Jan. 9, 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.
Senior distance runner Dani Barnes, an SEC scorer in the mile run and DMR last season, writes about Friday’s exhibition and the end of training.
Thursday was a another fantastically gorgeous day with the sun shining down on us but we are especially lucky today as it is warm! At least gloves, scarves and hats are not required!
We only had one workout Thursday as there is an exhibition meet here against Denison on Friday. Beatrice Biwott and myself are going to wait another week before we start our season so we did a longer work out on the grass. It was tough with the week’s running building up in our legs but we worked hard. The rest of the distance group did a 30 minute run followed by some 200-meter reps on the track at race pace in order to feel prepared for their races tomorrow.
This afternoon we got some much needed rest and recovery and some of us watched a movie whilst the rest of us went shopping! There’s nothing like some retail therapy!
In true distance team tradition, we had a pre-race pasta party. All the runners brought something different for us all to eat and we had a good team bonding session ahead of Friday’s races. After we had finished carbo-loading, some of us watched the national college football final game and some of us played cards with other team members. Alabama and Nicole Rheinlander were the champions of the evening’s events! These times are so important for team bonding and also relaxing.
Our final day in Orlando was all about the track meet with Denison. In cold, wet and miserable conditions, the USC distance team put in an admirable performance.
Alex Bermudez won the 800-meter and followed his victory with an impressive leg on the 4x400m relay. Robert Razick’s efforts in the mile earned him a new PR and he was also victorious with a startling last lap partly due to the vociferous support from the crowd I am sure. Sierra Henderson took first in the 800-meter after a surge away from second placer Megan Rother at the 600-meter mark. USC took a clean sweep from first to fourth place in the mile with the efforts of Laura Pramstaller, Ashley Evens, Chelsea Leroux, and Nicole Rheinlanderwho finished in the same positions.
A great afternoon of work at the end of a great week of work. I hope that when we return to Columbia, to join the rest of our team, the work ethic and success will be contagious to set us up for our best distance team season yet! Go Cocks!
