Thank you Mother Nature for a nasty yucky day!

All this week (and most of last week) I just had a dragging feeling that I was missing Track Season . I knew that the "Snowball Relay" would have been this past week and I wouldn't be there. I didn't want to miss track, I didn't want to miss the anticipation of each jump, I didn't want to miss watching W's excitement, I just didn't want to miss TRACK!

UNTIL ~ the weather yesterday. It was rainy, windy, bone chilling cold. I then remembered the the plastic coat and SUDDENLY I didn't really miss track anymore!

Thank you Mother Nature for helping me see things more clearly!

Honking BIG that's what it is!

W's State Champion's Track ring!

Amazingly HUGE...

here it is on my NOT man hands.

Not bad for a kid that learned to triple jump off of YouTube.

2009 State Track Meet......

this is just one side of the stadium on Friday

(which is the Prelim day for the runners....

that means that not alot of people come on Friday)

the tents are some of the team tents....

The weather was warm (90ish but not humid at all), there was an ever so slight breeze.

We (hubby, Little G, W's girlfriend Megan and I) got there around 1 to get adjusted to the place. It's sort of like a 3 ring circus, it takes some adjusting.

then W jumped at 3.

I knew I'd be nervous but also knew I couldn't pace (my usual) so I just sat as close as I could (on the front row just across the track from the pit) with my note pad and camera in hand. Just before W started jumping several of his friends came to sit with me! He had his own little cheering section. They also kept me distracted ... they'd never watched Triple jumping before and had alot of questions!

He was ranked 7th so he was in the 2nd heat, but things went quickly ...

it's state and they're organized!

the the Prelims ....

He jumped a 41'7 1/2" ~ 41'0 1/2" (those made me nervous, they were not going to be long enough to get him to the finals)

then much to my delight

(and his of course)

a personal record of 43"01/4"

He made it to the finals!

In the finals he was sitting 6th (out of 8)!

his first jump ..another personal record ... 43'10"

(WOW! If I can't pace, I certainly can't be jumping around ....sitting and screaming was all I could do), He was looking ever so cool on the other side....while his cheering section went wild!

Ok it was just me ... remember they don't know anything about triple jumping... they didn't know what that meant!

(I Know this looks like 43'1"

but the man messed up the entire board thing from the beginning and

had to yell across the track that this really was a 43'10")

He then jumped a 43'9 1/2" for his second finals jump

He flubbed his 3rd jump and didn't even care!

I was busy calculating the numbers of everyone to finally come up with ......

wait.....

Remember his plan???

He'd just keep getting 4th place all the way through to state.

If he just got to state he'd be happy......well, he took 4th in state also!

Yep ~~ He is 4th in the state.

(let me know if you'd like to see the podium picture ... it just has too much information for me to post it here)

Remember I'd said that W was in the most difficult region in the state? The 4 qualifiers from our region placed first, second, fourth and fifth! these are kids that I've watched jump practically every week this spring, I cheered for all of them (much to W's friend's amazement sometimes) but that's pretty awesome!

WE have been ever so anxiously watching the computer today at what team points were adding up to.....

**explanation for those that don't know alot about track.... each person competes individually, but depending on the end result the individual earns points for the team. ie: first place earns 10 points/2nd place earns 8 points and so forth... So W earned 4 points for the team.

W's track team has only lost one track meet this entire year

(and that one they came in 2nd to a big city school)

They ended with 66 points with the 2nd place at 40.

He'll stand on the podium again only this time in first place and with all of this buddies aka team mates!

OK I'm not going to let this go with posting his longest jump....

Headed out....

We'll head out early in the morning to

watch, cheer and enjoy W jump in the State track and field.

W left today

This event will surely be an experience for all involved. It's the largest Track and Field meet in the country. All school levels compete in the same stadium over the next 2 days. A huge stadium (as compared to the a jumping pit wedged between the back of the bleachers and a pond at one meet). Only athletes on the track and field (I'm bummed about that .... I'm always beside the pit taking pictures and listening to the jumps lengths). The weather will be 90ish (the plastic coat is staying home) with little wind (W seems to do better with some wind)

W is unbelievably excited (in a W sort of way). At this point W is ranked 7th in the state (I really question the method that they come up with the top 16 but that's a soapbox to be climbed another time). Being placed in the upper half means that he'll jump in the 2nd heat (that means that he's "not in the worst bunch" his words).

I'm excited to see him tomorrow and watch him perform.......

I'll let you know how things turn out!

He's going to STATE!

This was an amazing afternoon for W.....

He jumped his personal best of 42'11 1/4" to place 3rd in the Region! He brings home a medal .... this is when it counted and he pulled it out! He broke his 4th place routine at just the right time.

So on to State next weekend!

As I left W told me "Track meets are fun when you actually do something!"

FYI ~ his buddy Joe tripled a 47'3", that set all sorts of records ... he's an amazing boy to watch!

1st place ~ 47'3" Joe
2nd place ~ 45'11" Vernon
3rd place ~ 42'11 1/4" W
4th place ~ 42'8 1/4" Townsend
not making it state but in 5th ~ 42'7 1/4"

Made it through League......

W made it through "league" today.

Once again he placed 4th.

He is sticking to his "plan"!

Now on to regionals next Friday

Track Meet #7

It was the Track meet that I thought would never end! to make things worse I'd been on a field trip with G all day, and took him out of school just as soon as we got back to head to the track meet EARLY.

We got there right as it was starting, 3:30 and the Long Jumpers were just starting. There were 35 of them (each getting 3 jumps and then finals). The triple jumpers didn't even start until after 6. They each get 3 jumps and then finals .... but by this time they're "running" finals (and usually jumpers are runners) this means that there are long breaks for the 'running jumpers' to go run. Honestly, the jumpers were all tired by the time the finals came around.

FINALLY they announced the finals for triple jump, with W sitting in 4th place. His longest jump prior to finals as a 41'3" and that's where he stayed. It's like he's always a bridesmaid and never a bride ... He know he's not going to take first (with his buddy Joe around, who set the meet record and also broke the HS record) but he'd like to take 3rd (and a medal) every once in a while.

Even more frustrating is that we looked at the State 4A final numbers in triple jump today and he could have place 6th in the state if he could just get out of our region .... Our region takes the 5 of the top 6 spots (with our league taking the top 3 spots).... the bottom jumps of the state bracket are all much shorter than W's current numbers. Once again this year will prove to be the same. Only the top 4 from our region go on to state and W and the current #4 guy are jumping the same numbers.

Oh, this is getting stressful for the mom!
I've got to just breath deep....breath deep.....breath deep

Track Meeting #6

We saw some amazing jumps last Friday.

This track meet is very diverse, there are schools of all sizes competing 4A, 5A and 6A.

It's a good competitive meet.

Even more impressed ....

W's friend, Joe and his major competition both jump over 46 feet!

Two of the best in the State and they are both in our League!

For those of you that don't understand, that's AMAZING in High School!

W got 41' 5'

PR2X

We've seen this before! It just so happens to be the very same weekend last year, as this year. The Track meet before his birthday.

It was very windy and he gets his personal best with two jumps. Out of 4, the other were still further than he'd jumped before today, but he'd already jump his furthest jump today.... does that make sense?

Today he got 4th in the Long Jump with a 19'11 3/4" He was sitting in third (and quite excited to be sitting there) until some 'late jumper' came in and nudged him out!

Then he started triple jumping,
Jump #1 42' 4" Personal best #1
Jump #2 42' 7" Personal best #2 and still standing (jump in the above video)
Jump #3 42' 3"
Jump #4 42' 2"
He was sitting right behind his buddy Joe (who also PRed with a 44' something) in second place, until those late jumpers came , both of them jumped 43'. Which put him in 4th place again.

W shouldn't meet any of these kids in Regionals so things are still good for W's plan to make it to state. There will be a 44' jumper that he won't see until League and then another one that he won't see until Regionals. He's really counting not having any surprises! I really think he just needs to count on doing his best! and the right kind of wind!

Thursday's Track meet.....

I was in Wal-mart (at 3:05) getting a couple of snacks for G and I when I got a text from W. It said he was in the "3rd heat".... the next text..... "the 3rd heat was stacked with his team so they'd do well today." WHAT .... the track meet had already started......Just how can this be? (in track meets the field events usually start 3:30)

I was at least 30 minutes away and I still had 20 minutes until I could pick up G... and the track meet had started......

I rushed out of Wal-mart only to wait in the car line to get G... then rushed to the track meet.

You know I'd really wanted to not go to this track meet.... really just lazy.... but I was thinking of all things I could be doing, and does it really matter to W if I'm there or not? Well, I kept getting text about "Where are you, mom?" I knew he wanted me there.... I love that! I was getting updates on how much time I had until he was jumping.... but then just as I'm sitting at the last stop light in town I get the text.... "Never mind I'm jumping" WHAT did that mean?

Well, he scratched on that jump! That's what he gets for jumping without his mom there! .....actually the official was a bit whacked....alot of people were scratching and as I watched....alot of got good jumps even if their toe was over....?????

W and A with their GQ looks!

W ended up with a Long jump of 19 feet 8 inches and 41' 7 1/2"

which put him in 4th (1/4 " behind #3)

Track Meet #3 in my plastic coat

I thought I'd give the boring Track meet statics intermingled my personal issues!

Last year the afternoon before we headed for Chicago I decided I might need a rain coat! A coat, what a novel idea when heading to Chicago where the weather is just as unpredictable as it is here)! I went to Wal-mart (the closest and quickest) and purchased a rain/wind/all weather coat. Only after getting to Chicago did I realize that it was a "Plastic Coat", translation, it was HOT, it causes me to sweat. Even when I when it was tied around my waist it would do it's job and cause me to sweat around my waist! I was just a plastic coat! There are some positives.... it was good when you needed a wind coat, as the Plastic coat does break the wind and the plastic coat does prevent you from getting wet from rain. 2 positives when you need them, but once you're in from the elements, the negatives start to show! The plastic coat is uncomfortable with out RAIN and WIND!

Well, when I left to sub early yesterday morning the weather looked like a nice spring morning. The weather was suppose to get to 50ish and a chance of a storm sometime in the day. I felt like the Plastic coat would be the best choice for yesterday's track meet. ...... it didn't prove to be the best choice but I finally got it working for me.

Me in the Plastic Coat Did I mention that it has a hood, that's a plus!

I showed up with only the Plastic coat on and was freezing.... OH, did I mention that the Plastic Coat doesn't have ANY lining, no warmth AT ALL! I was quickly turning into a Popsicle! It looked like W wouldn't be jumping for a while... so G and I grabbed a bag of popcorn (can I just say that popcorn and this don't really go together)and headed for the warmth of the car. Can you see what's coming? Once you remove the elements the plastic Coat turns me into a sweat box! After several minutes I realized that this would never due.... I searched the car for something, anything... to help me out ..... I finally found a fleece jacket (left over from the last track meet), put that on under the plastic coat and I'm saved! I'll cut this short by saying that before the night was over I also drug out a blanket for extra warmth.

G under the blanket playing his DS
It was 50 degrees with an unbelievably strong wind, at times I had to brace myself to be blown over.

this Track Meet had schools from south of us and from the neighboring state. They're were some good jumpers.

W ended up 6th in the long jump with a 19' 10".

They'd just announced the final jumpers (he just barely made the finals in the 7th place with a jump of 39' 10 3/4") for the triple jump when the called for the track meet due to weather.

We had stood outside from 3:45 until 7:10.... we were wind whipped!

At that time there was just wind, but the storms moved in about an hour later.

Once again it was several hours before I was warm.... even with a simple supper of hot soup and grilled cheese!

Track Meet #2

Not as many layers but still layers

Not as windy but still windy

Not as chilly, but still chilly

Track Meet #2

The Triple Jump he got 4th with a jump of 40' 5"

in the Long Jump he got 7th place with a jump of 19' 5"

Brrr

I'll post about tonight's track meet

(the first and appropriately named "the Snowball Relays")

when I've thawed out!

I stood outside for 3 3/4 hours. It was about 43 degrees with a strong wind. As I have learned once you're frozen, you might as well just be out side because you really can't feel it anymore! Or at least that's what I kept telling myself!

I got home just before 8 and it was around 2am before

I found myself warm enough to kick the blankets off!

OH, the track meet stuff.... you want to hear about THAT!?

Long Jump

This is a big track meet (people wise), basically everyone gets to go and their place/time at the end of the night places them on Varsity or Junior Varsity.

W was very anxious to jump. After working out all winter he
felt like he could do great things jumping this year.

He placed 4th in the Long Jump

(an event that he hasn't done in a couple of years andNEVER jumped that far or placed this high)

with a 19' 9"

Then had a disappointing triple jump with 36 something
(he scratched his first and last attempt so he only got one good jump)

He placed 7th

Saturday Scoreboard

Little G's basketball game looked more evened out today, size wise.
They still lost BUT G made a great assist on the only 2 points they scored!

W travel a couple of hour south for an indoor track meet. Hubby and I both thought it was not worth him going but let him make the decision. He as been working out all winter and even though he hasn't been jumping or even working out his 'steps' he wanted to see what he could jump! He jumped a 39'9 and missed making the finals by an half an inch!

Hubby's team (without W) won their game.

League Track Meet

First let me just say that this having a track meet on Thursday has thrown my whole day off. The weather was perfect, just a gentle breeze. My face didn't get wind burnt this time but got a little sun burnt! My lips just can't get a break during track season!

W placed 5th in the League with a jump of 39'03". He was disappointed in himself, thinking that he could have done better. Hey! he was ranked 7th in the League before today!

The first place jump was a 44', the kid did it on his first jump and then didn't jump anymore! He was an amazing jumper.

1st D 44'
2nd D 42'03+"
3rd L 42'03"
4th E 40'07"
5th P 39'03"

On to Regional next FRIDAY!

Track Meet by the Numbers

25 School buses in the parking lot
I was there 2 hours before W's first jump
it was 60 degrees when I arrived
the wind was strong at about 30 mph
one school drove 6 hours to get there
we drove 30 minutes
3 1/2 hours G played Game boy under a blanket
W is ranked 3rd in the tri-county
W jumped a 39'10"
Kid from L jumped 39'10 1/2"
it was 40 degrees when I left
thankful for 3 layers of clothing
Wind still blowing at about 30 mph
Total hours G played Game boy 4
W placed 3rd
6 days to the League Track Meet
15 days to regional track Meet
21 days to the State Track Meet
1 Mom that prays he'll do his best

W's personal best 3x over

Last Friday W tripled jump his personal best 3 times. He was thrilled when he broke his best jump the first time but then was beyond thrilled as he continued to go further than he'd dreamed of jumping. I got video of his jumps but really wished I'd gotten video of his reaction as they read off his lengths! He was jumping and hollering, he kept going back to ask the record keeper what the length was! He was fun!

I'll have the numbers for you when he gets home! and maybe even the video of the longest jump!

**His longest jump was 41feet 2.25inches. He says you don't need to see another video!**

Hump day Updates

This week started out in my mind as one that I'd get alot done around here, but things haven't worked out that way, thus far.

I have been working on getting hubby's new van licenced and then converted for him to drive. The conversion was a 5 hour appointment, but I just stayed in the city and wasted time, and not too much $. But still it was time away from home not getting the things done that I wanted to get done. It's all done (at least for this week) and hubby drove off in his new van for the first time this morning!

W's Madrigal (singing) group went to an area college yesterday to be critiqued yesterday. This group is getting ready to go to competition in Chicago so they're getting professional tips! As I've said before W lives in the minute and loved the trip, and is pumped about going to the competition, even though he knows they need to work hard before going. Knowing their music director they'll be right where they're supposed to be in Chicago!

W's track experience is going well, all of the track coaches from last year retired so there is new blood in the track program. This is exciting for everyone involved as the new coaches are mixing things up in a effort to take 1st place in state this year (they placed 2nd last year). W, who hasn't done track events in a couple of years will be running the 4x400 in addition to his long jump and triple jump. The first track meet will RIGHT after spring break!

Hump Day Up dates

This week G has been finding hubby right after school to wrestle. On Monday afternoon I heard G go into the bedroom and say "OK Ol' man are you ready for me?" then the tickles, giggles and f**ting started! yes, you read that right, much to this mother's dismay part of the wrestling match for G is the F**ting and how much he can produce! It must be a boy thing or at least it's a G thing!

Believe it or not Track pre season has started. W has worked out through the winter and now is enjoying the ease of the pre track workouts. He's not as sore or winded as his buddies! W will jump the long jump and the triple jump this year. This boy loves whatever sport he's in at the moment. When his into it there isn't any other sport he'd rather be doing. I love this about him. On the first day of track workouts - I got a text after the work out that simply said "I Love Track".

Hubby and I purchased a new van yesterday. We signed and signed but in the end we have to wait for a week for the van to be transported from Sheboygan! Hubby will have his van next week!

G has checked out a cook book from his school library and has been trying new recipes -- he has one success -- party punch (frozen lemon aid and cherry juice) and one dud -- S'mores. The rest of the family enjoyed the S'mores but G really just liked the Hersey bar!