She throws shot and discus in the field events. She is "OK" at shotput and better than "OK" at discus.
She got it into her head that she was going to pick up right where she had left off last year with discus.
Alas, it was not to be.
Dealing with disappointment
Coming into the Saxon Relays at Hastings, Michigan, Belladonna's best discus throw was almost 40 feet less than last year's best throws. She was getting down on herself.
The key to throwing well is to throw smoothly---with power. It is a matter of keeping chaos in a precarious and high-energy balance. I imagine it is much like landing a heavily loaded plane on a very short run-way.
Trying harder is not the key to success.
Belladonna throws best when she is a "happy" thrower. She has a teammate who throws best when she has nothing to prove, nothing to lose and simply throws with wild, glorious abandon.
Coming into the Saxon Relays, neither had found their groove.
Bella looked pretty good in warm-ups. Then her coach started joking with her.
Belladonna's third throw of the event picked up 21 feet of this year's previous best.
She had an ear-to-ear grin. She is a happy kid. Perhaps we are entering a virtuous cycle.
Not so much joy for the wild-child. Perhaps next meet.
Patience and the ability to forget the last throw, race or at bat IS critical for athletes! Good luck to her!
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