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Billie Jo Grant

(Arroyo Grande HS)

World Junior Championship

Comments on Trip and Competition

     The World Junior Championships was a very valuable experience to me in many different ways.  Mentally it gave me confidence because I was among so many elite athletes, and was comparing myself at a world level, instead of at a state or national level.  It gave me a taste of what track and field will be like at the Olympics, or what it would take for me compete in Europe.  The trip also gave me challenges mentally, I had to adjust to the weather; No air conditioning, practicing in 95 degree heat, with humidity.  Imagine how sweaty you hands get, and trying to throw the discus.  Eating was a challenge, I had to eat what was given to me, even if I wasn't hungry or didn't like it, I knew I had to eat to have energy to compete.  For instance for breakfast; salty grits, and eggs- every morning in the Bahamas.  Traveling took patience; with 67 athletes, a big group can move very slow, instead of leaving 2 hours before departure, we always had to leave 4 hours prior. Getting there took Sean (Shields - ex-Arroyo Grande HS teammate now at Univesity of Arizona) and I 18 hours, and the next day Sean had to compete. Getting home we were up for 46 straight hours- I am still trying to figure out how to get back on track.  Mentally the trip took patience, and challenged me with having to adapt to all different kinds of situations different from my normal routine.

     Having 143 different cultures there it was interesting to see how other countries prepare before a meet.  Many countries loved the US, and often tried to talk to me, about what the US is like and if I wanted to trade some of my USA gear with theirs.  I was able to use my three courses in French to communicate with a couple different countries.  One French speaking country told me it took them 9 hours to get to Paris, 2 hours to get to London, and 10 hours to get to Jamaica, and that was the duration of the flight, not counting the time in-between.  That made my trip sound like nothing compared to what other people went through to get to Jamaica.  Competition wasn't too much different, you just had to be ready to go when they called your number.
      
     Overall it is a very valuable experience because I was able to see different cultures, adapt to many challenging situations,  realize that track and field is a part of my life that I love very much, and only made my desire to reach my goals even stronger.

(Ed note - there is no experience in athletics that can equal that of representing your country and wearing the USA uniform at an International Level.  From the great central coast weather with mom's cooking to a Caribbean climate with no air conditioning in the summer, language issues often, and folks often a year or two older to compete against, it is probably the test of a lifetime.  Billie Jo obviously has super preparation and it is interesting to hear her comments above on what was a very successful competition.  She was 5th at 172-09.  The winner threw 193-01.  With a 1985 year of birth for Billie Jo (the World Junior meet is open to those athletes who will not turn 20 during the year of competition, kind of a strange, but one way of doing things) she will be eligible for the 2004 competition, which will be in Italy.  With two years of work, look out!!!  The second and third placers from Kingston, however, also have 1983 birthdates, with personal bests of 194-10 and 192-04, so there are folks out there who can throw--the championship platform does not come easy at the World level!!!

We sure would like to see those other athletes and schools with elite level athletes pursue the possibilities of US National team membership, which is now open to those 18 and under with a World Youth Championship (next year in Canada) that is chosen off this year's Youth Age Group Nationals, the USATF National Junior Olympic Finals (just held in late July in Omaha), and next year's National Junior Championships.  For those athletes with a 1985 or later birthdate the 2004 World Junior Championships is a possibility, with the year 2003 featuring a Pan American Junior Championships for those of the "under 20" (b/d of 1984 or later) group).

A number of Californians at the Intermediate level put themselves in prominent position for World Youth Team membership off their performances at the recent USATF National JO Championship in Omaha.  Check those results in that area of our site, with the team probably needing to dip down into the Youth Section of that meet for some team members. 

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