Reebok GP 2009

First I owe a final update on the Brazil series.  I finished 4th in all 3 meets and I had a better meet in Belem.  I had a couple throws that were missed marked and had they been marked right I could have finished at least 2nd.  I enjoyed the competitions and the chance of throwing with Beijing medalist.Now I am finally back in the US and it was time for the Reebok meeting in New York.  We had  great field of all the top US throwers including the Gold Medalist from Beijing, Stephanie Trafton. The 1st 2 rounds were rough I was trying to get a feel for the discus.  Finally on my 3rd throw I did a couple of things right and threw 61.71 a seasons best for the year.  I ended up 2nd overall but I felt better about what I was doing and how much more there is in the tank.  I am still working on the timing of the throw.  I have a couple of more meets to work it out before USA’s.  Up next Prefontaine.ps this picture is from Rio.  I forgot to bring my camera to the meet for a new reebok picture. 

How to climb a tree in the Amazon

Aretha throwing in Belem, Brazil

Aretha throwing in Uberlandia

The famous Jesus Statue in Rio

  After the meet we took a bus load of about 40 athletes to see the statue of Christ in Rio. It was a fun adventure when we got to the bottom of the mountain the roads were to small for the bus to navigate so we had to take a small van.  After a 10 min ride up we had to switch and take a tour van to the top.  Now the last ride was the scariest part of the trip.  The drivers were flying through the tight curves and you knew that if they missed timed one we were going right off the cliff.  We made it up there and back in one piece.  The view from the mountain was spectacular, you could see all of Rio and it was breath taking.We had a good time taking pictures and helping each other find good angles for pictures.  The statue was so tall that several athletes laid on the ground so you get all the statue and  the person in the shot.  We had a mix of different countries in our group but a good time was had by all.Check out the link for more information,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_(statue)  

Aretha throwing in Rio de Janiero, Brazil

GP Rio Caixa de Atletismo Results

Today was the 1st meet of the Brazilian series and we had some loaded fields in all the events.  Several Beijing medalist are here.  In the women’s discus we had the silver and bronze medalist from Beijing as well as 3 Olympic Finalist.  Our competition started at 9 am so it took us a few rounds to really get going and get the discus out there.  I was able to improve each round and my last throw was my furthest.  I only threw 58.44meters but that placed me 4th and I beat the bronze medalist.  One of my training partners, Cory Martin is here as and he finished 5th in the hammer and had a seasons best throw.  Well rest up from this meet and then we compete again on Wednesday.  Next stop is Uberlandia, BrazilClick here for full results, http://www.iaaf.org/gp09/results/area/eventcode=4214/index.html