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Lauren Rain Williams of Oaks Christian Team USA Diary - IAAF World Youth Championships 2015

Published by
DyeStatCAL.com   Jul 14th 2015, 9:30pm
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Team USA Diaries -- IAAF World Youth Championships

 

Lauren Rain Williams of Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)

 

This has been by far one of the best trips of my life. I'm just so thankful for the support from my family, friends and all my teammates. The experience has been full of amazing memories and many learning experiences. I feel so blessed because this is really a dream come true.

Being able to hold the flag and take pictures with my teammate made it well worth the wait. I was so proud of not only myself, but Candace Hill as well. She's an amazing person on and off that track and it was a privilege to be able to call her my teammate.

Shortly after taking a few pictures with the flag we went straight to medal stand. When my name was called, I tripped trying to get up onto the podium. I laughed while doing it because I knew something like that would happen because I'm so clumsy at the wrong moments. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic feeling receiving my medal and seeing all my teammates cheering me on. Just being able to finish my season going sub-23 (in the 200) and having a new wind-legal PR made all the hard work I put in from a year ago worth it.

The athletes' party was really fun seeing everyone from he different countries in regular clothes and just having a great time. The music they played was mostly in Spanish, but once in a while they would play song in English and I was surprised at how everyone would sing the lyrics even if they couldn't speak English. I wasn't able to trade anything because I didn't bring my stuff the last day, but my teammate Cory Poole gave me a Jamaica rain jacket which I really appreciated because it was his only item from a different country and he gave it to me.

Our final day in Colombia was very bittersweet because the trip was coming to an end, but it was good because I was starting to get homesick. The whole team was able to relax and we had a party for Coach Morgan because it was her birthday. We went swimming, sat in the sauna, and just partied all day. Later on that night, we had our final team meeting congratulating everyone for their hard work.

We left the next day at 3 a.m. for the airport and everyone was so tired from partying that night. I started to realize that the trip was truly ending once we got to the airport. It made me kind of sad knowing that I won't see some of them for a while. Once we got to Miami everyone was so glad to be back in the states mostly because they were able to have (cell) service again. After going through the long customs process we got onto another plane going back to Chicago. About 10 members of the team went directly home that night, but the rest of us stayed in a hotel until the next morning.

Our final night together we all played games and reminisced on the whole trip in general. We also made a group chat with almost all the team so we could stay in contact. When I had to say goodbye to the team, I began to tear up because they had become family to me. This team has been such a great support system and it was a pleasure getting to know each of them for 3 1/2 weeks. The unity this team had was indescribable and that's what made us so cohesive to work hard and obtain 19 medals in total. Luckily some of the team will be at the Nike Elite Camp, so it will be great to see them again.

I just want to thank God, all the coaches, staff, friends, family and everyone who supported Team USA from Colombia or from the states. It was truly appreciated.

 

July 17

These last two days have certainly gone by very quickly. A lot of medals have been earned and being able to be a spectator to some of the events have been really fun to watch. For instance, Jayla Kirkland and Candace Hill's 100 final, since it was so late at night I returned to the hotel and I was able to watch it from my TV. I was so proud of both of them and also nervous watching as well.

One thing that I appreciate the most being on this team is the support we all receive after finishing a race. Since Team USA sits at the finish line they are the first people I hear after I run and the first people I see as well. It's so nice to know that no matter how well or poorly I do that my team will still be proud of me and congratulate me no matter what. That's what truly makes this team special because of the bond we share with each other and the genuine love we have for one another.

My races have been going very well so far. I like the way I've executed the 1st round and the semifinal and I'm extremely excited to run the finals. Everything has really come together in terms of how I'm running the race and I feel great. I'm hoping to go sub-23 today.

Seeing all my teammates receive their flags and do their victory lap has made me a little bit jealous because I've had to wait so long, but I'm glad the time is finally here. Being able to wear the flag is something I'm most looking forward to because that's the moment when you realize all your hard work has paid off and it seems like the most rewarding part.

 

July 15

Today was my last training day with a few other of my teammates. I can definitely say I'm well prepared and extremely excited to run. Just seeing some of my teammates prepare for their races today has made me even more anxious to run.

I wasn't able to watch some of my teammates run in the morning, but I was able to see their times, and I'm very proud to see them advance to the next round.

It is amazing to see how fascinated the other countries are with the USA. We are treated like celebrities here and I'm so grateful to be on such an amazing team like this one.

In the evening the whole team went to the track to watch a few people compete and the most outstanding performance was from my own teammate Adrian "Tripp" Piperi who won the shot put in his second throw. When he threw 22 meters all of the team stood up and screamed because we knew that was the farthest throw and had moved up to first.

On his 6th and final throw he once again threw 22 meters and Team USA went crazy because he had won the competition and become the World Youth Leader. It was such an exciting, emotional moment and I was so proud of him because he had worked so hard and really did his best today. Once he went to the medal stand, watching him get the first gold medal of this competition was so inspiring and motivating. It has makes me 100 times more excited to run the 200 on Friday.

The team spirit we had not just for Tripp, but for everyone who ran today was just amazing. We screamed and lost our voice for every single one of our teammates. We were definitely the loudest people in our section. I'm just so blessed to call all these great athletes my teammates because I'm beyond proud of the performances today and I can't wait to see what will happen in the progression of the meet.

 

July 14

My experience on Team USA has been absolutely wonderful. It feels like I've known my teammates since forever and I think we've established a great bond. I personally think this is one of the greatest teams I've ever been on and I'm just so blessed to be apart of it. I think what has made this such an enjoyable experience so far has been the coaching staff who have helped us so much and have been very supportive and motivating.

 

Training camp in Chicago was really fun because every day was different and exciting. The team played card games, listened to music, danced, and we got to learn more about each other besides the track aspect of us.

 

That really was a foundation as to why we are so close now that we are in Colombia. We've gotten to eat amazing food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and we've gotten to explore some of Cali. I've also been able to meet some people from a few countries likes France, Great Britain, and Colombia to name a few. It's so cool to see people and ask about what it's like to live in their countries and the similarities and differences.

 

The best part of this experience so far is when we exit the practice stadium and we say our USA chant it makes me so ready to compete not only for myself, but for my country. Just to be on a team with such amazing athletes and people as well has made this trip so memorable and this is definitely something I will cherish dearly and miss when I head home after the meet is over.

 

Looking forward to my first round of the 200 on July 17 (Friday). I feel very prepared and ready to compete. I haven't really felt nervous yet, but I'm sure it will come within the next few days. Looking at the stadium it reminds me of an Olympic like stadium and it's a dream come true to be able to compete here with 150 other countries, which is hard to even believe. I'm excited to see what the next few days have in store!



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