Friday, January 23, 2009

Tom Jones Memorial Invitational

Me and Young Hearns (Aub-Rida) rolled up to Gainesville this afternoon for our season opening meet at the University of Florida, which we'll run tomorrow.

This meet is in memory of one of Florida's greatest coaches, Tom Jones, who passed after a battle with cancer two years ago.

I'm competing in the 55m hurdles, a little bit shorter than the normal indoor distance of 60 meters. Renaldo Nehemiah is the world record holder at this distance with a time of 6.89. I set my personal best at this facility in 2006 at 7.03.

The first round goes off at 1:15 and the final at 2:20.

I am working on a few new things that I hope work out when the gun goes off, we will see. I'm shooting for a new personal best.

I am always super nervous in these early competitions. I'm sure I'm not alone when it comes to the psyche of the elite level athletes. You hope all your training has been going right, you want to start the season off on the right foot and you really don't want to get embarrassed by the collegiate kids.

Although I use these meets as competitive practice, I still want to have a good showing of myself.

Hopefully all works out tomorrow afternoon.

7 comments:

LaLa said...

You'll do great. It seems people are looking at you extra hard when you've won an Olympic Medal, but you're only human (a very fit, good-looking one) but human nonetheless and allowed to be nervous. LOL

ejheat said...

I might be there in person tomorrow. I am going to see how I feel when I get up in the morning. If I make it there tomorrow, I will be wearing my Penn State shirt and cheering you on to victory for sure. The only way for me to drive up there with my dystonia condition is on the back roads and I would have to stay overnight and drive back Sunday on the back roads. I have been going back and forth on whether I am going to go, so I will just see how everything is in the morning and leave it in God's hands. I am really dedicated to seeing you, David, have the best year of your track career. I am loyal to you and I believe in you with all my heart and soul. If I do not make it up there tomorrow, I will be thinking of you and will be there with you in spirit. One way or another, I will either be there live in person cheering you on, or I will be there with you in spirit from my home cheering you on to King David victory!!!!

Eric

Unknown said...

How do these Invitationals work? Are they run through the NCAA? Or are they run by a private organization? As a professional, do you get to compete against college athletes or do you have to run exhibition? Thanks.

David Oliver said...

E, Hope to see you at the meet, make sure you bring your camera man!

Faisal- The meets are run by NCAA guidelines, as a pro, I compete against anyone who enters the meet, they are mainly collegians and other "unattached" athletes. Hope that helps.

Coach said...

Its finally the end of january. Be BlesseD today.

Unknown said...

I had the opportunity to watch you compete in person today. You did a fantastic job; false starts happen (so don't sweat the small stuff). You're the greatest, and soon EVERYONE will know. Keep up the great work. God Bless.

P.S. You should have been a Gator:~)

Coach said...

What happened with the false start?