Day 11 to 13 - Saturday 20th to Monday 22nd April, 2013

Our second day at Mt Sac was an opportunity for the boys to experience elite Track and Field at its best with some of the world’s best athletes on show. Being able to mingle with so many Olympic athletes, and see them prepare, compete and recover, is an opportunity the boys will never get to experience in Australia.

Our competitors today were Cameron Griffith in the 800m and our 4x100m Relay team – Eric Ong, Rohan Browning, Benjamin Hyslop and Luke Houssarini. Cameron's race was outstanding. He was leading America's best runners after the first 400m and held on to record an amazing 5th place with a time of 1min 53.59s. The relay runners also recorded an incredible result placing 6th with a time of 43.91s. The track was still on fire from the proceeding race when an invitation American elite team recorded a 4x100m time of of 38.5s.

After 11 days of a magical experience, we farewelled America as we returned home to the land down-under. Thank you to the parents for providing this opportunity for your son to grow and develop both as an athlete and a young man. Most of all, thank you to the boys for being a credit to your family, your school, your country and yourselves.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633285077013/

Signing off from the 2013 Trinity Grammar School USA Track and Field Tour.

Best wishes.

Day 10 - Friday 19th April, 2013

As we arrived at Mt Sac for our first day of competition after a two hour bus ride in bumper-to-bumper LA traffic, we knew we were in the big time when the first Open 200m heat finished and the time flashed up on the board – 20.49s.

Cameron Griffith was our only competitor today in the 1600m (mile). With the 27-strong Australian crowd behind him, and racing against the best high school athletes in America, he ran an outstanding time of 4min19.07s to finish near the middle of the field. Well done Cameron!

Tonight was our final team dinner at a restaurant back in Studio City where we were able to reflect upon our experiences and rejoice in the opportunities the boys have had over the past 10 days.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633285067015/

Best wishes.

Day 9 - Thursday 18th April, 2013

On a magical ‘blue sky’ day, we headed down to Venice Beach to ‘strut our stuff’ along the boardwalk and experience the more bohemian side of LA. After a quick visit to the home of bodybuilding, Gold’s Gym, we then wandered around Santa Monica Pier, the end of Route 66.

This was followed by a trip down Rodeo Drive, Beverley Hills, to admire the exclusive shopping strip. Instead, the excitement of the number of Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, etc. motor vehicles driving past was overwhelming for many boys. When they saw the $2 million Buggatti parked outside the House of Bijan boutique, a few boys were close to fainting.   

     

Our next stop was the Hollywood Boulevarde Walk of Fame. It was very busy and the boys did well to negotiate their way around the many people dressed up as Hollywood stars and super heroes.

After a short rest, swim and freshen up back at the hotel, we were then off again for our NHL Ice Hockey game at the Staples Center between the LA Kings and the Columbus Blue Jackets, which was an amazing experience. See link below to one of the goals scored during the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOXy7ycy43A&feature=share&list=PL4Ob9N9tGBKKBY-sDy8SsSc_pMeTkzTh6

Here ends the tourist side of the LA component of our tour. When we wake up tomorrow, the boys will be switched on for our final two days of intense Track and Field competition at the Mt Sac Relays – one of the biggest Track and Field events in America.

      

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633279301315/

Best wishes.

Day 8 - Wednesday 17th April, 2013

Our day at Universal Studios ranged from touring the back lots where the classic sets are still being used, to the latest in 3D and even 4D rides, finishing with a tour dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant where William Davies excelled in his knowledge of the 20 year old Forrest Gump movie.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633266890511/

Best wishes.

Day 7 - Tuesday 16th April, 2013

Today was a once in a lifetime experience for the boys. Not only did they have a coaching clinic with John Smith, arguably one of the world’s best sprint coaches, they also got a chance to watch three of the world’s best athletes train, and also chat and take photos with after the session:

Ryan Bailey – 5^th fastest man in the world and London Olympics Silver medallist.

Carmelita Jeter – currently the fastest woman in the world, with Gold, Silver and Bronze at the London Olympics.

Jason Richardson – Olympic Silver medallist at London in the 110 Hurdles, and 2011 World Champion.  

  

After finishing at the track, we headed off for more outlet mall shopping, a quick dash back to the hotel to shower and change, and then we were on our way to the Staples Center for our NBA Game between the Clippers and the Trail Blazers. You can see from the photos and videos on our flickr site that the boys had a pretty good time tonight.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633259991323/

Up at 6, home at 11. What a day!

Best wishes.

Day 6 - Monday 15th April, 2013

Disneyland - "the happiest place on earth!"

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633257975564/

Best wishes.

Day 5 - Sunday 14th April, 2013

On possibly the coldest day ever recorded in San Diego, the results on Day 2 of the Flo Jo International were outstanding. In many cases boys were competing into strong head winds with a distinct smell of tacos and burritos coming across the Mexican border. A full list of results appears below.

The hospitality shown to us by Elizabeth Tait, Coach Wyatt and the entire Flo Jo Track and Field Club will be remembered fondly for many years to come. Elizabeth is the sister of Florence Griffith-Joyner who still holds the 100m and 200m world records, with her time of 10.49s in the 100m being arguably one of the greatest records that may never be broken.

A highlight of the day was the Harlem Shake (YouTube craze) performed prior to the start of the 1500m. See link here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/8651513546/in/photostream

After bidding farewell to San Diego we arrived back in LA, greeted by the Hollywood sign as we travelled down the Ventura Highway to our hotel for the next 6 nights. A relaxing dinner at a traditional American diner and we were ready for a good night's sleep before our Disney adventure tomorrow.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633246350537/

Best wishes.

Results

200m:

Kristof Bryndum - 30.08s; Luke Houssarini - 24.08s; Eric Ong - 24.64s; Rohan Browning- 23.57s; Benjamin Hyslop - 24.65s.

1500m:

Jordan Kery - 5min 14.23s; Cameron Griffith - 4min 06.74s; Mathew Crowhurst - 4min 35.16s; Benjamin Crowhurst - 5min 13.55s.

110m Hurdles:

William Davies - 17.93s; Soren Tan - 20.33s.

100m Hurdles:

Julian Duong - 15.32s.

800m:

Braeden Ferdinands - 2min 20.28s; Mathew Crowhurst 2min 17.43s.

Long Jump:

Isaac Barden - 4.62m; Kristof Bryndum - 3.53m; Eric Ong - 6.34m; Matthew Kuo - 4.51m.

Day 4 - Saturday 13th April, 2013

Today was our first competition day on tour - the Flo Jo International at San Ysidro High School. The competition was very strong in the junior years. Our senior boys performed particularly well with a number of trophies and personal best performances. The biggest trophy (nearly 100cm tall) was awarded to the school or club who travelled the longest distance to the Meet – our 12,000km was well and truly enough to secure the trophy.

A full list of results appears below, with a special mention given to Kordell Payne’s performance in the 14 Years Shot Put. Unfortunately, Kordell was competing during the 100m Finals with all the Trinity attention given to the track at the time. Meanwhile, Kordell was going shot for shot with a local boy who had never been beaten. Kordell was behind going into the last round, with one final shot at winning the gold. With the American crowd now cheering for the little Aussie from down under, Kordell attacked the circle for his final put and sent it well over the 11m mark (11.86m) with a personal best effort and the gold medal. I am informed that the crowd response was reminiscent of the classic finish to Mighty Ducks - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxJkAQFGEyo    

After freshening up back at the hotel, we headed back into the city for a final team pasta dinner in San Diego, before an early night to pack and prepare for Day 2 of our Meet and departure from San Diego tomorrow.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633240561132/  

Best wishes.

  

Results  

3000m:                 

Mathew Crowhurst - 9min 45.54s; Cameron Griffith - 9min 46.73s

Discus:                   

Kordell Payne - 37.96m; Chris Hart - 32.70m; Andy Zhong - 21.94m

High Jump:           

Isaac Barden - 1.53m

100m:

Kristof Bryndum - 14.10s; Soren Tan - 13.04s; Julian Duong - 13.36s; Benjamin Hyslop - 11.80s; William Davies - 12.83s; Rohan Browning - 11.36s; Eric Ong - 11.79s; Luke Houssarini - 11.54s

400m:                   

Kean McCaw - 79.65s; Benjamin Crowhurst - 69.74s; Jordan Kery - 65.52s; Benjamin Hyslop - 53.31s; Rohan Browning - 53.30s; Cameron Griffith - 51.01s; Braeden Ferdinands - 58.15s; Eric Ong - 53.26s

Shot Put:              

Kordell Payne - 11.86s; Andy Zhong - 9.66m; Chris Hart - 9.10m  

  

Day 3 - Friday 12th April, 2013

A day of touring the sites of San Diego, including the Seaport Village, San Diego waterfront, tour of the USS Midway (4,500 crew aircraft carrier), a quick re-gen session in the hotel pool and dinner in the city's Gaslight District.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633229398011/

Best wishes.

Day 2 - Thursday 11th April, 2013

After a good night's sleep, and the offer of a traditional American 'biscuits and gravy' breakfast (the boys took the cereal and toast option), we headed off for a tour of the Olympic Training Centre. Our tour covered the entire facility, incorporating training venues for nearly all the summer Olympic sports, even a replica BMX course from the London Games. At the end of the tour the boys had a very interesting talk from the Centre's Athletic Director, Coach Poole, on some of the training advances they are utilising in their Track and Field programme.

With full wallets and a healthy exchange rate, we left the Centre ready to invade the local outlet shopping mall. While we were touring the Olympic Centre we took a group photo with the Mexican border far off in the distance. Once we pulled up at the outlet centre we realised just how close we were when the bus literally reversed into the high wall that borders Tijuana Mexico and the States (see photo below). The other photos on the flickr site of the boys returning to the bus after their shopping extravaganza suggest that there may be few teenage sized running shoes left for purchase in San Diego.

After a short rest back at the hotel we headed off for our baseball game, the local derby between the San Diego Padres and the LA Dodgers at the 45,000 seat Petco Park in the heart of San Diego city. The stadium was incredible and the boys had a great time, especially with the excitement of the benches being cleared twice early in the 6th Innings.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633227632980/

Best wishes.

Day 1 - Wednesday 10th April, 2013

An incredible start to the tour for the boys with the Captain of our plane, Darryl Collister, introducing himself as a Trinity Old Boy (class of '75) as we boarded. At the end of the flight, he surprised the boys with a tour of the flight deck and a unique opportunity to sit in the Captain's seat of an A380 plane.

Following a three hour bus ride down to San Diego, and a quick freshen up at the hotel, we hit the track for a light training session at Hoover High School with the Flo Jo Junior Squad. Our hosts were very generous putting on a 'welcome' pizza for the boys after the session, and with heavy legs and full stomachs, we were soon back at our hotel with it taking no time at all for snoring to be the only sound heard from the rooms.

You can find a full set of today’s photos and videos at the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/sets/72157633218879624/
If you would like to download any of these photos, click on the photo, click on “Actions” and scroll down to “View all sizes.” From there you can download the size and quality you want.

Best wishes.

Welcome

Welcome to the 2013 Trinity USA Track and Field Tour Blog. Our aim is to keep you up-to-date throughout the tour and to share with you the amazing opportunities the boys will experience. Please also browse the other pages on this site.

We hope to post updates on this blog each day and include a few photos. The main store of photos will be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usatrackandfieldtour/ . Each post will contain a link to the specific set of corresponding photos and videos for that day.

Please feel free to email us at usatrackandfieldtour@gmail.com if you have any comments or questions.

Looking forward to keeping you well informed throughout the tour. Our next post will be from the US of A!

Best wishes.