PUEBLO, Col. — Welcome to Shippensburg University's 2013 Track & Field National Championships blog at shipraiders.com where you can read accounts, reactions and observations from select SU student-athletes in competition this weekend from Colorado State University at Pueblo.

Throughout the week we will post feedback provided by the student-athletes detailing their experiences in the altitude of Colorado.

All blogs are listed in Mountain Time.

PICTURES OF SU'S EXCURSIONS ARE POSTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG

Eric Bologa

Although I am done competing, I am still very fortunate to be out in Colorado. To see all the sights, along with watching the track and field finals on a national level is not something that many people get to experience. Watching all of my teammates running, jumping and throwing  to get onto the podium is one of the things I will always remember about this trip.

Yesterday, a group of us split up and ventured off to do some "touristy" things before Jalen Ramsey high jumped in the afternoon. The part of the trip that my fellow hurdler, Caitlin Stuetz, had been telling me about ever since Nationals last year, was the Garden of the Gods. So my expectations were very high, and I was not let down. Many people would probably say that we were only looking at rocks, but these were really big rocks. It was actually really cool. Pictures can't even really describe the size of some of the stones there. We climbed up some of the smaller ones but I can't even imagine climbing up the sides of the building sized ones, like people we saw were doing.

While we did all of our traveling, yesterday and throughout the week. We brought along our elephant doll which we dubbed with the nickname "Lil Ratch." This is our temporary replacement for teammate Rachel Haupt. We wanted her to experience everything with us so we have been sending the real Rachel pictures of Lil Ratch in the airport, on the track and everywhere we happened to be.

Yesterday, I also got to witness the end of the Decathalon for the men. For some strange reason, just watching all these guys crank out crazy times in the 1500-meter run while having competed in nine other events over the past 2 days really put into my head how difficult it must be to be a multi. I give so much credit to Austin Strine who is going on his fourth year of it!

Anyway, we headed over to the meet today with high expectations: All-American awards all around. It started off with the javelin throw. I have actually never watch the javelin event because I've always had other events to do so it was really great actually being able to watch for once. Andrew Korrubin and Derek Nothstein both did awesome with Derek pulling out a 6th place, All-American finish!

Afterwards I got the pleasure of watching Ryan Spangler run the 1500 finals. His effort, above everything else was inspiring. He went out so hard and put himself in such a great position. However, he was out sprinted in the end. However, he finished way above his seeding and I thought his entire race was incredible.

Above all, though, the event I was most excited to watch was the 400 hurdle race. My fellow hurdler, Caitlin Stuetz had made finals and only had to beat one competitor to achieve All American status. I had complete and total faith in her and as soon as she hit the 200 mark I knew she had it in the bag. She finished off her senior year with an eighth-place finish which gave her that All American trophy I know she worked so hard for. I could not be more proud of her and more happy that I got to spend the last two years hurdling beside her.

Along with Caitlin's performance, Steve Waithe also pulled out a sixth place in the triple jump while Katie Spratford, Stephanie Pryor and Matt Gillette ran incredible 5K races. It still astounds me that anyone can run so fast for more than two laps and not have to stop to take a breather.

Tomorrow we head home and this amazing experience comes to an end. I know that all of the seniors went out with a bang and that the underclassmen, myself included, will strive to only improve for next year. Already I am trying to plan out if it would be reasonable for me to travel to my pal and teammate Andrew Kujawski's house to train throughout the summer so that he and I both come back to make next season our best yet.

Ryan Spangler

I wasn't sure if I was going to write again today, but after hanging out with some of the alumni over at the track while watching my future roommate Jalen Ramsey compete in the high jump, I was convinced otherwise.

Yesterday was a big competition day for us. From breakfast to when we got to the track everyone had one thing on their mind and that was the competition or race they were entered in.

The events started off with my current roommate Herman Kirkland in the long jump. He may not have done what he wanted, but I always love watching this guy jump. We've been talking all year how crazy it would be to come and compete here side by side, roomie by roomie, and it's a dream come true that it's finally happening. He's literally been like an older brother for me this year; he's got good advice for anything.

By the time long jump was over it was already time to start warming up for the 1,500 meters. I can't tell you how awesome it was to toe the line with senior Matt Gillette for the first time at a national meet. He did a bold thing and ended up taking the pace out for us, and if he didn't do that I may have not been set up so well to make a move for a top spot. I finished the race fourth — the last one from my heat to make it to finals. I would be lying if I said I wasn't smiling after I got past that finish line even though my body was beat up from a long 500-meter kick and gasping for air because of the altitude.

But the night really started to get good when we got to see an amazing hurdle race by the Stuetz Muffin (Caitlin Stuetz) as she earned herself a spot in finals on Saturday. Eric Bologa followed up with a very strong 400-meter hurdles race, putting himself up in the middle of his heat competing with Division II's best. Then to top the night off I was lucky enough to help take splits for my girls in the 10K, Spratty (Katie Spratford) and Steph (Stephanie Pryor). Sprat had her usual monster kick at the end, passing three girls and claiming yet another All-American honor.

Today we went down to the Royal Gorge where we walked over one of the highest suspension bridges and had some of the most incredible views of the mountains. After exploring, we ate a delicious lunch at a French café in Cannon City (Great choice by Coach Dunkel) and somehow ended up skipping rocks nonchalantly in the Arkansas River with the coaches as we iced our legs in the water.

And here I am now back at the hotel getting ready for another race tomorrow. I've been thinking a lot about the 1500-meter finals but for the most part they're good thoughts. I've made some great memories these last few days with my teammates and coaches, and I've had all the support in the world from my friends and family. I'm just going to toe the line for the last time of the season tomorrow with an open mind and trust in my training. Time to get Ship done!

Also for tomorrow keep an eye out for our javelin throwers Derek Nothstein and Andrew Korrubin and then Steve Waithe doing his thing in the triple jump!

Caitlin Stuetz

We began our quest to Colorado with a much safer route (in contrast to last year, I did not drive up on a curb rushing to get to the bus this time around). The traveling day dragged on a bit, especially when we got hungry. We passed the four Carabba's in the state of Colorado before getting to the one that Coach O wanted (the one in Colorado Springs). I'm sure he was attracted to their fine service, but we were just famished!

I have had the joy and privilege of rooming with Spratty (Katie Spratford). Not only is she one of my role models, but during the season when I was having a tough time it was her and Lara Crofford that kept me focused. This last season as a Raider has showed me three major things: 1) Your teammates are the ones that push you that last bit that matters the most, 2) The 400 hurdles is an ugly race, just accept it, and 3) Believing in yourself even when the odds are stacked agaisnt you is the difference between success and regret.

I know that Eric YOLO Bolo (Eric Bologa) would not be here without our trusty 400 hurdle crew: Jordan Jones, Rachel Haupt, Dominic Raguz, and Danesha Butler. It was a rare yet awesome practice experience when we would all do the hurdle workouts side by side. Eric and I had a nice hurdle practice on the track Wednesday (recommended by Coach Doug Knol).

Thursday night came around and I was trying my best to keep Eric and I calm and light. There were a few things that were not going my way in the warmup but I was still so confident that I was going to advance. It sounds cheesy, but I saw my destiny and me letting the small stuff get in my way of advancing was not a part of that destiny.

During the race, I was on step (on pace) for hurdles 1-4. Hurdle 5 was not too pretty but 7-10 I would say I attacked well.  I saw my dad give two thumbs up in the stands. Turns out my time was good enough to advance yet again! Altitude does not really affect our race until the second you attempt to take a breath after you cross the line. I felt back spasms, muscle cramps (that I only feel after the hardest workouts), and my throat was burning. Breathing was my main focus but that plan was not working out too well. Water was not an option because I was hyperventilating too much. I am still struggling with some cough attacks. Dramatic? YES I KNOW. But true!!

Today, a few of us broke off on different trips. The group I was apart of went to Garden of the Gods. I jokingly tell people that it is the main reason I wanted to qualify (ha, just kidding... or am I?) It was beautiful. My extremly supportive parents made the trip out again. The support from them, my other family and friends, and SU teammates has been amazing. To you all, thank you for believing in me when I did not. Off to the track to cheer for Jalen Ramsey in the high jump!!

Eric Bologa

My entire sophomore year has been a whirlwind and more than I could have ever expected. Coming into the season I was hesitant about even entertaining the thought of making it to nationals for fear of being let down. As we got closer to the end of the outdoor season though I was fairly confident I would be making the trip to Colorado, and now I'm here!

The beginning of the trip was awesome (getting to fly across the country, see the huge Colorado mountains, go to the banquet and everything else we did those first two days), but you could tell that everyone was getting anxious for what we had all come here to do: race.

Once the day of my 400-meter hurdle race came, we are all expected to not move around much and just stay relaxed until our races which occurred later last night. Throughout the long day of waiting I was trying to take my mind off of the race so that I didn't get too nervous.

I found that the quickest way to do this was to hang out with one of my fellow teammates and very good friend, senior Caitlin Stuetz who was also competing in the 400-meter hurdles. Throughout the day we watched massive amounts of "The Office" and had to stop ourselves from finishing off an entire container if Nutella.

What really got me feeling confident and ready to race though was talking throughout the day to my good friends on the team: Matt Kujawski and Jordan Jones. I owe a lot to them both - just being able to bring me down from freaking out and getting me in the right mindset. Not to mention that Jordan practiced an entire extra week just to help Caitlin and I prepare for this meet.

The race came and went, and although I didn't perform as well as I would have liked, I'm just really happy to even be here. Walking down the chute onto the track I began to realize the immensity of what I was about to do. Being able to come to Colorado and race against some of the fastest people is something very few people get the opportunity to do. To make it even more rare is to get to run at this type of meet with people from other PSAC schools who I have been running against the last two years.

I am a very lucky guy and extremely grateful to all my coaches, teammates and friends who have been with me the last two years. One of my best friends always tells me that you should "never be satisfied." This is great advice that I'm going to take to heart over the summer and get back at it in the fall.

In the meantime though, I can't wait to watch all of my teammates run, jump, throw and hurdle over the next two days.

Ryan Spangler

Finally here at my first big dance, although I have to say it was a bit of a surprise for me. It was just last Tuesday that senior Matt Gillette filled me in via text that I had just made the cut — I was #20 on the declared list when all they were taking was a grand total of 20 athletes to the show! I immediately started shouting in disbelief, mostly at the track kids that lived next door to me, and proceeded to call all my friends and family of the good news I had received. 

I don't think I've ever been so ecstatic in my life. My track season had just been extended another two weeks which meant I was going to be able to have a last shebang with the seniors I've looked up to so much for the past couple years. Now I had to take off work and get back into focus mode because I would be heading out to Pueblo, Colorado the very next week.
 
And now we're finally here. A little cramped from that hot claustrophobic plane ride into Denver, but once we got through baggage claims and figured out our whole rental car situation, we got to travel through the heart of Colorado where I got to snag my first-ever glance of real mountains. As the sun started to set on our way to the hotel, we could see the glaciers atop of Pike's Peak glitter in its light.

It's weird…everything is wide open out here...much less crowded than even the most deserted places back home. I love it though, I've definitely never seen scenery like this. 

We arrived at our hotel about 8 p.m. Mountain Time (about 10 p.m. EST) where we checked into our room and then Matt Gillette and I took off to do a little 15-minute shakeout to get some feeling back in the legs from all this traveling. As we trotted around we checked out the town of Pueblo while debating whether either of us could feel the altitude yet, but the run was too short to tell. I guess race day will be the true test if we can hold up alright in this thin air.

On the itinerary tomorrow it looks like we're headed over to Colorado State - Pueblo midday to do our pre-meet and to check out the whole track situation. After we're done I'm hoping we can bribe the coaches to take us over to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, since it's right around the corner from us. Then finally it looks like we'll be headed out to dinner tomorrow night with the team for a nice, well-dressed, pre-race meal.

I have to say I'm feeling extremely blessed to be here right now and I'm looking forward to what the week has to bring. The hours are slowly counting down to 5:25 p.m. on Thursday when Gillette and I will be racing in the first heat of the 1,500-meter prelims. It would be awesome if the outcome of that is two Shippensburg guys in the finals on Saturday!