5.09.03
Hey everyone,

I am back in freezing cold Wellington now and settling back into normal life (actually I'm searching for a job if anyone knows of anything going...). The trip finished on a very high note with a great performance in the 4x400m relays. We had the heats on Friday night and were lucky to be in the second heat so we knew we could hold back and still qualify on time. Our team was Sam Higgie (47.8), Max Smith (51), Craig Bearda (49) and Myself (48.5) with a final time of 3:17.29.

The next day I felt good except after holding back in the heat. Sam Higgie lead out with a low 48, Gareth Hyett (who didn't run the heats because of his 800m semi) ran a low 49 and I got the baton in 6th place behind the home team - the Koreans. I was a bit slow for the first 200m but picked it up and passed the Korean wide around the bend (the stadium went quiet). I finished strongly and ran a mid 47 split. Craig Bearda (a 100, 200 runner) ran an
awesome anchor in a low 48 and held off the Koreans to finish 5th in the World! The final time 3:13.89. Even through 5th was incredible, the Girls 4x400 team managed to show us up and finish 4th in 3:41.

With two of NZ's best ever placings at the World University Games it's needless to say that Saturday night was a night to remember (or not remember as the case was for some of the team!).

The Closing Ceremony on Sunday was an appropriate end to a great fortnight and the next day we were finally on our way home.

Thanks for all the support everyone has given me in the past 2 months. I look forward to catching up with you all.

Tim

28.08.03
Hi Everyone,

A lot of you will have heard by now that things didn't go all that well for me in my 400 the other day.

The first round was on Monday night, with the top 4 to qualify for the 2nd round. I ran a solid first 200 before relaxing in the last 200 to come home comfortably in 4th position in only 48.44. I was pleased with my run and I
saved a lot of energy by not trying to challenge the the leaders who pushed hard for low 47's.

The second round was on Tuesday morning (they added an extra round at the last minute). I was in the second heat. Again I ran a reasonable first 200m but from 150 to go I started struggling. The field came past me moving into the bend and pulled away, I was left back in 7th place in only 48.55. It was frustrating to see that my PB would have finished me 5th in the final, 47.6 qualified for the semi finals and 47.3 for the final.

Despite my poor performance, I learnt a lot. I didn't deal with pre race nerves well at all and could hardly eat for a day and a half ahead of my races. This would have contributed to dying in the last 100m and also not being able to do any endurance training for 2.5 weeks before my race. I also could have done with some hard races before coming to Daegu to practice having to fight in the last 100m. Sam Higgie (48.79 in the second round) struggled in a similar fashion to me.

Fortunately we have a shot at redeeming ourselves in the 4x400 relay heats tomorrow night. I am running the second leg. Since my race, I have been a lot more relaxed which hopefully will help in the relay.

The rest of the team has had average results. The highlights have been Rachel Signal making the 400m final and Sonja Bowe running her second best time ever over 400m Hurdles. The girls 4x400m have a straight final on Saturday where anything could happen. Gareth Hyett, who has been running well in Europe before coming to Daegu, is in the 800m semi tomorrow and should make the final on Saturday.

I hope to send some photos of my races shortly.

Bye for now,

Tim

 Photos from Tim Hawkes.
 Universiade Games, Korea.

Gareth Hyett

20.08.03
The last couple of weeks have been very busy, and we haven't had good email access so its taken a while to let you know what I am up to. My first update is at http://www.valleys.org.nz/results/2003_tim1.htm

After I last wrote, I ran well at my next meet (10.9 and 21.8 hand times). Unfortuantly my next race after that I pulled my left hamstring. However, as you can probably tell by the fact that I am writing from the athletes' village in Daegu, I have recovered very well, and will be running at 100% come my heat on the 25th. Because of this I don't have much to report about training/racing. On Sunday before we left for Korea, I cruised a 400 in 51.84. My leg felt fine and I had to stop myself from trying to sprint.

The flights to Daegu were good, made easier by the fact that we did it over 3 days with nights in Sydney and Seoul. We spent yesterday morning in Seoul. We caught a taxi, ferry and bus to a shopping mall and got some great bargins ($1.50 T-shirts!). The taxi ride home was incredible. We went along all these country dirt single lane roads in torrential rain! We saw a side of Korea that most of the other athletes here won't get to see. I have some great photos (over 140 from my trip so far, and the Universiade hasn't begun yet!).

We arrived at the Athletes' Village last night. It is incredable! Hard to describe in words but it is huge. It even has a 200m track here. The dining hall is great with a big selection. Takes a lot of discipline to not pig out before my races!

Here is my program for the next fortnight...

21/8 Opening Ceremony

25/8 Athletics Starts - 400m Heat
26/8 400m Semi
27/8 400m Final
28/8 Rest
29/8 4x100 Heat, 4x400 Heat
30/8 4x100 Final, 4x400 Final

31/8 Closing Ceremony

2/9 Arrive Home

I hope to write an update after my races but obviously my priority will be rest and recovery (and when it's all over, party!).

Till next time.

Tim