Beth Bids Farewell

Track and field has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have learned many lessons from many coaches and have made countless numbers of friends, but nothing can compare to my four years here on the SMU Track and Field team. There is nothing better than to do the sport you love with great friends right beside you through all the triumphs and bad days and rainy days. To my family: This could be by far the hardest thank you to write. You have been there since the very beginning from the very first track meet when I had no idea what I was doing and will be there when I compete in my last college meet. You have seen me grow into the thrower I never thought I could become and have supported me through it all. The long drives to come see me throw every weekend really have meant a great deal to me. You make the good days great and the bad days easier to accept. Thank you for being there with the big hugs, the shoulder to cry on, and the open arms to do the Yay, Yay Dance! Thanks for feeding the thrower over the past four years, I think the cheese and rice crispy treats are what made us all do so well! Mom, Dad, and Lisa you are without a doubt my biggest fans, thank you and I love you so much! To the coaches: Thank you for all your support! Jackie, I am so glad you were my coach for my senior year because without you and your amazing skills and fun loving attitude toward throwing, there is no way I would have done so well. I came into SMU as an average thrower and left SMU with a few school records and several honors, and for that I thank you. Kirk, thank you for being there through all the changes this team has seen. Your “you-can-do-it” attitude has never failed me and has pushed me to keep trying and doing my best, even though I still won’t let you watch me throw! Jamie, even though throwing wasn’t really your thing, your “hammer-time” mentality was great and it was so much fun working with you. Brain, it was a great honor to get to learn from you, you gave me my foundation I needed to continue on and be great! Thank you all so much for your time and energy! To my friends: I want to thank all my friends for supporting me through the years here at SMU by coming to the track meets, saying wonderful words of encouragement, along with the high-fives, and hugs. Without you all I would have never made it through. I would like to especially thank Jen, Tom, and Kristina. Jen thank you for your support not only in high school but your continuing support through my four years here at SMU! To my teammates: To all of my fellow throwers, Ashley, Amanda, Ember, and Eric, thank you so much for the fun times we have spent together. I can honestly say, SMU Throwers are kind of a big deal, but it’s okay because it happens to the best of us! Remember we put the FAT in Field and Track and we would much rather eat and throw than run and throw up! Anyone for some pink rice crispy treats and cheese? To the rest of my team, keep working and keep winning! Good luck to all of you and thank you for your friendships! “The best feeling in the world is walking into an athletic atmosphere and knowing the other athletes are scared to death to compete against you.” If you ever get the experience to know what that is like, cherish it, because it truly is the best feeling in the world!