'Pass'

Forget what Alan says about not liking to run and retiring (quiting) the track team half-way through the year, I like to run. Sure, I don't do it unless it's for the track team, and even then it isn't a lot when I do run, but whatever, I'm still on the team and that's all that matters.

And if I have to get up at 6 for a track meet 2 hours away which will be held during the rain, well by golly I'm not going to make it a waste of my efforts.

Which is why it hurt to have the coach tell me not to jump my final three attempts on Saturday.

I felt great coming into the meet, I just p.r.-ed in the pole vault (And happened to beat Jimmy at the same time), and my legs felt great for the start of the triple jump.

First attempt I came running down the runway, jump. jump. jump. land.

41'4 3/4". A new personal best for me and MAC qualifier. Now my coach doesn't have to lie to let me continue my year for at least one more week. And since I got MAC, why not try for ECAC? That's only a little over a foot more away. And with my second attempt, I tried to make it to Massachusetts.

However there was a little hang up on the first landing. Apparently straightening and locking the leg isn't good for anything, especially landing. So, about 14 feet into the jump 180 pounds came down onto one locked leg. Needless to say my jump ended right there. My leg buckled and it was goodnight sniper.

After coming to a controlled stop my ankle, knee and hip were all throbbing. I guess there is a reason the experts say to bend the knees when jumping, as to cushion the impact. I didn't head their warning.

But no bother, I could still run and walk and by golly I had 4 more jumps to reach ECAC qualifier. And I was going to use my third attempt as a 'feeler' to see how my leg reacted. I prepared for pain and luckily did not receive it, however my coach saw something he didn't like and pulled me from the rest of the meet. He said my face looked like I was in pain and he didn't want to risk further injury after I had already qualified for MAC's.

That's the first time I'd been taken from an event I really wanted to do. I was determined to jump and he wouldn't let me. No matter the begging and pleading, he wouldn't listen. No more meet for me. So when the official (who was retarded anyway) called my name for the finals, I just had to pass (so did half the competitors, but I really wanted to continue jumping) and stand there watching other people jump.

I don't know if I could have made it to 42'6" if I were to continue jumping, but I sure as hell know I wasn't clearing shit standing on the side of the runway.

And that's the worst part of it all, knowing I was there to jump, I could still jump, and the factors favored me jumping, but as a precaution I was taken out to think about what I could have done.