June 9, 2004

It is a month away from the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, and preparations are going as planned, but sometimes I find myself pondering whether I'm ready with such a short amount of time left. But at this moment, all I have to think about is just preparing for the Trials. I'm pretty sure that my times will get faster, because I'm having positive workouts at practice with my teammates Tim Dunne, Eric Potter, Neville Miller, Jim Jones and Marcus Mayes.

I did not have a meet last weekend, but I traveled to Minneapolis for the wedding of my best friend and Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity brother. The trip showed me that there are many people out there cheering and praying for me from afar. They give me strength to lean on and call upon for support when I need to hear it on my bad days of training.

I'd like to take this time to thank some people for their support and help. First, thanks to God for allowing me this life so that I may give you something to read; second, the Tribune for allowing me this opportunity to explore my journalistic side; next to the citizens of Columbia and Boone County for your attention and kind words of encouragement - it means a lot to me - to my Mizzou family, my coaches, sports medicine staff, weight coaches and the best massage hands in the land in Estaban Ruvalcaba.

Derrick Peterson