Meghan Callier

Past Entries

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April 19, 2004

Last weekend, we traveled to Vanderbilt University to participate in their invitational. We were very excited about going because the upperclassmen said that many people had set personal records and NCAA provisional times in their events last year.

The coaches were excited because it was a fast track. Furthermore, because the weather was nice and warm on Saturday, it was the perfect day to run and do well.

The ride to Nashville was a little challenging because we got trapped in traffic and it took us longer than expected to get to Vanderbilt. Once we arrived, we got to see the last few races of Friday. The one I really enjoyed was the steeplechase.

The reason that I really like that event is because people get to jump over this one barricade and land in a pool of water which they do about seven or eight times. I lost count after awhile, but they jump into the water a good number of times.

Our steeplechase runner, Kate Bowman, who hit the NCAA provisional time this weekend, did an awesome job in the event. I enjoyed seeing her compete because she looked very strong and so determined to perform at her best.

A lot of the runners got to bond while on the trip because we pretty much stayed five to a suite and because we carried a lot of people to this meet.

On Saturday, many of the sprinters and relays competed and felt very well in doing it, but our times didn't show much improvement from the previous week at UNC-Charlotte. I know a few personal records that people made, like Miss Jane in the 200-meter dash and some hurdlers and throwers.

The coaches were right about Vanderbilt having a nice fast track because while I was competing I felt that I was going much faster than what my times show so I was sort of disappointed but at the same time happy because I felt good and relaxed while running.

The best part about the trip was that no matter what was going on, if we knew that Emory was competing in an event, everyone cheered and yelled for that person, no matter if they were a sprinter, jumper, mid-distance runner, long-distance runner, thrower or whatever. We all got up and yelled their name encouraging them to push a little or even just finish the race strong.

The Emory women's team can't wait for UAA this week because we have something to prove to the other teams in the conference. We are out to win and won't accept anything less than a victory. We have improved since the UAA indoor meet and we are ready and prepared. We know we can do it and we are out to prove it. So watch out, here we come.

Meghan Callier is a freshman from Atlanta, Ga. She would love to answer e-mail questions from Emory recruits and fans.