NCAA
Track and Field Championship is on at Hayward Field, Eugene. Eugene is known as
Tracktown USA. Internationally known
track-star Steve Prefontaine has definitely made his fame here. Olympic Trial
was held here so as many other track meet events. I am not an athlete and no sports fan, but I
am sitting on the stadium and cheering for the contestants…
At
elementary school, I was the second to the tallest one in the class. When you
were tall, teacher seemed to think you are a natural athlete, I was recruited
to play various sports in track meet events. I ran 100 meter and 200 relay. I
tried Long Jump, High Jump and even Discus. I don’t recall if I was good at
anything and I have never liked PE class. I was not created to use muscle. I am
sure of that.
My
husband and older daughter are buddies because they love sports. They can sit at football stadium for 3-4
hours sweating or freezing, but I would rather do something else at home
comfort. I went with them every once a while when there was a spare ticket just
to get a little taste of it. If you want me to buy a ticket for that, forget
it, no way. But, I actually agreed for
my husband to get a ticket for me to go to NCAA Track and Field race this time.
He has successfully convinced me that there are photography opportunities.
Since
the race started, the temperature has stayed above 80’s. I feel sorry for the
long distance runners that they have to endure more than what they would
normally do. I also adore their sportsmanship
that they don’t let weather influence their performance. There have been many new record breakers
since the race started.
This
is the first time that I tried to take sports event pictures. I don’t have
right kind of equipment nor do I have any experience. Besides, I don’t have any
credential to get into the field and get close to the action. Our seating is pretty good, but it is still too
far away to get some decent shots. We
walked around the stadium looking for good sites, but it seemed to me that all
the good entry has been listed as restricted area. Not a surprise.
Well,
I am here for photography and I have to shoot something. As I began to look for
my subjects, I was drawn to the facial expressions of the athletes and their
physical appearance, the fitness level that they have accomplished and the
beautiful gymnastic gesture they presented.
They
are so fit and so in shape. They have built up their extra-ordinary body mass
that they all look like iron man or iron woman to me. What kind of workout can
help them to accomplish to such state? I believe there is tremendous amount of
hard work, discipline and perseverance.
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| Endurance |
Track
sports are extremely fast-paced and pressure-loaded. The athletes have very
little time to figure out their move, so they have to be so well-trained as to
react simultaneously without any hesitation. It is a national championship
event. The competition is furious and athlete’s emotion is vividly shown on
their faces.
For
100 meter, I saw discipline, speed, tension and at the finish line, big relieve. For long distance runners, I witnessed discipline,
determination, endurance, persistence, and struggle. A long relieve or agony in
the end.
After they have run 5000 or 10000 meters under scorching sun, they
will embrace that ecstasy in the end if they win or let out their agony if they
fail. There is triumph and the other is desperation.
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| Keep up stable pace (long distance running) |
Another thing I noticed, the audience gives applause when the winner achieves the goal and they also applaud to the losers to lift up their spirit and help them to fulfill their sportsmanship, to the finish the race regardless.
Win or lose, it is just the name of the game. But when sports becomes a business, it is a competition. All the athletes have worked extremely hard and struggled in order to come to their skill level. They are all determined to win and that makes the event exciting.
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| Best Strength |
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| Breaking Point (to be No.1) |
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| Women Relay |
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| Women Huddles |
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