Wednesday, March 17, 2010

My History of Athletics

Because nothing is more awesome than embarrassing old photos...I present my history of athletics.

My parents started me early in sports. I took my first swim lesson when I was six months old. I continued to take swim lessons every year until I was 12 years old when I ran out of lessons to take. I also took a course in diving and a course in life saving. I never swam on a competitive swim team, though.
I know you're jealous of that haircut!

I started playing softball in kindergarten and played all the way through middle school. I played both pitcher and second base and dude, I could steel a base. Even in high school, I was asked every spring to play for the team. I hung up my cleats in the 8th grade and haven't played since.
Look how my name stretches all the way across my T-shirt!

I was a late bloomer when it came to starting gymnastics. Although I took one lesson when I was three, I didn't really start gymnastics until I was 7. But I loved it and I was good at it. After only one year of classes I made the competitive team and competed until I was 15. I racked up many ribbons, medals, and trophies, but my all-time best was winning the state championship on the floor exercise when I was 12. Although I loved gymnastics and was hoping to do it in college, injuries and the fun of high school sports brought my gymnastics career to a close.




In high school I played tennis and ran track. I didn't suck either. I was a regional qualifier in both tennis and track. I played mostly 2nd and 3rd singles in tennis, but played doubles in the tournament. I will always hold the title of the first girl to receive four varsity letters in tennis as I was the only freshman on the team the year tennis became a varsity sport. In track I ran everything (our team was a whopping 12 girls)! My events were mostly 4X800, 4X200, open 400, and 4X400. I held the school record in both the 400 and the 4X400 until I graduated and the school got an all weather track.

Yep, that's right. We played on clay.


That's me in the white. Kickin' a$$!


In college I tried out and made the women's rowing team. I was a coxswain in the novice "A" boat. I only did it for one year. It was fun, but the coach was WAY intense and I was at school to study. I'm a little bummed I didn't stick it out a second year and achieve my varsity letter at the collegiate level.


Finally, I took up distance running after college when I didn't know what to do with all my time now that I wasn't studying. I ran my first marathon in 2001.

Wasn't that a fun blast from the past?

8 comments:

Unknown said...

LOVE it, Meredith

Judi said...

you were the anti-me. LOL.

Megan L. Killian said...

So fun! Makes me want to find old photos..

Unknown said...

Cute pictures Meredith! You were the super athlete then too huh??? :)

Meredith said...

I don't know about super athlete as much as super competitive.

Sara Cox Landolt said...

:-) Thanks for sharing these pictures! Wow, I think I had several of these hairstyles & as you know we have crew in common too.
Fun post!

GetBackJoJo said...

It was fun to look at these! That gymnastics picture is the best. How the hell did you do that? And your legs are freaking awesome!!

jessithompson said...

Great pics!