ON THE TRACK: SPRINTER GEORGE ERAZO'S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP DIARY - 5-22

Posted: May 23, 2014

George Erazo of the St. Thomas Aquinas Men's Track & Field team is in Allendale, Michigan for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Today, Erazo recaps his experience.

Day 3: Thursday, May 22

It is race day on day three here at Grand Valley State University. This is the day I have been training hard all year for. Just have to stay relaxed and run my race. I am the underdog coming into this event. I have to keep fighting against the odds. We get to the meet, and just like always I warm-up and stretch like I always have before. My event is finally called and that's when my nerves finally hit me. I walk to the starting line with my heart racing as if I have already ran. But had to keep in mind your here, just run your race and have fun with it. I set my blocks and wait for the started for the commands. "On your mark", I get into my block and block out all noise and wait to hear him say "Set". I take a deep breath and wait for the gun go off. "BANG", the gun goes off and so are we. I had a good start, I got out really well but sad to say come to 250 meter mark I feel my hamstring acting up, a sprinters worse nightmare. My legs where getting heavier as I got closer to the finish line. Talk about the worst time to have something like that happen. I finished the race at a time of 49.23 seconds, not my best and not really happy about my performance. The main thing is I made it here, I competed with the best and I had fun with it. I tried my hardest not only for me but for my school as well.

It was just hard considering this was the third race in my spring season when we had nice legitimate weather, and also it was my first time running up against a whole field where they are only one tenths of a second from each other. I only got to run with maybe one or two runners like that around New York. I have to say it was a learning experience for me and Coach Marcus as well. Iknow what I have to do and who to train with to get to the next level as to coach he knows what meets to look for, for the team next year.

Yes, there is still another level for me and I am not going to stop running until I get there. My main goal and dream is to run for team USA or the El Salvador team in the Olympics. I am too close to stop now.

I just want to thank STAC and the Athletic Department for all they done for me. I also want to thank my coaches they were best I ever had, they made me stronger and taught me so much over the past four years. I mostly want to thank my family, teammates my second family and friends for all of the love and support they have given me. Without them there was no me they made me the man and athlete I am today. I have two more days here in Michigan and I will enjoy and make the best of it.

-George Erazo

Captain STAC T&F Team