A highlight from the 62th Sports Meeting of HZAU occurred on the morning of October 20 in the women’s 400-meter final. An extraordinary tie took place for the first-place position between Zhou Yimei, a student athlete from the College of Economics and Management, and Zhao Hui, a non-student athlete from the College of Animal Science &Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine. They equally excelled with timing of 65’’52 and 69’’62 respectively. This impressive achievement led them to be jointly awarded the first gold medal of the Sports Meeting.
On the sprint track, they positioned themselves in a crouched position, preparing for the race. When the signal gun echoed through the air, they exploded into action, unleashing their incredible speed and acceleration. The 400-meter race held a deeper significance for these athletes beyond just a distance; it served as a true test of their speed and endurance. Despite not being a student athlete, Zhao Hui showed remarkable composure and resilience in the face of strong competitors. Her performance highlighted her sound athletic ability in sports.
Zhao Hui takes off running in the women’s 400-meter final (photo by Wang Bowei)
“I set myself the goal of taking first place even before the Games,” Zhao said. She has been holding herself to high standards. In the Hubei Provincial Games several months ago, Zhao demonstrated exceptional adaptability as she quickly adjusted and thoroughly prepared herself, ultimately achieving a remarkable result. Her preparation for the Provincial Games also paved the way for the Sports Meeting.
Zhao’s decisive, vigorous strides highlighted her unremitting efforts and devoted faith. She sincerely expressed her affection for sports in the interview. “I love sports. In training and competitions, I really had a tough time, but I have also gained experience and a sense of fulfillment,” she said. Zhao then affirmed her commitment to continue sports in the future, carrying her passion forward.
Another athlete, Yimei Zhou, also shared feelings about her win. “I feel very proud. I represented my high school and the provincial team before, and this is the first time I’ve won a championship for my own college.”
Zhou Yimei takes off running in the women’s 400-meter final (photo by Li Keyi)
Award Ceremony (Photo by Li Xiang)
Group photo of the women’s 400-meter award ceremony (Photo by Xu Ke)
For most athletes, it is a challenge to pursue sports training and studying at the same time, and Zhou has found balance. She believes that, as a non-athlete student, it is necessary to exercise in a moderate way after studying and to balance work and play. Looking ahead, Zhou has more ambitious goals: she plans to become a national-level athlete and complete her graduate studies. “Be yourself on the field, I hope everyone can run their best on the track,” Zhou, smiling, sent words of encouragement to other athletes who are fighting unwaveringly right now.
Source：http://news.hzau.edu.cn/2023/1020/68060.shtml
Translated by：Song Bowen
Proofread by: Jin Yuxuan
Supervised by: Jin Bei
