On Saturday morning, I donned my purple polo again for volunteer duties. After completion of the routine housekeeping tasks in the Media Center and Press Tribune, I asked to assist in the Mixed Zone since there was a morning session happening that day, which Kurt and Katlyn were attending as another perk for my volunteering. Upon arriving in the Mixed Zone however, it took a bit to realize that there wouldn’t be anything happening for awhile since the decathletes were competing in multiple events. So, while waiting for the athletes in the later events to come through, we were able to explore more behind the scenes action underneath the stadium. The highlight was definitely meeting the designer/operator of the remote controlled vehicle that zooms around the infield to retrieve the javelin and discus after they are thrown. The van is on its way to The Commonwealth Games next week after the Championships conclude.
Assisting in the mixed zone was definitely a unique experience. After exiting the track and field, all athletes must walk through the mixed zone to be available to be interviewed by the press. I was responsible for inquiring who each media representative wanted to interview after the event and guiding the requested athletes to stop and speak with them, although they were not required to (and, most of the U.S. athletes chose not to).
The morning session for Day 9 included the following events:
| TIME | EVENT | ROUND | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:50 | M | 100 Metres | Decathlon |
| 10:40 | M | Long Jump | Decathlon |
| 11:20 | W | 100 Metres Hurdles | Heats |
| 12:00 | W | Long Jump | Qualification |
| 12:10 | M | Shot Put | Decathlon |
Kurt and I met for lunch at Track Town Pizza in between the morning and evening action. Katlyn and I ran into U.S. Steeplechaser Courtney Frerichs as we were heading to our seats in the afternoon.
The evening session for Day 9 included the following events:
| TIME | EVENT | ROUND | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:10 | M | High Jump | Decathlon |
| 17:10 | W | 4×400 Metres Relay | Heats |
| 17:40 | M | 4×400 Metres Relay | Heats |
| 18:00 | M | Triple Jump | Final |
| 18:10 | M | 800 Metres | Final |
| 18:25 | W | 5000 Metres | Final |
| 18:35 | M | Javelin Throw | Final |
| 18:55 | M | 400 Metres | Decathlon |
| 19:30 | W | 4×100 Metres Relay | Final |
| 19:50 | M | 4×100 Metres Relay | Final |
Highlights included: Allyson Felix was called out of retirement in California (put down that chicken wing!) for the women’s 4x400m relay and Team USA led all qualifiers in both the men’s and women’s events; The U.S. women’s 4x100m team upset Team Jamaica to win the gold; But, on the men’s side of the 4x100m relay, the U.S. was beat out by Canada who took the top spot on the podium.
Continued…