The competition just wrapped up! I have never in my life felt as good as I did today. It was an amazing feeling and it really gave me confidence in the program Linda Blade and the team had put together. However, it was also a giant learning experience…at the wrong time. During my warm up, I was three step scissoring 2.00m with ease… jogging up to 2.15m and clearing it like it was 1.90m. I mentioned to Linda that I am a little worried about how good I feel, about how bouncy my legs are. With the giant tail wind behind me, I felt that I needed to harness, and hold back a little to ensure some control…. Bad choice… I could not convert this amazing feeling, this wonderful warm-up into anything material.

Fast forward to my third attempt 2.15m, opening height… worried… I make it… However, nothing really makes sense. I got the feeling both my coach and I were a little dumbfounded as to what to do in order to get me in the right position. I miss 2.18m… pass to 2.21m as Mike Mason, Derrick Watkins and Mark Boswell had already cleared the height. 2.21m and nothing happening… I miss and am out… unreal… I was in complete shock… a year of work, of sweat, of drama…and finishing in an embarrassing 4th, with a high school height… I wish I could commit to the notion that I choked, but it was… rather an inability to make the adjustments… I feel like a better high jumper than ever before…but the results do not represent that.

Hats off to Mike Mason who cleared 2.27m and came through when it counted (Mark Boswell 2nd with a 2.21 and Watkins 3rd with 2.18m).

I’ll keep my hat on for the officiating - which was a disgrace. I have never seen a bigger bunch of power hungry people in one area! I cannot clump them all into this complaint, but wow! A good chunk of them forgot that they were there “for” the athletes… Let me quote one of the head high jump officials as he explained to me why I had to stay in the competition area… “Actually, I don’t care about you, I just don’t want to lose my job, so you’re staying here” - There were many more instances… But for now.. we will take our bouncy thoughts…they worked by the way.. and pass them on the Sheri and Whitney who jump tomorrow!

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