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Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Rice Memories: Scott Filip
4/23/2020 12:00:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Blog
Hello Owl fans!
I'm Scott Filip, former decathlete on the track and field team at Rice and I'd like to share one of my favorite memories while competing for the blue and gray with you.
The setting was at the 2018 NCAA Championship meet in Eugene, Oregon at Hayward Field. This was a particularly emotional meet for me since it was my last time competing in the Rice jersey on a track and I knew that going into the meet. I knew that I was going to give it my all and do my best to represent Rice in the best way possible and make the Rice Family proud. This was also a historic meet because it was the last meet put on at Hayward Field before it was deconstructed for remodeling to host the 2021 World Championships (now postponed to 2022).
Basically I knew that I needed to go out with a bang.
Throughout my whole decathlon competition I was focused on competing event by event, but I couldn't help but dwell on the fact it would be the last time I would wear the Old English R representing Rice. I wanted to savor every moment. I had some great performances and some near disasters through this decathlon, an amazing long jump personal best and rolling my ankle before the hurdles, barely being able to start and finish that race, just to name a few. The peak of my realization did not enter my mind until I had one race left to finish the competition… the 1500m.
Typically, nerves are the main feeling I get before this race, instead, I was overwhelmed with adrenaline. I knew that this was my very last opportunity to make my mark in competition for Rice and I was going to give it my all. Waiting for the race to start I reflected on my journey at Rice, from O-Week to graduation with everything in between I was grateful for everything I had achieved and accomplished on and off the track.
This last moment though, was my final opportunity to better myself on the track. I vividly remember what was going through my mind the last 200m of the race, tired, legs burning from the past two days of completion and nine events, "I need to collapse after I finish, I need to set a personal record in this race." I tried to hit another gear and gun it with whatever I had left in my body to the finish line.
Through all the pain, I succeeded in my goal. My last race ever in a Rice uniform I had set a personal record in that race, a time that is still my best today. The motivation to give my all for Rice's honor gave me a strength that I am still searching for each day on the track training for the now 2021 Olympics. I know I will find it soon, but it will be nothing compared to competing in that last race for the Rice Owls.
I'm Scott Filip, former decathlete on the track and field team at Rice and I'd like to share one of my favorite memories while competing for the blue and gray with you.
The setting was at the 2018 NCAA Championship meet in Eugene, Oregon at Hayward Field. This was a particularly emotional meet for me since it was my last time competing in the Rice jersey on a track and I knew that going into the meet. I knew that I was going to give it my all and do my best to represent Rice in the best way possible and make the Rice Family proud. This was also a historic meet because it was the last meet put on at Hayward Field before it was deconstructed for remodeling to host the 2021 World Championships (now postponed to 2022).
Basically I knew that I needed to go out with a bang.
Throughout my whole decathlon competition I was focused on competing event by event, but I couldn't help but dwell on the fact it would be the last time I would wear the Old English R representing Rice. I wanted to savor every moment. I had some great performances and some near disasters through this decathlon, an amazing long jump personal best and rolling my ankle before the hurdles, barely being able to start and finish that race, just to name a few. The peak of my realization did not enter my mind until I had one race left to finish the competition… the 1500m.
Typically, nerves are the main feeling I get before this race, instead, I was overwhelmed with adrenaline. I knew that this was my very last opportunity to make my mark in competition for Rice and I was going to give it my all. Waiting for the race to start I reflected on my journey at Rice, from O-Week to graduation with everything in between I was grateful for everything I had achieved and accomplished on and off the track.
This last moment though, was my final opportunity to better myself on the track. I vividly remember what was going through my mind the last 200m of the race, tired, legs burning from the past two days of completion and nine events, "I need to collapse after I finish, I need to set a personal record in this race." I tried to hit another gear and gun it with whatever I had left in my body to the finish line.
Through all the pain, I succeeded in my goal. My last race ever in a Rice uniform I had set a personal record in that race, a time that is still my best today. The motivation to give my all for Rice's honor gave me a strength that I am still searching for each day on the track training for the now 2021 Olympics. I know I will find it soon, but it will be nothing compared to competing in that last race for the Rice Owls.
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