Diary

Wesley
Thomas

Past Entries

March 8, 2004

The indoor UAAs are the second-most exciting event we have to look forward to behind the outdoor UAAs, of course. So we were all pumped up Wednesday evening when classes were over and we were given an early "Spring Break."

Being able to represent the big EU in the championships was what got everybody excited. Missing classes on Thursday and Friday before the actual break was just gravy.

From the time we left Thursday morning (a miserable 6 a.m. departure) to the time we got back Saturday night (a manageable 10 pm), we knew that all the hard work we had been putting in for the past six months would pay off big time. So many things happened on this trip that I can't fit them all in here, but I'll do the best I can with what I got.

The trip there was just your average plane ride...bumpy, slow, blah, blah blah. Cleveland was unusually warm. We might as well have been back here in Atlanta.

Being the recently food-craving person, I found myself begging to eat every five minutes until we finally stopped to eat at Ryan's. I sat with my friends at a separate table from the team, not because we hate the team, but because there wasn't any more room! I had about 2,348,726 ribs, knowing that I had to run and jump the next day. Thank God it all got processed in time.

Getting to the hotel was also fun. It's always a coin toss to see who's gonna be in a room with whom. Imagine my surprise when I was placed with Brian "PLIZNATNUM" Platt and Rob "I DON'T NEED NOBODY TO TELL ME I'M THE BOMB" Bullard. They're good people, but as the oldest in that room, I still wonder why Rob the sophomore managed to get a bed to himself. Brian snores, by the way, and breathes hard, which is probably even more unnerving.

There was a banquet at Case Western that night for all the teams. I got to tell y'all it was pretty emotional to me. I don't know why, but I felt really...nice...at that banquet. I mean, it gave me a great feeling to sit there and know that I was part of one of the teams competing to win, but still managing to be friends with other schools.

The host school gave a presentation that lasted approximately 45 seconds, which was funny. They misspelled our coach's name. If y'all know who Coach John Curtis is, let me know. It was good times...oh what a wonderful night that was.

That night our team got ready to win UAAs the next two days. We conjured some team spirit with ninja-style headbands and a Super-Emory cape (which is hanging on my wall because it chose me). We didn't care because we were there to let everybody know who the real winners were.

The absolutely best part of the track meet was that virtually everybody on the team, guys and gals, ran personal bests on that track, despite the fact that it was polished with some sort of varnish that gave us headaches. That'll teach 'em to mess with us!

The next night, we ate at one of our teammate's homes, which is huge. The food was great, the personalized cookies were tasty, but the real treat that night was John Pitts' performance. He tore it up that night, which only pumped us up more for the last day of performing.

Speaking of which, we tore up the competition and won UAAs pretty easily. I'm just glad I was able to be a part of such a wonderful experience one last time.

Oh yes, it was my last indoor competition for Emory. How did I feel? To tell the truth, I was holding back tears at certain times because I didn't want to let anybody know I actually am capable of showing emotion. But think back to your high school days when you were doing something for the last time. That's how I felt. It's how I feel now. But the good thing about the indoor season is that you think it's over, but outdoor is yet to come.

Meanwhile, we got lost on our way back to the airport, probably because the people on my van were distracting Heather (who could've been a Power Ranger) with their shrill voices, trying to give renditions of songs from long ago. Andrew "HIGH KNEES" Seidenberg has the greatest voice I've ever heard. When y'all come to Emory, find him and pay him 97 cents to sing for you, like I did.

So, in closing this random chain of words, we won, I cried (to myself), we had good times, we ate (finally!), I'm home with a medal (bronze, which is decent), and we'll be back again for outdoor for one last win before I get out of here forever! EMORY EAGLES FLY!

P.S. By the way, I'm coming out with my dual album, "Shuttle Jamz/The DUC Album" in a week. For y'all prospects out there, e-mail me for a preview and then send $5 for your own SIGNED copy!!! And for $5 more, you can get John Pitts' CD, "JAWOL," as well. Hope to hear from y'all soon!!!

Wesley Thomas is a senior from Dallas, Texas. He would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.