standard and now I am expected to compete against all the rest who also met the same standard mark. Therefore, it is anyone’s game in my opinion. Of course there will be those who have crazy fast times, but anything could happen. I am excited to be home and even more excited to be with my team at the regional meet. Everyone expects great things from us, but more importantly I feel that we expect great things from ourselves. As one of the few freshmen that qualified for regionals, I must step up. It’s time to get it done with no excuses. I want to make my freshman regional meet one to remember.
