Ericka improved her 400m performance from last week by putting down a new Indoor SB of 57.49 (PR 57.46), this early in the season. Her training has not tapped into speed work. Ericka’s training model has consisted of strength and endurance work. Tomorrow, Ericka will contest her first 800m of the Indoor season. #GottaKeepGrinding
Ericka ran her first “rust-buster” track race of the 2020 Indoor track season at the Dick Taylor Carolina Challenge, Eddie Smith Field House at UNC-Chapel Hill. As Ericka states, “with a hard training week and my body still in long distance mode, I pulled off a 58.87 in the 400m and a 26.45 in the 200m. My closing speed in the 400m was great”. She finished a close 3rd in the quarter-mile and top 10 in the 200m. Not a bad way to kick off her season. Up next, the Gamecock Opener on January 17 -18 in South Carolina. Ericka will contest the 400m again, and her first 800m of the season.
As Ericka says, “gotta keep grinding”
Dunbar High School, Washington, D.C. ~ Saturday, July 13, 2019, ~ Ericka continues to improve her season’s best performances at 800m. She achieved a new SB 2:08.25. Unfortunately, she did not achieve the National Outdoor Qualifying Standard in time and will skip the competition at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA. However, in the spirit of competition, her season is not over!!! That’s right, Ericka has quite a few more chances to improve her time and close out the 2019 Outdoor season on a high note. Next up, Sir Walter Miler, 8/2/2019 at Meredith. Ericka will join her friends on the mixed 4×4 relay. Also, we have big news to share, so please subscribe to our site.
NJ International Track & Field – July 6, 2019, Peddie School, Hightstown, NJ – Ericka put in a good day’s work at The Oval Office last weekend. She earned 2nd place in the Women’s Elite 800m event with a time of 2:08.91. Coach Williams is pleased with her performance and exclaimed, “she’s doing better and most of all, she’s having fun”. Ericka was especially enchanted to meet her idol, five-time Olympian, Jearl Miles Clark. Jearl has earned a World Champion title and Olympic Gold medalist and is well-known for being one of the strongest 400/800m middle-distance combination runners in history. Next up, Eastern Track League Final/DCRR Track Champs on Saturday, July 13.
On June 30, Ericka ran her 2nd fastest 800m time of the season – 2:09.54. Tough night for her at the Oval Office, but, it is also another lesson learned. Post-race, she immediately called Coach Williams to tell him how the race went for her. As always, she confesses to her coach (and herself) where she faltered in her racing strategy. Ericka positively states, “I definitely had a lot left in the tank and I should have used it up in my race. I’ll keep smiling and move on to the next race😎 Gotta keep grinding”. Next up, 7/6, NJ International Track & Field Meet, Hightstown, NJ
“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt