University of the District of Columbia Cross Country and Track & Field Head Coach Alton McKenzie recently traveled to London to watch the 2012 Olympic Games. He chronicles his experiences during the week ending Sunday, August 5th in this week’s Firebird Blog.
Tuesday July 31st, 2012
After my six-hour flight, I spend the day adjusting to the new time zone and cold (yet sunny) weather. Started putting plans in place to get Athletics (that would be Track & Field in our country) tickets. I know it will be a major task, but hope springs eternal! I secured tickets for Boxing on Thursday and Basketball on Friday prior to getting “across the pond.” Wednesday has been designated “sight-seeing day” and I plan on watching some Olympics while at it. They say it rains everyday here but so far so good. It will rain for 20 minutes, then it’s nice and sunny weather by the evening. There is word of chaos and large crowds and ridiculous queues (lines as we say back in America), but I’ll deal with whatever I have to. I’m here, so what’s the use of complaining. I’m here to enjoy the Olympics!!
Wednesday August 1st, 2012
Tower of London tour…and a date with the Olympic rings on the London Bridge. Still no athletic tickets, but there is hope. The weather cooperates yet again. Sunny and chilly, but we’ll take sunny London over rainy London any day. I got a tip that the French House (Clubs hosting fans of Team France…central location; most countries have a “House” here at the Olympics) will be releasing tickets for sale at 10:00am on Thursday. The online process of attempting to get tickets has been nerve wracking, so word of tickets being available to purchase in person sparks serious interest. My plan is to arrive first thing in the morning at Billingsgate Market, right off the Tower Hill Tube Station.
Thursday August 2nd, 2012:
Arrived at Billingsgate Market and I’m about the 1,000th person to get there. No tickets will be purchased for Track and Field today…but there’s still hope. First day of Track & Field is Friday, so no panic just yet. After all, I have tickets for boxing tonight. I’ll get in some way or another! Meanwhile, we enjoy watching tons of boxing…eight fights in total (though only three-round fights). Thoroughly enjoyable Olympic experience, even though there were two losses for TEAM USA and one for TEAM GB (that would be Great Britain). Heard there was some chaos at the train station, but I didn’t see any. My commute was a piece of cake.
Friday August 3rd, 2012:
Boxing at Olympic Park will be the highlight of my day…heading over at noon for the 2:30pm start since the Tube is supposed to be a nightmare. Well, once more the commute was a piece of cake. After all, I’m from NYC…I can handle crowds on a train! Very crowded, but we’re in and very happy to see how splendid Olympic Park is. We walk in and see the Olympic Stadium, which is a 30-minute walk from the basketball arena. Olympic Park is stunning – it’s the place where the majority of the Olympic action takes place. But before we get to the basketball arena I spot a TV camera close to the basketball venue. We are passing by at 2:00pm London time…which is 9:00am in the US, and suddenly I realize it’s THE TODAY SHOW! And guess who was in the background waving with his UDC Track t-shirt on?? Your’s truly! Me and Al Roker go way back…at least that’s how it would seem from the picture. 🙂
Oh, yeah, and there’s still a basketball game to watch! Brazil vs. Canada – not necessarily the most high-powered matchup, but a very exciting game, nonetheless. Team Canada pulled off the upset over Brazil, 79-73 in a very competitive battle. We also get to see Turkey pummel China, 82-55. Blowout, but an Olympic experience to cherish.
Still no Athletics tickets, but hope still springs eternal…still, I form a back-up plan to watch Track & Field on a jumbotron in Hyde Park just in case. Not a terrible option, but Super Saturday (with 25 gold medals to be awarded) in Olympic Park is a must. Some way or somehow, I will get into the stadium. 🙂
Saturday August 4th, 2012:
Dubbed “Super Saturday,” Track & Field is welcomed with earnest, with the start of the 100M (men and women) event. Several Finals are on tap for Saturday an
d Team GB is eagerly anticipating the medal hopes for their biggest stars. Jessica Ennis in the Heptathlon, Mo Farah in the 10,000M and Greg Rutherford in the Men’s Long Jump.
Words can’t describe my emotions….without getting into all the details, I somehow managed to get a ticket for the evening Session of Track & Field. All I will say is – it is great to have really really good friends in lots of different places.
I have been blessed to witness what’s been described the greatest day in Athletics in Great Britian’s history. For the first time in history, Team GB wins three Gold Medals in one day.
Jessica Ennis- With a roar from the stadium which could be felt at Trafalgar Square, she closes out her seven events in the Heptathlon with a tremendous performance to win the 800M even though she didn’t need to win after mounting an insurmountable lead in the first six events.
After Jessica Ennis closed the show in the Heptathlon with yet another dominant performance, British Long Jumper Greg Rutherford wins with a surprising 8.31M.
Mo Farah- First British man to win the 10,000M in the Olympic games. AND, I can happily say I was there to witness it…shouting “Come on Mo!!” for the last 500M (which took roughly over one minute). The roar from the crowd the last three laps was deafening when Mo Farah crossed the line to claim the title. Fittingly, US distance runner Galen Rupp earned a silver medal for Team USA (Rupp is Farah’s training partner).
Sunday August 5th, 2012:
Who would think Super Saturday could be topped? Chances are it will be, with the Men’s 100M Final slated for 9:50pm. Everyone in London who can will be somewhere watching the most anticipated 100M Final in decades (some may say ever). Will Usain Bolt become a legend, or will he be upstaged by his upcoming training partner Yohan Blake.
But the bigger question facing me before the event was where was I going to watch this historic event? Ultimately I decided to watch it with 100,000 of my closest friends in Hyde Park. BT London Live came through big time to provide an unbelievable experience. Maybe we were not as loud as those in the Olympic Stadium, but I believe the level of excitement was matched.
All questions were answered in 9.63 seconds in a new Olympic Record (and 2nd fastest time in history) by Usain Bolt, who can now officially be recognized as a sprinting legend. He was followed in second by Blake, who equaled his personal best of 9.75. American Tyson Gay just missed out on the medals, finishing fourth in 9.80 (Season’s Best). My coaching instincts says Tyson may have gotten that bronze with a better lean, but remarkable performance for someone who ran his first race of the season in June after hip surgery last year. But the night belonged to Bolt…and Jamaica. Great Independence gift with Jamaica celebrating their 50th Year of Independence on August 6th.
Jamaica House will be my next stop, first thing Monday afternoon. Now it’s time to get some sleep after one of the best weekends in my life as a sports fan, and of course a track enthusiast and Coach. I have witnessed Word Records before, but what I’ve felt in London this past weekend has been unbelievable. I will try to sleep but it won’t be easy!
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