Thursday, December 31, 2015
Rochester Century Pole Vaulter/Diver/Gymnast Adrianna Jacobs is RPB AOY
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Cherae Reeves Indoor and Outdoor NCAA DIII Shot titles the #1 Concordia-Moorhead Sports Moment of 2015
Our top 10 moment of '15? Easiest decision we've made all year. Good morning, good afternoon, good night! #NoBrainer pic.twitter.com/axxpqcjnhc
— Cobber Athletics (@CobberSID) December 30, 2015
UPDATED with link to full paper: Will Hot Baths be the New Ice?
Link to the complete research paper is HERE.
Tom Langenfeld Gives 2016 Indoor Season a Jump Start with AR in M80 HJ
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
More Kids Don't Try This at Home. Unless You Are Renaud Lavillenie
#PoleVault #1 Vine of 2015.. RENAUD "Le Flip" .. @polevaultsummit .. https://t.co/DmEMo1pbzG .. @airlavillenie #... https://t.co/OpWAmjcQVq
— Mike McCarthy (@McCarthysan) December 26, 2015
2016 Gopher Women's Track Captains
Meet your 2016 #Gophers track & field captains! pic.twitter.com/edboytv4hf
— Minnesota W TrackCC (@GopherWCCTF) December 29, 2015
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Research: Recovery may have a Genetic Component
Friday, December 25, 2015
What a Difference 109 Meters Makes
Happy Holidays
Happy Holidays from the #Gophers! pic.twitter.com/OWafK9S0cb— Minnesota M CC/TF (@GopherMCCTF) December 25, 2015
Happy Holidays from all of us with the #Gophers! pic.twitter.com/OWafK9S0cb— Minnesota M CC/TF (@GopherMCCTF) December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas to all Cobber student/athletes, coaches, family and friends! May you all have a blessed day! pic.twitter.com/lCdQQLI4T9— Cobber Athletics (@CobberSID) December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas to all Cobber student/athletes, coaches, family and friends! May you all have a blessed day! pic.twitter.com/lCdQQLI4T9— Cobber Athletics (@CobberSID) December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas!— T&F Athletes Assn (@TrackFieldAA) December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas to everyone in Bulldog Country from Bulldog Track and Field!— UMD T&F/CC (@UMDTFCC) December 25, 2015
Happy holidays from USATF Minnesota!
— USATF Minnesota (@USATFMN) December 24, 2015
From all of us at Team USA Minnesota, Merry Christmas!
— Team USA Minnesota (@TeamUSAMN) December 25, 2015
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Edina's Sam Thomas Writes About NXN for MileSplit
#ThrowbackThursday: Sam Thomas (@amthoma33) reflects on @EdinaXC #NXN experience: https://t.co/I3xKrNn9Ea pic.twitter.com/3HSsOOwEz8
— MileSplit US (@milesplit) December 24, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Edina, Lake Conference Featured in Running Times
Nice write-up about @EdinaXC in @runningtimes magazine. They also kinda say MN Lake Conf. is the best in the Nation. pic.twitter.com/RXpYqq5wE7
— Lance Elliott (@LanceRunsALot) December 24, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Scouting for Talent
Garrett Heath Goes for a XC Treble at the Great Edinburgh XC Meet
USA's Garrett Heath to take on GB's Mo Farah as he aims for Great Edinburgh XC hat-trick - https://t.co/cNtGxyQilR pic.twitter.com/Wo8trLbgEO
— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) December 22, 2015
Monday, December 21, 2015
Top Trail Runners SignNew Anti-Doping Pledge
Our leaders in #cleansport are coming forward...trails and ultra thank you. Can a track and field athlete sign?! https://t.co/wXotEh25WZ
— Lauren Fleshman (@laurenfleshman) December 22, 2015
Gopher women's 2015 Team Awards, Academic All Big 10
ICYMI: 14 #Gophers were named Academic All-Big Ten honorees. #smartandfast https://t.co/zJdF9X4Hve pic.twitter.com/A6W7Yf2HFq
— Minnesota W TrackCC (@GopherWCCTF) December 18, 2015
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Kids Don't Try This at Home
Hurdle Of Doom - Jim Dilling https://t.co/Q0ATU6ruGQ
— Jim Dilling (@JimDilling) December 21, 2015
Duluth Sports Boosters Aiming to Build a Regional Indoor Sports Facility
Saturday, December 19, 2015
USATF MN Indoor Meet #1 Results
Mile pic.twitter.com/zBfyWhiBgN
— USATF Minnesota (@USATFMN) December 19, 2015
Friday, December 18, 2015
More Recruiting News
Shoutout to my good friend Jack Manderscheid for committing to the University of Minnesota for XC and track!! pic.twitter.com/LOUrZNSeMX
— Sam (@amthoma33) December 18, 2015
Coaches Vote to Bring Back the Mile at NCAA Championships
To clarify, the proposal to change the 1500m to mile is a recommendation to the NCAA D1 Sport Committee. Full story: https://t.co/PXizLyiI3y
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) December 18, 2015
First USATF MN All Ages Indoor Track Meet Saturday
2016 All Ages Indoor Track & Field Meet | USA Track and Field - Minnesota First indoor meet Saturday at Bethel! https://t.co/uVIr2fNdZj
— USATF Minnesota (@USATFMN) December 18, 2015
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
USATF Qualifying Standards for US Track Trials
Garrett Heath Does Training and Technique Videos
Brand NEW #Technique! 9 training videos with @beaststc & Club XC Champ, @_garrettheath! --> https://t.co/v4vORDltgI pic.twitter.com/7dggQaHNOQ
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) December 15, 2015
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
More Recruiting News
Extremely happy to announce my commitment to continue running and attend school at Emory University next year #GoEagles
— Sam Branson (@SBranson97) December 15, 2015
Former Gopher Women's Coach Gary Wilson Inducted into USTFCCCA HOF Today
Congrats to #Gophers great Gary Wilson on his induction in the @USTFCCCA Coaches HOF today! https://t.co/8G8JX8mnto pic.twitter.com/7iCpF8cETC
— Minnesota W TrackCC (@GopherWCCTF) December 15, 2015
Research: Heat Acclimation
Monday, December 14, 2015
Three Minnesota Track Officials Selected for Major Meet Duties
David Fergus
High Jump official, selected for
theUSA Juniors in Fresno, CA
|
Mike Karlson
High jump official, USA Juniors in Fresno, CA
(Also alternate for USA Indoor, World Indoor, and Olympic
Trials)
|
Ned O’Doherty
Finish Line Coordinator, USA Indoor and
World
Indoor in Portland, OR
(also alternate for Olympic Trials)
|
Minnesota Track & Field Coaches Association 2016 Clinic
Beth Alford-Sullivan- currently the Director Of T & F/CC at the Univ. of Tennessee. Past experience: Penn State, Stanford, Minnesota State-Mankato. 32 Coach of the Year Awards. 9 Big 10 Team Titles. 167 All-Americans. USTFCCCA President. 3 time Captain of Univ. of Minnesota X-C Team.
Matt Bingle- currently the Director of T & F/CC at the Univ. of Minnesota. 107 NCAA Qualifiers. 10 All Americans. 4 Big 10 Titles. Captain, Most Valuable, All Conference Hurdler at Ball State.
Lucky Huber- Director of T& F/CC at the Univ. of South Dakota. 16 Conference Team Titles. 2008 USTFCCCA National Women’ s Track Coach of the Year. 10th Place Team finish at D-1 NCAA National Indoor Championships 2014. Coached three time Olympic Qualifier, Derek Miles.
Katie Wagner- three time USTFCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year (10, 14, 15). Her hurdlers and jumpers scored 29 points at the D-III Indoor National Meet in 2015 and 40 points in claiming the National Title Outdoors. She was a Conference Champion in the Heptathlon and Pentathlon at UW-L.
Dan Fitzsimmons- Head X-C Coach/Asst. Track at the University of South Dakota. 2015, second and third place finish at Summit League X-C Championships. 28 Individual Conference Champs in Track distance events. 8 State HS X-C Championships at Yankton, SD and 5 State T& F Championships. 6 time State COY. Former steeplechase record holder at USD.
Andrew Rock- Head Men’s and Women’s T& F Coach at Bethel University. Olympic Gold Medalist 4 x 400, 2004 Greece Olympic Games. 9 time National Champion at Univ. of Wisconsin-Lacrosse. 2015 MIAC Women’s Track Coach of the Year. 13 National Qualifiers. PR of 44.35 in 400.
AG Kruger- throws Coach at the University of South Dakota. 3 time Olympian 2004, 2008 and 2012 in the Hammer. World Record Holder in the Pentathlon (SP, Dis, WT and Jav) for 35-39 age Group. National Champion and NCAA D-II National Athlete of the Year 2001.
Brett Ayers- Head X-C, Asst. T& F at Winona State University. Coached his Women’s X-C Team to a D-II National Championship in 2011. He also ran professionally for New Balance for seven years.
Jim Dilling-Head Men’s Coach at Minnesota State Univ.-Mankato. 3 Time NSIC Coach of the Year. 2 time USTFCCCA Region COY. 4 time NCAA D-II National Champion in the High Jump. 2007 USA National HJ Champion. PR of 7’ 6.5”.
Chris Parno- Assistant Coach at MSU-Mankato. 2 time USTFCCCA Region Assistant COY. Guided 9 MSU sprinters to All American honors in 2015. 7 time All Conference Hurdler, sprinter, decathlete at Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth.
Tom Thorkelson-Coaches the throwers at Gustavus Adolphus College. Has coached 52 All Americans since 1985. Coached 3 time National Champion and Olympic Trials Qualifier.
Jane Reimer-Morgan- Head Girls Coach at Minnetonka HS. 6 Time MSHSL State Champions. USTFCCA Minnesota Girls COY 2014. 2 time Minnesota Class AA Girls COY. Bob Bonk- 44 years as Coach at Fairmont HS. 6 time True Team State Champion. 1 MSHSL State Team Championship. 189 Individual State qualifiers.
Bruce Kivimaki- Head Boys coach at Eden Prairie HS. 3 State Team Championships. 105 All State Track Athletes. Minnesota Boys Class AA COY 2010.
Chris Milton- Pole Vault coach at Eden Prairie HS. 3 State Pole vault Champions. 17 All State Vaulters. 3 time MIAC Vault Champion.
Nick Lovas- Head Boys Coach at Hopkins HS. 3 State Team Championships. USTFCCCA Minnesota COY 2014. 2011 Girls COY. Matt Jaschen- Head X-C Coach/Asst Track at Johnston HS, IA. 2013 Class 4A COY.
Ben Youngs- Head Girls/Boys at Maple Lake HS. 1 State Team Championship. 2 time Minnesota COY ( Girls & Boys). 4 time State Runner-up.
Patti Percival- Head CC/Asst.Track Coach at White Bear Lake HS. 2 State True Team Championships. 3 runner-up finishes at State X-C. Moundsview HOF. Captain of the Univ. of Minnesota Track/CC teams.
Lee Van Nyhuis- Head Coach at Osakis HS. 15 Conference Championships. 8 years with a Relay in the top three at State Meet. Minnesota Girls COY.
Dave Emmans- Head X-C/Asst. Track Coach at Wayzata HS. 1 National Championship in Girls X-C. 3 time State Champions. National X-C COY. Coached State Record Holder in the 800.
Dale Moga- Asst. at Rushford-Peterson/Houston. Coached State Champions in Long Jump and Triple Jump. Also coached 2 All State Horizontal Jumpers.
These are just a few of the coaches that will be sharing their ideas and methods in January. Info on additional speakers and a complete schedule coming soon!
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Plymouth magazine article on Annika Halverson
Late Results:Brian Hatlevig Fifth HJ in World Masters Outdoor Champs
Bersagal/Puskedra Team Fourth in Dallas Marathon Duo to Rio Relay
Full results HERE.
Elite women ready to run at the 13.1 mark @deenakastor @mollyhuddle @des_linden @bexwade89 @anniebersagel pic.twitter.com/VYsui6Lhia
— Dallas Marathon (@DallasMarathon) December 13, 2015
Almost 6 mos. to the day since knee mfx and ran 13.1 @DallasMarathon w/ NO PAIN. The dream lives on. #TeamUA #EraseAllDoubt @RRCAnational
— Annie Bersagel (@AnnieBersagel) December 13, 2015
Saturday, December 12, 2015
USATF Junior Olympic XC Results
8 & Under Boy's 2K: - Jamison Ping 7th in 8:17.2
8 & Under Girl's 2K - Claire Vukovics 16th in 8:45.7; Audrey Silgen 53rd in 9:21.1
9 & 10 Boy's 3K - Charles Wendell 151st in 13:23.9; Elliot Vargas 294th in 16:48.1
9 & 10 Girl's 3K - Lauren Ping 5th in 12:10.6
11 & 12 Boy's 3K - Connor Lange 247th in 13:13.6; Tanner Lange 263rd in 13:24.5; Cooper Tinto 270th in 13:34.1; Cain Korf 310th in 16:23.8; Blake Korf 311th in 16:46.4
11 & 12 Girl's 3K - Grace Ping 2nd in 11:06.6
13 & 14 Boy's 4K - Ethan Vargas 236th in 16:16.8
17 & 18 Boy's 5K - Eli Grubbs 38th in 19:12.2
All results are HERE
USATF Club XC Championship Results
Women's Open 6K results HERE. Emma Bates 5th.
Men's Open 10K results HERE. Garrett Heath 1st. Jon Grey 2nd. Joe Moore 9th.
18th for men and 20th for women at #clubxcnats in beautiful San Francisco. @RunNFunElite pic.twitter.com/rQ1WRxUIEO
— Ben Sathre (@BenSathre) December 13, 2015
Footlocker Results
Your 2015 #FLCCC Champions: Virginia's Drew Hunter and Weini Kelati! #Finals #SouthSquad pic.twitter.com/a4FdIUtN3Y
— Foot Locker CCC (@FLCCC) December 12, 2015
Girl's results HERE.Boy's results HERE Griak winner Garek Bielaczyc fourth.
Footlocker results page with all regional results HERE
More Recruiting News
So, I'm chatting with his older brother this morning and learn @LucasTrapp recently committed to @gophermtrackcc
Exciting! #spilledthebeans
— Lance Elliott (@LanceRunsALot) December 12, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Comparison Chart Showing World & Olympic Records as well as the Rio 2016 Qualifying Times
IAAF 2016 Rio Olympic Standards, World and Olympic records comparison https://t.co/U9Ea6SBr3N pic.twitter.com/6jytR7b2e4
— Christopher Kelsall (@Chris_Kelsall) December 11, 2015
Catching up with TCM 2014 Women's Champ Esther Erb Atkins
More Recruiting News
We're thrilled to introduce our 15 newest #Gophers joining the program! https://t.co/PvwK6ufcfr pic.twitter.com/LePQHncbZb
— Minnesota W TrackCC (@GopherWCCTF) December 10, 2015
Wednesday, December 09, 2015
IAAF Releases New Olympic Qualifying Standards
Luca Wieland Big Ten Men's AOW
One more honor for @LucaRaiWieland...@BigTen Field Athlete of the Week! Story: https://t.co/fvL4dpNnG2 pic.twitter.com/uX5PbHq5L4
— Minnesota M CC/TF (@GopherMCCTF) December 9, 2015
Gophers Jess Lehman Big 10 Field Women AOW
Michigan & Minnesota Earn #B1G Women’s Indoor Track & Field Weekly Plaudits: https://t.co/VSXhWcPrmA pic.twitter.com/ug2hbhrTAC
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) December 9, 2015
Congrats to @JHerauf32 on being named #B1GTF Field Athlete of the Week! https://t.co/aHK50tjY93 pic.twitter.com/gc6d2oCuFf
— Minnesota W TrackCC (@GopherWCCTF) December 9, 2015
Tuesday, December 08, 2015
NSIC AOW; Weekly Summary #1
.@UMDTFCC sophomore @emitrost chosen first NSIC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for 2015-16 https://t.co/OIO2G9dSRT pic.twitter.com/tT27fRLL1U
— UMD Athletics (@UMDBulldogs) December 8, 2015
Men's Summary is HERE Women's HERE
U-Mary summary from the Bison Classic HERE
Winona State summary from the Chuck Peterson Preseason Open HERE
UMAC AOW
Kevin Wagner Named UMAC Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Week https://t.co/utxEv8WSdf #SaintsRiseUp pic.twitter.com/knTvR7H0hi
— CSS Athletics (@CSSsaints) December 8, 2015
UMAC AOW HEREWillmer Team At NXN Photo Gallery
2015 NXN pics...https://t.co/XPf2yqnIRK
Check em' out!
— Willmar Running (@BernhagentTara) December 7, 2015
St. Scholastica Opener Indoor Track Photo Gallery
More Recruiting News
We're excited to officially welcome @jen_conzemius to the #Gophers family! pic.twitter.com/8Am9OzJA7S
— Minnesota W TrackCC (@GopherWCCTF) December 8, 2015
Gopher Multi Man Luca Wieland and Winona State Weight Thrower Kaitlyn Long USTFCCCA AOW
Story: @LucaRaiWieland Named @USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week | https://t.co/AiL7kckWpM | #Gophers pic.twitter.com/LppfsxY6RU
— Minnesota M CC/TF (@GopherMCCTF) December 8, 2015
Kaitlyn Long story HERE
Monday, December 07, 2015
Gopher Intrasquad Meet on Friday
Get to the U of M Fieldhouse for your first look at the 2016 track & field #Gophers this Friday! pic.twitter.com/NIsgFKjBlJ
— Minnesota W TrackCC (@GopherWCCTF) December 8, 2015
Canadian Sprinter Andre DeGrasse Signs Big Contract
Research: Sodium Bicarbonate as a Recovery Tool after High intensity workouts
Sunday, December 06, 2015
Terry Goeman's Willmar/Edina Girl's NXN Photo Page
Lance Elliott's NXN Photo Gallery
Chuck Peterson Preseason Open Results
MSU Mankato men's summary is HERE Women HERE
Winona State summary is HERE.
Concordia St. Paul summary is HERE.
Kara Goucher Wins San Antonio Rock N Roll Half Marathon
Thanks for all the support- it means the world to me!!❤️❤️ #RnRSA pic.twitter.com/Pzu3Edez98
— Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) December 6, 2015
Kara Goucher wins San Antonio Rock N Roll Half Marathon in 1:11.10SI story on Kara Goucher HERE.
1
| Kara Goucher |
01:11:10
| 05:26 min/mile | |
2
1
| Sasha Gollish |
01:12:35
| 05:33 min/mile | |
3
1
| Shalane Flanagan |
01:12:42
| 05:33 min/mile | |
4
2
| Amy Hastings |
01:12:42
| 05:33 min/mile | |
5
1
| Kellyn Taylor |
01:13:19
| 05:36 min/mile | |
6
1
| Lauren Smith |
01:14:52
| 05:43 min/mile | |
7
| Heleene Tambet |
01:14:58
| 05:44 min/mile | |
8
2
| Karolina Nadolska |
01:15:15
| 05:45 min/mile | |
9
1
| Leonora Petrina |
01:16:34
| 05:51 min/mile | |
10
1
| Zoila Gomez |
01:16:56
| 05:53 min/mile |
Saturday, December 05, 2015
Dakota Classic Results
UPDATED: The Opener Multi & Open Events Results
Full results HERE
Gopher women's recap is HERE. Men's heptathlon results HERE
Bemidji State pentathlon summary is HERE
UMD women's summary HERE. Men HERE.
St. Scholastica women's summary is HERE. Men HERE.
Bulletin: Jaret Carpenter 4th. Hopkins team 7th at NXN
Hopkins XC 7th at nxn. Way to represent Hopkins pic.twitter.com/GxK4fVwppD
— HOPKINS X COUNTRY (@hopkinscc) December 5, 2015
Carpenter! pic.twitter.com/73eZag7DWy
— Chad Austin (@MinnesotaRunner) December 5, 2015
Bulletin: Bethany Hasz 5th; Willmar team 9th at NXN
Bethany Hasz finished 5th @NXN @MSHSLjohn @echo_sports @VoiceofAlexMN pic.twitter.com/OtC0gNvLXW
— Doug Hasz (@Dougskettlekorn) December 5, 2015
Looks like Hasz and Ping are in the top-10 or so with about 1/2 mile to go. pic.twitter.com/HISIhorROh— Chad Austin (@MinnesotaRunner) December 5, 2015
Friday, December 04, 2015
Dakota Classic Day 1 Meet Results
A Call for Help
The following is a message from Mac Wilkins, a prominent member of the Athletic "family" who is reaching out for a friend, a mentor. Stated simply, it is a call for help. This help is anything but simple. It is the sort of situation where all "normal channels" have been tapped and what is needed is beyond the ordinary. In a way it's the chance to be involved in a happy ending of a story that doesn't seemed to be heading in that direction. It is reaching out to the track and running community for assistance in a time of need.
The value of social media is the ability to reach out to large numbers of people in the hope that there is someone out there who can make this sort of sacrifice. All the info you need is below. Thanks for reading and any help you can provide.
Friends,
This message is a special request for help.
My dear friend of 35 years now has End Stage Kidney Disease
and desperately needs a life-saving donor kidney, blood type “O”.
He is working with Renewal, a remarkable nonprofit organization.
They have found an email campaign to be an effective technique
and it's best to cast as wide a net as possible.
Therefore, I am sending each of you this message in the hope
that you may know of someone who is able and willing to make
the incredible gift of donating a kidney in order to save a life.
To learn how you can save a life or for more information about
kidney donation,
Contact Renewal at 718 431-9831 or email R1013@renewal.org.
Renewal's website is www.renewal.org.
All inquiries to Renewal are strictly confidential and without any obligation.
They can also put you in touch with others who have donated a
kidney and are willing to share their experience.
All medical costs for evaluation and surgery are covered by the
recipient’s insurance.
Ancillary costs such as travel expenses and lodging, may be covered
by Renewal.
Please send this post to people with whom you email.
You never know whether or not there is someone who will
respond to this urgent need.
Gideon
is a two time Olympian, a discus thrower.
of
course.
But he is better known as the This is what athletes use to correct flaws and perfect the most efficient movement for their sport.
Gideon's
analysis helped me dramatically improve my discus technique.
Gideon's
software is available to schools at no cost.
This is how coaches can use high speed cameras, computers and Gideon's software to "see" what they can't see with their naked eyes.
This
is also how people with prosthetics naturalize and correct their walking
gates after losing a limb.
Gideon's
story is a
work in progress, literally and literarily.
|
Gideon has contributed so much to so many people.
And he has so much work left to do!
Thanks
for your help,
Mac
|
Bruce Leasure USATF MN Volunteer of the Year
Congratulations to Bruce Leasure who was the USATF Minnesota Volunteer of the Year. #USATF15 pic.twitter.com/jD6ejutCXF
— USATF Minnesota (@USATFMN) December 4, 2015
Thursday, December 03, 2015
Jeremy Karger-Gatzow is the New Track Coach at St. John's
Some of the Issues Being Discussed at the USATF Annual Meeting
Qualifying Standards for 2016 World Mountain Running Championships
Exciting MUT meetings in Houston @usatf @USAultrarunning @usmrt pic.twitter.com/5jLBXcTHuQ
— Nancy Hobbs (@NanoOnTrails) December 3, 2015
NSIC Indoor Track Pre-Season Polls, AOY
Wednesday, December 02, 2015
Critics Contend that USATF Whistleblower Policy Discourages Reporting of Abuses
USSkyrunning Series Proposal to Ban All Runners Convicted of Doping
Tuesday, December 01, 2015
More Controversy About USATF Personnel Decisions
Pole Vaulting: How a Vaulting Pole is Made
Every seen a pole vault pole born?
https://t.co/e82xEevR2E
— Gill Athletics (@GillAthletics) November 25, 2015
Petition to the USATF Board of Directors to Reserve Sports Honors for "Clean" Athletes
Background on the petition by author Lauren Fleshman HERE.
A Look Back at the Gopher Women's XC Season
Take a look back at the highlights of the #Gophers' 2015 cross country season! https://t.co/XitWWzVYTb pic.twitter.com/0s17WDawLU
— Minnesota W TrackCC (@GopherWCCTF) December 1, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Training Advice from Ireland's Sonia O'Sullivan
Spear Chucking: How Mac Wilkins Became a Discus Thrower
The takeaway theme from the Symposium was that concentrating on technique is currently believed to be the way to achieve the best results in the event. That brings up a story 1976 Olympic champion in the discus, Mac Wilkins told last year at the Minnesota track coaches clinic. We had been talking about his early career and Mac noted that he started as a javelin thrower.
More accurately, the javelin appeared to be his best event. When he got to Oregon, it looked like his future would be in the javelin. The javelin was his "natural" event, said Wilkins, and is the toughest field event in terms of what it requires from your body. Javelin throwers put their entire body to work in launching the spear. It was Wilkins' technique, or should I say, defects in that technique, that ended his "spear chucking" career.
His sophomore year, he was out throwing with his coach, Bill Bowerman, observing when his elbow "blew." There was no "Tommy John surgery"/repair back then in the early '70s, said Wilkins, so, instead of being Olympic champion in the javelin, Mac continued his career as a discus thrower and shot putter. He won national championships in both events, but the discus was where he had the most success. He began beating the top discus throwers in the world.
One of them, Sweden's Ricky Bruch, invited Mac to come to Europe and throw on the circuit. Bruch figured that an American competing with the Europeans would increase the visibility of the event and that both he and Wilkins could get more money from the meet promoters.
On May 1, 1976, Mac broke the world record for the event three times. He went on to defeat his friend and rival, the GDR's Wolfgang Schmidt, in Montreal for the Olympic gold medal. Not bad for spear chucker.
Shot Put Olympic Champ Adam Nelson Writes about Athlete Rights and How to Grow the Sport
Wayzata Earns at Large Bid to NXN
Wayzata Boys XC club receive at-large #NXN Team invite - 7th team appearance in 9 years at XC national Championship pic.twitter.com/3NyBGjIMPH
— Wayzata Track&Field (@WayzataTrack) November 29, 2015
List of At Large teams HERE.