Jan. 5, 2010

The South Carolina track and field team annually heads down to Orlando, Fla., for a week of preseason training before competing against Denison University in a friendly exhibition. The team trains vigorously throughout the week before getting a chance to enjoy the Disney theme parks as a climax to the University’s winter break. Various members of the team will check in daily with GamecocksOnline.com about the everyday happenings with the sprinters, hurdlers, distance runners, throwers, pole vaulters and multi-event athletes.

The first entry comes from junior thrower Michael Zajac, a 2009 All-American in the weight throw.

Today, being our first full day of practice, was full of all sorts of fun and excitement. We started off the day early as we loaded up the vans at about 7:45 and headed out to the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. (about 30 minutes away from the Disney Track & Field Complex). This was a shock to me personally as the alarm clock did not go off before 9:30 a.m. over my short Christmas break.

After our short orientation at the training center, we hit the throwing fields for about two hours of throwing. From what I could tell, it looked like everyone was having a good practice. I can really only personally talk about myself in the hammer and several of our discus throwers since that is the cage that I was throwing at, but from what I could tell everybody looked good.

The hammer today felt pretty good. We got 20 inches of snow in Virginia over Christmas so I was only able to throw several times over break, but throwing today I felt like I was throwing at a level near (or just below) where I was at in the fall. After our throwing practice, we headed up to the weight room for a nice “welcome back” workout that included some heavy squats and bench. All in all, it was a pretty good day at the track and in the weight room.

It is just Monday, but at this point, everybody seems to be very excited about the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons. The men’s team is like one that I have never seen. If people don’t respect us now, they will. The women’s team, after their rebuilding year last season, looks to be a force on the national and SEC level. Well, as I write this, I am getting myself way to pumped about the upcoming season so I will save some for later in the week. Until then, Mike.