TSP Athletics
Monday, August 23, 2004
So I called that one at trials!
BOOYAH, Hemmingway has a Silver!
I don't know if you guys saw the comp, but to all the shorties take notes at the Swede! That was HUGE explosion, and for the slowpokes *caugh* **Pizzle*** watch Mr. Hemmingway...
so here's the Quotes...and by the way Nieto's final attempt at 7'8 3/4" was HUGE and he hit it on the backside on the way down...he'll be back...and worlds, look for 7' 10" and possibly an American record...
MEN'S HIGH JUMP FINAL Care of http://www.usatf.org
Matt Hemingway (Littleton, Colo.), silver meda1, 2.35m/7-7.25: "I knew at the Olympic Trials that I was in great shape and I was ready to go. It was just a matter of putting it together. I knew what it would take to win. It would take a bold move, and that was passing at 2.29 (7-6). [Gold medallist Stefan] Holm wasn't expecting me, so I just had to have focus. I tried to stay focused on jumping the bar and not the competition. I just was on."
On Holm: "My hat's off to Holm. He pulled it out when he had to do it. That's gutsy. He did a good job. I did the best I could do. My shoe company custom designed new shoes for me that I got four days ago, and they have been awesome."
On close family friend Chuck Chichowitz of Buena Vista, Colo., attending the final: "My dad died four years ago yesterday. The guy that was his best friend [Chichowitz] called me after the prelims and said if I could get tickets for the final, he would come over here. They got here four or five hours ago. He's like a dad to me. To have him here, his son, my mom, sister and wife ... Mike Gilbert, who got me back into this craziness ... Cliff [Rovelto, his coach] ... it's really special."
Jamie Nieto (Chula Vista, Calif.), finished fourth in finals (2.34m/7-7.25): "To come out here and jump personal best (7-8) it's a blessing. I really wanted to be on that medal stand. You don't know how bad fourth place sucks until you get fourth place. My medal was in my hands. I really want to cry. I thought I was going to clear that last jump. I don't know how I hit it. It was a great attempt, but great attempts only get you fourth place. I'm going back to San Diego practice real hard and win the world championships. That's my goal."
Sunday, August 22, 2004
As everybody knows, Ithaca/Cornell is the place to be this time of year, but what's missing? I believe it's Paddy McD, who by the way makes his return to Cornell tomorrow. In honor of his return, we, 129 Linden Ave, will provide festivities for all of you willing and able to come.
So if you haven't forgotten it's an olympic year and as such I think it's important to post the results...we lost one in the prelims...
My heart goes out to Tora, he had a tough day and went 2.15...(I watched him jump in person at trials and he was stinging it like crazy...went' 7'5" 3/4) So I'm sure he'll be back in China in 4.
My call for the finals, I didn't get to watch the prelim comp, but again judging from trials Nieto went higher but Hemmingway, looked WAY WAY better....and has better style...headband, long hair etc...so flair+ high jump = medal.
Watch for Nieto though...he PR'd at Trials and has had time to train...the hardest part is bouncing back better off a PR.
_______Here's some quotes from USA TF_____
James Nieto (Chula Vista, Calif.) who tied for first in the group A qualification round of the men's high jump (2.28m/7-5 3/4):
"I'm very happy. I just went out there and tried to do my thing. I had to deal with anxiety more than anything. I just wanted to go out there, get my jumps and make the final. Things have been going really well this year. To win the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, in front of my hometown fans, then come out here and make the final is special."
Matt Hemmingway (Littleton, Colo.) who tied for fifth in group B qualifying of men's high jump (2.28m/7-5 3/4):
(On making his third attempt) "Yeah, it was pretty dramatic, kind of like the trials. After the first two tries, I made the right adjustments. (What happened on the first two?): "On the first one, I hit my head and on the second, I missed with my heel."
(Any doubts) "At this game, if you have any doubts show up, you just got to kick them to the door."
(Would you be disappointed if you didn't make it?):"I just take it one bar at a time, but yes, I'd be disappointed if I didn't make it."
(How do you focus) "You've got to stay relaxed. The biggest problem in an event like this is removing your head from your shoulders.
(On his family) "This will mark four years tomorrow that my dad died. I was able to be at the funeral because I didn't qualify, but today, I'm sure he was in the stands."
(On a medal) "Anything is possible. If you didn't come to the Olympic Games to win a medal, then you shouldn't have come at all."
Tora Harris (College Park, Ga.) who was 16th in group A qualifying round of men's high jump (2.15m/7-0 1/4):
"I felt pretty good but I got a little bit too tired. I think the surroundings had a lot to do with it. I think my preparation was more geared toward a quicker competition. This one was very long and I didn't expect it to be so long. I had good warm up jumps but I couldn't hold it.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
So I have a story to tell all you stingers of the poomps. It starts as innocently as me going out for a couple drinks with some mates. We're there at this pretty upscale bar called Fridays. So we're sitting there and my friend Mike sees these girls that he knows from the beach volleyball club. He know's they're a little crazy but we go over and have a seat and chat for a bit. Well within minutes of getting there, one of the girls is jumping all over Mike's nuts. She goes and dances with him and sits in his lap and shit like that. Then while Mike is at the bar, the girls, Sarah (all over Mike's junk), Renee and I start "playing a game" where you just pass an icecube from person to person via the mouth, until it melts. At which time you just start over again. So Mike comes back and him and sarah just go at it for a couple hours right in the bar and stuff. Meanwhile the girl Renee is trying to play the "game" with me all night. At the end of the night, the boys decide we want to go home, without the girls. Mostly because of the three guys there, I was the only one without a serious girlfriend, and these girls were so young that they were getting picked up by their mom (18-20yr olds getting picked up by mom?) so we take a taxi home. However, on the way out of the bar, Sarah runs after us and stops me, and tells me that her friend says that she needs to hit me. So she winds up and slaps me in the face. And that's the end of that.
Now, we all know my reputation, as hard as I try to break it. And it seems very odd to me that normally I might have taken a willing girl like this home, shagged her rotten, and continued to do so for a series of weeks or months without any committment on my part. Now here, I don't do something sleazy like that, and I get a slap in the face. What is this backward world I've found myself in. I'll keep you guys updated to the weirdness down under.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
I gotta get to bed, but...
Philly is going great! I get free food, I get to tll people what to do (and yes, they even listen) or tehy'll get fired (feel my wrath biotch). And did I mention the free food?
SO anyways, I'm lovin it here so far. Talked to some of the UPenn track guys the other day, so it looks like I'll be able to do some training (we'll see what teh schedule allows).
Anyway...as a bit of a side not; Amy (the architect and former high jumper, and I think Pat's past/present girlfriend, and friend to all Stimg Poomps), I'm managing her cousin. small world.
OK, I thought it was funny anyway.
Greg...update us on Australia, Spyke updates on Hawaii and Ankle, Pete, are your pants wet yet?
All for now.
E
ps: I saw Evan and Ben on my way out of twon last week. It was jsut after noon and they had already been heavily into some Beirut. Ja gotta love summers in I-town.
