. . .  continued McLaughlin and her coach devised a plan. She would compete in the 100mH leading with her non-dominant leg. McLaughlin was slow, stutter stepping and shuffling before each hurdle. Just 2 months before the Trials, she competed in the 100mH leading with her left leg, finishing last. 

 

By the time McLaughlin arrived at the Trials, she was ready. During the 400mH finals, McLaughlin cleared the first 7 hurdles using her right leg, and hurdles 8 and 10 using her left, on her way to a new world record. 

 

Compare McLaughlin’s work leading up to the Trials with the preparation of the 800m run American record holder, Donavan Brazier. Brazier was considered a “lock” for Tokyo. He arrived at the Trials with no strategy other than to win. 

 

After finishing last and missing a spot on Team USA, Brazier admitted he entered the finals with no particular race plan. "I've been able to win from the front, I've been able to win from the back . . . it was just over-confidence going into the race thinking I can do whatever the hell I want and come out successful[.] [M]aybe the lack of race plan is what got me."  

 

McLaughlin and Brazier are clear examples of the importance of development, working on your game; that every race is not about winning.

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So what's your #assignment?

 

Whatever it is, Tracklab is the place to do it. It’s where your athletes can set aside winning, like McLaughlin, and work on the parts of their race or event. What part is up to you.

 

From pre-race routines to finding the board to race positioning. Tracklab provides a training platform that consists of full scale, officiated, FAT timed meets, where you can enter athletes in unlimited events without qualifying times or marks, and remain on the field of play to provide instruction and feedback before, during and after competition. #onelab

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