July 10, 2009
(Editor’s Note: Vanderbilt All-American Brittni Hamilton is in Bogota, Columbia with Junior Team USA for the Pan-American Bowling Federation Games. She won the Gold Medal earlier in the week for doubles.)
BOGOTA, Columbia— Before bowling Wednesday morning I received my first international medal. Standing on the podium with the Gold Medal around my neck, listening to our national anthem is an unexplainable feeling. I can only hope that I will be able to have that feeling again!
Wednesday was trios day. Unlike in years before, only three of the four people could bowl this event. In years before you were allowed to sub in your fourth team member to bowl in the trios event. This year however they did not allow substitutions. This meant that one of the boys and one of the girls who came to Colombia would have to sit out the event.
The trios event was on the short lane pattern. We also bowled on this pattern for the singles event on Monday. Unfortunately out of the four girls, I had the lowest score on Monday, which then led to me not being one of the three to bowl this event. I still got to bowl six games that will go towards my all-events score.
Needless to say I bowled my six games at 12:30 p.m. I shot 1309 for six games, an average of about 218. Then at 4:30 my other teammates bowled the trios event, and won Gold! Although having to watch them bowl and not being able to be bowling with them was very hard, USA still came home with the Gold which is the main goal of this week!! The boys ended up winning the Silver Medal. Team Mexico bowled extremely well and won the boys gold medal.
Today (Thursday) was the first day of the team event. We had to bowl three games today and we bowl three more Friday. Overall we bowled very well today and currently in are in first by about 60 pins over Colombia. We have to continue our solid bowling tomorrow in order to win.
All of the games that we bowl throughout the week goes towards an all events score. After the team event tomorrow the top three scores will receive medals. Currently, after the three games today, Christine is in first, Kristie is in third, Jenn is fourth, and I am fifth. Tomorrow not only determines the medalists for the team event but also the all-events. Team USA girls has a chance to take all three medals. Also on Saturday the top 16 all event scores bowl match play on Saturday for the Masters event.
Again the last two days we have been in the bowling center all day. They are very long days, bowling and then watching and cheering our guys on. Being here is an amazing experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
The people here in Colombia have such different lifestyle. We have driven through different parts of the city throughout the week. The area down here is very different then anything I have seen back at home. Crazy driving, bars on all windows of every store/restaurant, all the buildings are worn down. There are people selling different things, they walking down the middle of the road like it is nothing. They go up to cars trying to sell the goodd that they have. Very different then back home.!
I can’t believe that this week is almost over! We have the second half of the team event tomorrow and then the Masters on Saturday! GO USA!!!!!!