A couple of weekends ago I went back to USC to celebrate our winning of a National Championship, as we were presented with our rings at the football game versus Colorado.
And that got me thinking.
While I’ve mentioned in countless blog posts before about how winning that National Championship was a cherry on top to my collegiate career– I’ve never taken the time to really delve into how it all went down.
And while you might’ve seen (I mean, who hasn’t?) that incredible 4×4 and anchor leg run by Kendall Ellis (s/o to my Freshman year roomie)– there was so much more that went into that cinematic finish and ultimately those 53 points.
Much like every other team entering Eugene that weekend in June, the goal was to win a National Championship.
But we all know how that goes– it’s much easier to say that you’re going to do something than it is to actually go out there and do it.
And if you know anything about the sport of track and field– it can be really hard to predict the outcome of a meet, because there are so many different variables that can affect how someone performs on a given day.
Thus, on a team level it makes it that much harder to predict what can happen- as each individual person needs to perform at their best to ultimately come together and win the overall title.
13 of us entered Hayward Field over the course of 2 days, with the shield on our chest, and the goal to do just that– compete at our best, score high, and bring home the trophy.
And while I could give you a recap about what happened and how those 53 points came to be– that’s already been done before.
Instead, I thought it would be better to write about the most impactful lessons I took away– not only from competing myself– but also from watching my talented teammates compete over the course of those 2 days.
Lesson #1: When Everyone Counts You Out– Count Yourself In
This was probably my favorite moment to witness at NCAA’s (even though– like everyone else– I still can’t get enough of that 4×4): Angie Annelus winning the 200. From going into the finals seeded 5th, while also being in a race with the Indoor 200m NCAA Champion– not many people would’ve predicted Angie to win.
Yet she did.
Despite what anyone else in the race had done– or what any spectator, coach, or even other athletes had said.
It was ultimately her belief in herself and the execution of the talent she knew she’d always had within her that allowed her to overcome what others may have not thought was possible.
And while it may not be winning an NCAA 200m title– being cognisant of the abilities you know you have inside of you despite what others may say is a skill that is transferable to all areas of life.
Because the fact of the matter is, people will always have something to say.
The important thing to remember, however, is that despite the opinions of others– what you do throughout your lifetime will be defined by your own actions.
Had the 200 meter final been decided by the opinions of analysts, spectators, or even other athletes and coaches– there would’ve been no reason for any of the women to line up and race.
But that’s the beauty of sports– and even life– we have the opportunity to compete.
Therefore when given the opportunity– next time consider– why can’t it be you?
It sure was for Angie.
Lesson #2: Life Isn’t About Waiting for the Storm to Pass– It’s About Learning to Dance in the Rain (Literally)
If you’ve ever been to Eugene in June (or pretty much any other time of the year)– it would be naive of you not to prepare for a little bit of rain.
Yet, no one could have prepared for the torrential downpour that occurred during the women’s 100m finals– so much so that many of the athletes couldn’t see in front of them due to all of the rain.
In what was the most important race of their collegiate season, these women were faced with a literal storm in their way.
Regardless of the weather, however, the gun was going to go off– and these athletes were going to need to compete.
Compete so much that one hundredth of a second separated TeeTee Terry from finishing 4th instead of 3rd– which would have costed us a point, where we no longer won the title.
Much like the rain that plagued both TeeTee and Deanna (who was 7th– more crucial points for us) during that 100m final– life will always throw adversity at you during what you may think is supposed to be a perfect moment.
And while you may not necessarily be able to rid yourself of the adversity in that moment– you can, however, choose how you will respond to it.
I hope you decide to dance in the rain!
Lesson #3- Things May not Always Work out the Way You had Intended– For Good Reason
The beauty of a sport like track and field is that for the most part (discounting relays and team scores)– it’s individual.
No matter what a coach, teammate, or even a family member tells you to do– ultimately it’s up to you to go out there and do it.
And as a result, no one else can be held accountable for your performance besides you.
Thus, when you intend to go out and execute something– whether it be to qualify for the next round, execute technique or a race plan, or simply win– recovering from failing to execute can be a difficult and lonely process.
Anna Cockrell missed qualifying for the 100m hurdle final by 3 one thousandths of a second.
Expected to make the final– it was surely not her intent to get 9th and miss out on making the final by such a slim margin.
Kendall Ellis came in 2nd in the open 400m despite being the reigning NCAA indoor 400m champion.
She had intended to win.
Now you’re probably wondering why I’m bothering to write about the things that both of these incredibly talented teammates of mine DIDN’T do.
And the reason I’m doing that, is because it is the things they want on to do– despite these disappointments– that provide us all with something we can learn from and be inspired by.
Anna Cockrell ran a season best and placed 2nd in the 400m hurdles final.
Kendall Ellis (well– we all know what she did!!) went on to run an incredible final leg of the 4×4 to secure us the National Title (that just so happened to also go viral and receive praise from the likes of athletes like Kobe Bryant)
Despite not doing what they had intended to do in their other events, both Anna and Kendall were able to regather their composure and focus on the next task they needed to accomplish.
Would it have been nice if they had set out and did all they’d expected to do?
Of course it would have.
But sometimes God– and life– have greater plans.
Yet, we can only amount to these greater plans by learning to let go of what we no longer can control and investing ourselves in what we can.
So while the beginning of the story might not be what you’d intended to write– it doesn’t mean that the ending can’t be even better.
Lesson #4- Your Past Doesn’t Have to Define You
As I’ve said in countless other posts– I didn’t qualify for Nationals until my senior year.
Thus, with only one shot at being an All American and contributing to our team score, I intended to make the most of it.
Yet, after 2 rounds of jumps– I was 24cm short of making the final. (For those of you unfamiliar with long jump– we get 3 initial attempts and must place in the top 9 to get 3 more in the final)
The Mady I was for 3 and a half years at USC would’ve probably crumbled under the pressure.
In that moment stepping on the runway to take my 3rd attempt– I even thought about what it would have felt like if I had just settled for the place I was in.
I had made it this far– 2nd team All American would’ve been a great accomplishment.
Yet, I could no longer settle.
I decided I would no longer be the athlete who ‘almost’ did something.
I was going to do it.
And I did.
I jumped 24cm further (exactly) and made the final.
Yet, the horrible thing about field events at NCAAs is that they qualify 9 people (instead of 8 like they do in the running events).
Thus, making the final does not ensure that you will be an All American and score (top 8 are All-Americans).
And while I had qualified for the final in 8th, similar to my position in the prelim, I was bumped to 9th going into the 6th round.
Again, I had one opportunity to make what I had worked so hard for happen.
Thoughts of the jumper I was began to creep in– much like in the prelims.
But I decided not to let them.
Just because I had never been to Nationals, was never an All American, or had never jumped what I did during that 6th round (wind-legal at least)– didn’t mean I couldn’t do it in that moment.
I took 8th place, became an All American, and contributed 1 point toward the team title.
And while all of that was great— More importantly, I learned that the athlete I had been– and all of the adversity I had been faced with for three and a half seasons at USC no longer mattered.
All that mattered was what I did in that moment.
But that’s the beauty of sports– and life– one moment can transform all of your disappointments into a path that leads you to your greatest success.
The key is being able to have the courage to let go of who you once were and make room for the person you were meant to be.
Lesson #5- It’s not Over Until It’s Over
By the title, you probably already know what this lesson was inspired by.
It was the 4×4– let alone the race– heard and seen around the world.
One of the greatest comebacks in sports history.
A race that everytime it came up on my timeline I felt compelled to watch.
Not because it was the moment that secured us the National Championship.
Or because Kendall was able to overcome the Purdue runner despite a 20m (or more) deficit.
But because it serves as a good reminder to stay the course.
All 3 runners (Kyrah Constantine, Anna Cockrell, and Deanna Hill) had to do their job before Kendall was able to get the baton.
Bit by bit– they each played a role in setting each other up to have the best chance to execute their leg.
Yet, as has been a common theme in the other portions of this post– things don’t always go the way you intend them to.
After a bobble of the baton between the 3rd and 4th exchange– it seemed as though Kendall was too far behind to close and win.
And since you’ve all seen the video (I’m assuming– but honestly who hasn’t?)– the announcers even make note of the fact that there is no way USC will win.
But what’s the lesson here?
It’s not over until it’s over.
No matter how big of a deficit you feel life has thrown your way– there is always a way to make it up.
And while it may not take you 49 seconds (like it did Kendall) to overcome your deficit– by working consistently each day, the gap will slowly fade, and you’ll find yourself that much closer to achieving your goals.
So whether it’s winning a National Championship, getting an A in a class, or accepting a promotion at your job– take a step back to consider all that you can learn from achieving that monumental feat.
I learned so much from those 53 points.
Sending you all time to celebrate and reflect upon major goals you’ve achieved this week!!
Until Next Time–
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