Inspiration

The Summer Games

BY DEMITRIA CASTANON

The countdown to the Olympics is on! Friday, July 27, 2012 will be anything but ordinary; it is the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. One must-see U.S. Olympian is San Luis Obispo resident, Sharon Day, who will compete in the Women’s Heptathalon. After graduating high school in Costa Mesa, Day accepted a collegiate track and field scholarship to compete in the high jump for Cal Poly. During her five years as a Mustang, she not only competed every spring on the track but also every winter for the Cal Poly Women’s Soccer Team. Day began training for the heptathlon during her junior year with coach Jack Holt. “I like having the variety,” Day expressed. The two day heptathlon competition consists of seven events: 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter, long jump, javelin throw, and 800-meter.With only one week of training in her new event, the junior placed second at the Big West Conference Championships, and, as a senior, she claimed the title of Conference Champion. In addition to her heptathlon success, she also qualified for the 2008 Olympic Track and Field Trials in the high jump. Following her graduation in the spring of 2008 where she received a kinesiology degree, Day signed a professional contract with Asics and began to compete professionally. Day secured a spot on the USA Olympic Team on the evening of July 4th 2008, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, when she placed third in the high jump at the Olympic Trials. In Beijing, Day placed twelfth during a period of difficult, stormy weather. Between Opening Ceremonies and her first day of competition, Day focused on her training and squeezed in time to watch others compete in beach volleyball, women’s basketball, tennis, and, her other favorite, co-ed badminton. She was amazed by the fans and confided with a bewildered look that she had “never seen so many people so excited about badminton.” The Olympics are produced by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and they set the standards that athletes must meet to compete in the prestigious event held every four years. Day met the Olympic “A” qualifying standard for the 2012 U.S. Team on April 3rd at the Sam Adams Multi-Events Meet held at Westmont College. When asked how she felt going into this year’s Olympic Trials, Day answered with, “A little bit of nerves, but not too much, mostly excitement to make my second [Olympic] team.” Day says her focus is on staying healthy and smart training. She trains six days a week, which consists of running workouts, field practice, weight lifting, and recovery including physical therapy, chiropractic care and massage. Her well-balanced diet is focused on high-protein foods and carbohydrates. She stays away from processed foods, sweets and sodas. With her wedding day on the horizon, Day realizes that leading a life as dedicated as hers calls for a partner who recognizes and appreciates what she does, and, with an Olympic-sized smile, describes her fiancé as “supportive and understanding.”

Sharon Day competing at the Olympic Stadium in Germany.

Olympic hopefuls associated with the Central Coast. Be sure to set your DVRs! Warren Anderson

Born in San Luis Obispo College: Loyola Marymount University Event: Men’s Rowing July 28 • 3:30am • Quadruple Sculls July 30 • 2:00am • Quadruple Sculls August 01• 2:40am • Quadruple Sculls August 03 • 2:00am • Quadruple Sculls

Sharon Day

Born in Brooklyn, New York College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Event: Women’s Heptathalon August 03 • 2:05am - 12:35pm • Heptathlon

Stephanie Brown Trafton

Born in San Luis Obispo College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Event: Women’s Discus Throw August 03 • 11:10am • Discus Throw August 04 • 11:30am • Discus Throw

Jordan Hasay

Born in Fontana High School: Mission College Preparatory College: University of Oregon Event: Women’s 5,000-meter August 07 • 2:55am • 5,000-meter August 10 • 12:05pm • 5,000-meter

Corbin Duer

College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Event: Men’s Decathlon August 8 • 2:10am - 1:30pm • Decathlon August 9 • 1:00am - 1:20pm • Decathlon

Chris Randolph

Born in Lompoc College: Seattle Pacific University Event: Men’s Decathlon August 8 • 2:10am - 1:30pm • Decathlon August 9 • 1:00am - 1:20pm • Decathlon

Maggie Vessey

Born in Santa Cruz College: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Event: Women’s 800-meter August 8 • 3:35am • 800-meter August 9 • 11:30am • 800-meter August 11 • 12:00pm • 800-meter

Chaunte Lowe

Born in Templeton College: Georgia Tech Event: Women’s High Jump, Long Jump August 9 • 1:30am • High Jump August 11 • 11:00am • High Jump SLO LIFE