Archive for August, 2008
Aug
30
Posted under
Races and Results I don’t need to work out how I’m going to spend the rest of my life just yet, but I do need a definite plan for the next two weeks! I have been feeling pretty ordinary since I returned from China, but I had a promising training run this morning. I will test my strength and speed on the track tomorrow, to determine whether I will travel to Europe next week for more competition. I have worked really hard to be in a position to qualify for the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, and I’d love to be there if I feel energetic and competitive.
I now have my old phone number again, after a few weeks in limbo. I’m not able to read any messages though, that may have been left since Marty lost my phone in Hong Kong.
Donna
Aug
25
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Races and Results I returned home from Beijing early, but I didn’t mind missing the closing ceremony. After two weeks away, I was so pleased to see my family. My husband even cleaned the house to celebrate my return! Unfortunately I seemed to get sick the moment I stepped off the plane. My son, Gabriel is taking the credit for ‘giving away’ his cold to me. Half of my luggage is still in China…we were given so many items of clothing I had to send one suitcase by sea freight. It should arrive by November! Life is back to normal, without the hard training at the moment. I ventured into the garden today, cooked some pikelets and even managed to do a yellow load of washing.
I’m not sure what the future holds. The best thing for me to do now is relax, get well and stay warm.
Donna
Aug
21
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Races and Results I’ve been making the most of my spare time in Beijing. I was lucky to see the final morning of the swimming- including Grant Hackett’s 1500 metres and the AUS womens 4*100 medley world record. I also saw the women’s gymnastics floor final. It was an awesome experience to be sitting in the middle of the Chinese crowd when the local favourite won the gold medal. None of my teammates wanted to accompany me to the synchronised swimming- I sat through ten of the duet technical routines before I confirmed it’s not my cup of tea either.
I love the weather in Beijing; mild to hot, blue skies (and no pollution). I don’t know what all the fuss was about!
Donna
Aug
19
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Races and Results This wasn’t the result I was hoping for! I am really disappointed that I didn’t run well enough to make the final, but I am consoled somewhat by the fact that I gave 100%. I felt positive and good in my warm up, but 200 metres into the race I knew there was a problem. I’m not sure yet exactly what wrong. I ran as hard as I could, but my best on the night wasn’t as good as I’m capable of. My time wasn’t disastrous- I still ran faster than I did to win Doha and the Australian Championships, but I didn’t feel like my usual self.
I’m trying to enjoy the rest of the Games. I’ve been to watch some other sports- swimming, gymnastics and synchronised swimming. It’s an amazing experience.
Thank you to all the lovely people for writing messages of support in spite of me failing to live up to expectation. I am very lucky and I will see you soon!
Donna
Aug
18
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Races and Results Rank Bib Name NOC Code Date of Birth Order Result
1 2783 GALKINA-SAMITOVA Gulnara RUS 9 JUL 1978 1 8:58.81 WR
2 2258 JEPKORIR Eunice KEN 17 FEB 1982 5 9:07.41 AR
3 2760 VOLKOVA Ekaterina RUS 16 FEB 1978 15 9:07.64 SB
4 2782 PETROVA Tatiana RUS 8 APR 1983 8 9:12.33 SB
5 2702 CASANDRA Cristina ROU 1 FEB 1977 2 9:16.85 NR
6 2266 NYANGAU Ruth Bosibori KEN 2 JAN 1988 11 9:17.35 PB
7 1669 AHMED Zemzem ETH 27 DEC 1984 3 9:17.85 NR
8 2581 FRANKIEWICZ Wioletta POL 9 JUN 1977 12 9:21.76 SB
9 3138 BARRINGER Jennifer USA 23 AUG 1986 9 9:22.26 AR
10 3255 WILLARD Anna USA 31 MAR 1984 14 9:25.63
11 2079 ROMAGNOLO Elena ITA 5 OCT 1982 7 9:30.04
12 1594 FUENTES-PILA Zulema ESP 25 MAY 1977 6 9:35.16
13 3030 GHRIBI Habiba TUN 9 APR 1984 10 9:36.43
14 2053 McGETTIGAN Roisin IRL 23 AUG 1980 13 9:55.89
1591 DOMINGUEZ Marta ESP 3 NOV 1975 4 DNF
Aug
16
Posted under
Races and Results Donna MacFarlane and Victoria Mitchell could not summon the times needed to progress past the heats of the women’s 3,000-metres steeplechase at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium on Friday evening.
Russia’s world record holder Gulnara Galkina-Samitova confirmed her favourite tag with a commanding run of 9 minutes, 15.17 seconds to win her heat and qualify fastest.
Mitchell, striking with her pink-died hair, could not keep up with the cracking pace of Samitova and finished well back in the field with a time of 9:47.88.
MacFarlane ran in the last heat and finished just four seconds outside qualifying, placing ninth with a time of 9:32.05.
Kenya’s Ruth Bosibori Nyangau posted the second fastest time of 9:19.75.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/15/2337277.htm?site=olympics/2008
Aug
15
Posted under
Races and Results I’m pretty nervous today! After yesterday’s thunderstorms, Beijing has blue skies and is starting to heat up. Hopefully the absence of clouds will mean it will also cool down in the evening. I’m racing in heat 3, 10.49pm AEST. Thank you for all of the messages of support. I will do my very best!
Donna
Aug
14
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Photo Gallery
Aug
14
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Races and Results The start lists are out, and I will run in heat 3 (the last heat) on Friday night. There are 17 girls in my heat, and a total of 52 athletes in the 3000m steeplechase event. To progress to the final, the first four across the line will automatically get through, as well as the next fastest three runners from all of the heats. So there will be 15 athletes in the final on Sunday night. My race is scheduled to start at 8.49pm Beijing time (10.49pm AUS time). The other Australian competing, Victoria Mitchell, will race in the first heat.
Donna
