course.
He had that look.
The one every athlete knows. The one that tells you great things are going to happen today. It’s like all the stars aligned and everything’s come together for that moment. Training, mental focus, determination, everything had found its way into a tunnel vision focus no one could steer you from.
Jani couldn’t wait to watch him race.
To be an amazing athlete who could compete at a national or international level didn’t necessarily mean you only have to train harder and longer than others. You need to train, but it isn’t the only make-you-or-break-you thing. An athlete needs to address all the components that make up a successful athletic performance – the mental as well as physical. You can’t compete with an empty head, the mental skills had to be included in your training and conditional training as well. However, there were also those times when your mind makes your body believe you are invincible. A high no drug or chemical can create. Your proper-mindset creates it and when it happens, you believe nothing is impossible.
Carter had that look.
Even some of the other competing school athletes could tell. They seemed to shift away from him and his own teammates had given him space and weren’t talking to him. As his group of eight swimmers moved to the starting blocks, Jani’s eyes travelled to the large screen to see what race he would be doing. It was the two hundred yard butterfly. The meet record time showed in the top right corner: 1:43.04. It also showed NCAA Division I A and B standards: 1:42.85 and 1:47.99.
If Carter wanted to make NCAA’s automatic standard he would have to break the meet record. She had no idea if the meet record time was any good, but based on records, it seemed like a mighty challenge. She figured if he was close to the record, he had a good chance of qualifying for NCAAs. Not everyone made A standard in track, it was probably the same for swimming.
She sat down and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as the swimmers took their marks. She tried to watch the other swimmers but her gaze stayed focussed on Carter, her fingers on her Ironman watch, ready to time him and see if he made it. “Come on, Carter. Come on!” she whispered under her breath.
The horn sounded and the competitors dove in long fluid motions into the pool. They had that unique ability to ripple underwater before their heads and strong arms surfaced out of the water in powerful butterfly strokes. Carter was half a length ahead of the next swimmer when they surfaced. He was almost a full length after the first turn. Jani checked her watch and did the math, he was definitely on NCAA pace.
“Redcoats! Redcoats!” echoed through the crowd. Jani heard Carter’s name cheered as well. She was on the edge of her seat, screaming on his final turn. She loved it!
Carter was going to win the race, no doubt there. Now it was a matter of watching the clock to see his time.
Jani hit her watch to stop timing when Carter’s hand touched the pool. She checked it and compared it to the times showing up on the scoreboard. It would be corrected to the hundredth when the photo finish was confirmed but the time had the crowd erupting in screams.
He’d clocked 1:40.02. NCAA standard and barely half a second slower than the NCAA record according to the results on the large screen. Jani may not know a ton about swimming but she knew his time was kick-ass. She jumped up and down, screaming and cheering because she was so excited for him. He had no idea she was there but it didn’t matter. She would surprise him when he finished racing. She knew he still had the relay to compete in as well.
The relay race started about an hour later. The University of Gatica won thanks to an awesome leg by Carter. Jani raced down to the lobby area where she hoped the swimmers would come out of when they had changed. She didn’t see their school’s bus parked among the others in the front but because
He had that look.
The one every athlete knows. The one that tells you great things are going to happen today. It’s like all the stars aligned and everything’s come together for that moment. Training, mental focus, determination, everything had found its way into a tunnel vision focus no one could steer you from.
Jani couldn’t wait to watch him race.
To be an amazing athlete who could compete at a national or international level didn’t necessarily mean you only have to train harder and longer than others. You need to train, but it isn’t the only make-you-or-break-you thing. An athlete needs to address all the components that make up a successful athletic performance – the mental as well as physical. You can’t compete with an empty head, the mental skills had to be included in your training and conditional training as well. However, there were also those times when your mind makes your body believe you are invincible. A high no drug or chemical can create. Your proper-mindset creates it and when it happens, you believe nothing is impossible.
Carter had that look.
Even some of the other competing school athletes could tell. They seemed to shift away from him and his own teammates had given him space and weren’t talking to him. As his group of eight swimmers moved to the starting blocks, Jani’s eyes travelled to the large screen to see what race he would be doing. It was the two hundred yard butterfly. The meet record time showed in the top right corner: 1:43.04. It also showed NCAA Division I A and B standards: 1:42.85 and 1:47.99.
If Carter wanted to make NCAA’s automatic standard he would have to break the meet record. She had no idea if the meet record time was any good, but based on records, it seemed like a mighty challenge. She figured if he was close to the record, he had a good chance of qualifying for NCAAs. Not everyone made A standard in track, it was probably the same for swimming.
She sat down and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as the swimmers took their marks. She tried to watch the other swimmers but her gaze stayed focussed on Carter, her fingers on her Ironman watch, ready to time him and see if he made it. “Come on, Carter. Come on!” she whispered under her breath.
The horn sounded and the competitors dove in long fluid motions into the pool. They had that unique ability to ripple underwater before their heads and strong arms surfaced out of the water in powerful butterfly strokes. Carter was half a length ahead of the next swimmer when they surfaced. He was almost a full length after the first turn. Jani checked her watch and did the math, he was definitely on NCAA pace.
“Redcoats! Redcoats!” echoed through the crowd. Jani heard Carter’s name cheered as well. She was on the edge of her seat, screaming on his final turn. She loved it!
Carter was going to win the race, no doubt there. Now it was a matter of watching the clock to see his time.
Jani hit her watch to stop timing when Carter’s hand touched the pool. She checked it and compared it to the times showing up on the scoreboard. It would be corrected to the hundredth when the photo finish was confirmed but the time had the crowd erupting in screams.
He’d clocked 1:40.02. NCAA standard and barely half a second slower than the NCAA record according to the results on the large screen. Jani may not know a ton about swimming but she knew his time was kick-ass. She jumped up and down, screaming and cheering because she was so excited for him. He had no idea she was there but it didn’t matter. She would surprise him when he finished racing. She knew he still had the relay to compete in as well.
The relay race started about an hour later. The University of Gatica won thanks to an awesome leg by Carter. Jani raced down to the lobby area where she hoped the swimmers would come out of when they had changed. She didn’t see their school’s bus parked among the others in the front but because
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