Beach flags heats are always the most frustrating at Aussies. They are normally all scheduled on one day. Taking the competitors down to a final of eight. I woke up on Friday morning knowing that by the end of the day the finals would be decided. Competition wasn’t starting till 2pm. This alone made me wonder if we would even get the heats finished. Most competitors would agree that it was a long agonising day. The sleep in was great, but then we waited and waited. We warmed up and waited some more.
When we finally got called on to the beach arena it must have been about 3.15pm. Watsy and Dyson had gone before me in the under 19 men’s event. They were both through to the finals. Both so excited and relieved that there day was over. I wanted to be in their position. And so we waited.
By the time we got to the line it must have been about 3.50pm. All competition must stop at 4pm. After last year’s tragedy, this was a new rule implemented to avoid long tiering days on the beach. In an attempt to speed up the program 3 competitors would be eliminated per run. This was cut throat and made me nervous. I focused all my energy on pushing this aside. Instead I would just enjoy the moment and soak up the atmosphere.
Finally were on the beach, whistle blasting. Someone broke and we were called back. You can hardly blame them, after waiting all day for our first start. My start was great but we would go again. That competitor was eliminated. I was in lane one, which left me only one option, the end flag. Bang, whistle blasted again. We were up and running, so determined to get the hose that lay ahead of me! I got it! A great relief to have the first run done and dusted. Not knowing the time, the official told me that we might be finished for the day. 3.55pm. Sure enough she was right.
In a matter of moments it was all over. Although I was frustrated at the same time, a wave of relief rushed over me. The commotion that went on was quite amusing, the field of girls had only one run off and we were calling it a day. The news was that we would complete the round on Saturday after the sprints (semis and finals) and relay (semis and finals). Tomorrow was going to be a big day. The frustration of the events had put me on edge, and I tried to brush it aside. I couldn’t. I felt happy for my teammates who had made it though but couldn’t relax completely. That entire day and there we were one flag run off, with the entire event ahead of me. I keep telling myself ‘it is what it is’ and there has to be eight girls to make that final, there would be a spot in that final for me!
No comments:
Post a Comment