2017 Season Flashback Series: April 14

I hate making mistakes that adversely affect other people. While running off the high jump competition this week, a competitor thought she was up when she was actually on deck. I had her step aside, and she snapped something about me calling the names out of order. After her turn came, a third attempt miss, she stormed off.
Maybe I did call a wrong name the turn before, I don’t remember. Even though I’m not responsible for her performance, I sympathize with the difficulty of channeling your adrenaline when you get all psyched up and then have to wait. I didn’t want that situation for her.
I also used to get frustrated with officials if they made a mistake. Or stray leaves blowing across the pole vault runway. Or kids playing right at the back of the high jump pit. I never learned to control my mental state while competing, so I sought to control my external circumstances. But that doesn’t work.
