PORTLAND, HERE WE COME!!!!!

My indoor season wasn't going exactly as expected. I had a lot of fun traveling, seeing friends, and experiencing the incredible energy of an indoor track. However, my marks weren't anywhere near where I was hoping. My goal was to qualify for nationals with an auto-qualifying mark (6.20m). My jumps had been pretty far off of that and I thought my chances of getting into the meet had melted just like the snow in Boise.  *Josh's interjection: I don't think the snow has melted in Boise yet.*

A shot from our last "indoor" meet... We were a little confused when we showed up...

On a long shot, Josh convinced me to still submit my mark for the meet. "Why not," he said. "What do you have to lose?"

So I did. I applied to enter the meet with no expectation of having my entry accepted.

I did my final declarations on Monday (the 7th) and the website still said 'unaccepted'. We resigned ourselves to going to Davis for the Aggie Open (ok, so we were actually looking forward to running at Davis again) and potentially trudging through the rain (not excited about the rain, though).

On a whim, I looked at the USATF website on Tuesday morning (the 8th) and wouldn't you know, this is what I saw..

Luckily, not too many people were in the office yet because I think I shrieked, just a little bit, out of surprise!!!!! I immediately started messaging Josh, freaking out.

"Laura Rombach

omg

omg

omg

i got into usatf

!!!!!!!

holy crap!!!!!

hello?

you there?" 

Eventually, he got my messages and we started making plans for our last minute trip up to Portland, my goal for the whole indoor season. Oh, and by the way, the meet is this Saturday, the 12th.

And needless to say, I am super excited! As Coach Dee would say, "I punched my ticket", even if it wasn't in a way I expected.

However, I'm also freaking out. I have been to countless meets over the past 15 years that I have been competing, been to multiple cities and states, all kinds of weather conditions and altitudes. I've never been to a meet that is on this scale. Never been to a meet with cameras before, and a background check, and potential for being drug tested. It is certainly going to be an experience!!! I'm going to try not to cry before I'm done jumping. :D

For those of you interested, they're going to be streaming the meet at USATF.tv (http://www.usatf.tv/gprofile.php?do=view_event&event_id=25&mgroup_id=45365&year=2016)

I'm pretty sure it is free, long jump is at 2:45 on Saturday afternoon. 

*Josh's interjection part deuce: And if you can't watch the meet, or they don't show her at all on tv, here is some last minute "cramming for the final" from yesterday, just pretend the track is green and it is totally the same thing: 

*

Another former aggie teammate, Sirena, is competing in the 60 hurdles. Be sure to look out for her! First round is at 2 on Friday. Next round is at 2:30 on Saturday.

Wish us luck!!

And to my family in the Portland area, I'm so excited to get to see you guys!! :D

And to my fellow Aggies, Josh and I will be back in Davis on Sunday in time to attend Coach V's memorial service. What a bittersweet ending to an emotional weekend!! For those of you who don't know, my UC Davis long jump coach (and co-head coach), Coach V passed away a few weeks ago. His voice will certainly be in my head as I head out there on Saturday. "We're gonna go out there... And we're gonna do this... And we're gonna go up!" (Wish I could show you the arm gestures that went along with this...) 

*Josh's interjection part tres: Some other former Aggies set up a memorial fund, which establishes a scholarship in his name. You can donate at this link.*