JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Anyone who has rushed from one flight to another knows that it's a nerve-wracking experience.
It can be even worse in track and field, however.
Competing in the 2010 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships late last month at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Mike Mai felt rushed between hammer-throw attempts. The time between "flights" had been trimmed from 30 to 15 minutes.
"I would say I kind of committed a rookie mistake based on the reduced time they gave us for warmups this year," Mai said. "I didn't quite get in all of the warmups I am used to."
As a result, Mai, commander of the 9th Financial Management Company at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, finished a disappointing 11th at the national championships after entering the event ranked among the nation's best.
"I had a couple of really big throws in warmups but was fouling out the front of the ring," said Mai, who was throwing on his native soil. "When I got into my competition throws, I was a bit tentative at the front of the ring and slowed down a bit, to make sure I didn't foul out the front.
"It was great to throw in front of my family. Obviously, it would have been better if I could have tossed a big throw and won the meet. If there ever was a year to be off, this was it, considering there is no Olympics or world championships."
Mai wound up with two good throws and fouled on another. His best effort was 69.46 meters, well off his season best of 73.11.
"If I would have had the time, I could have stuck more with my routine," Mai said.
While Mai struggled, his fiancee - high jumper Deirdre Mullen of Nike - had a solid meet. Lowe jumped 6 feet 2 inches to place fourth behind Chaunte Lowe, who won with a U.S. record of 6-8 3/4.
"She was disappointed with her performance, as well," Mai said of Mullen. "She was well over the bar at (6-3) on all of her attempts but was just too far away when she took off, and her timing over the bar was off."
Mai followed up the nationals by throwing 73.10, nearly a season best, in a local meet last weekend. That should do it for this year.
"I have been invited to some other local meets, but with all of the other requirements on my plate right now, I probably am done throwing for this competition season," Mai said.
"I am scheduled to deploy in January, but, hopefully, I can stay in shape and still have a chance to compete in U.S. nationals and the world military games, which takes place in
Rio de Janiero in July next summer."
Bob Reinert is assistant editor of Joint Base Lewis-McChord's weekly newspaper, the Northwest Guardian.
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