► 2014 All Comers Meets Schedule posted

Posted by Cynci Calvin on Aug 13, 2014 in Track & Field, Youth | Comments Off on 2014 All Comers Meets Schedule posted

► Interview: With New PA Head Coach Jerry Craft of the A1 Track Club

Posted by SD on Jul 16, 2014 in pausatf | Comments Off on Interview: With New PA Head Coach Jerry Craft of the A1 Track Club

Interview: With New PA Head Coach Jerry Craft of the A1 Track Club

A1 Track Club is gearing up for their very first season as a New and Proud Member of the Pacific Association. In the midst of a their seasonal Spring training, Head Coach and Founder Jerry Craft allowed us to a pay the team a visit as he prepares his student-athletes for the 2010 Track Season.

1. What does exactly does A1 stand for and what’s the meaning behind it?

A1 is the acronym for “AudienceOfOne” we’re a small club with the primary focus on relationships. Everyone wants to know that they are the main focus of attention. A1 is just that, I have nine athletes, but I have a special bond with each one. The connecting rings exemplify the connection between each athlete and myself. We’re working toward a common goal of not just being an exceptional athlete, but an athletic role model both on and off the track.

2. Not many people get a chance to experience what goes on behind the scenes as a Head track & field coach. With a New Team, a New Year and a New Approach, has the pressure of managing a new team eased at all?

The pressure to perform always sits in the back of ones mind, but like with the kids developing as athletes, I continue to develop as a better coach learning, evaluating and growing in the sports I love so much.

3. Now entering your First season as the head coach at A1, what do you expect out of your team this year?

All I expect out of my athletes is to continue to develop nothing more. If they trust in the process, not just listen to what I say, but buy in to it, and respond to it. If they do that we will be successful.

4. With Training in full swing for most of the teams across the association, what is your basic training philosophy approaching mid-season as you prepare your team to compete against some of the Associations best?

At this point in the season it’s about execution of the things we’ve worked hard on at practice. Right now our theme is to understand the actions required and doing the things necessary to execute them consistently. Correct repetitive action brings about positive results.

5. They say there’s no “I” in TEAM. But how important is it to encourage and focus on personal development.

Each athlete understands they are a part of one body working toward a common goal and that’s to continue to develop. It’s equally important that each athlete maintain their own individuality, which makes them who they are.

6. looking at a your student-athletes, what do you look for the most besides their performances on the track?

I desire my athletes to be respectful, encouraging to others, to have a positive demeanor and countenance about themselves. I view A1 as a small corporation and they are direct representation of the company.

7. Who are some of your student-athletes who have shown early signs of success heading into the season?

Each one of my athletes continues to impress me with their work ethic and attitudes toward training. We’ve only competed in one meet, but I’ll say this, “in the upcoming meets A1 will not just show up, but we will show out”.

8. It’s said “Good things come to those who wait” How important is patience when development young athletes?

Patience is the key to success. As coach we make mistakes in training, but one must have the patience when we make a mistake, learn from it, correct it, and be a better coach from it.

9. When it’s time to head home and step away from the oval, how does Coach Craft like to spend his free time?

I’m a husband, a father of 4 children, Minister at my church, High School sprint coach, so you can imagine I say quite busy. I study, I evaluate, and I talk shop with others more experienced than me. As close friend and track coach once said to me, “I don’t sleep”.

10. For anyone out there who wishes to one day start their own Team, what is the best piece of advice that you can give them?

Inspiration starts within, a passion and desire to do something with the gift given to each of us. Each one of us are pregnant with dreams and at any given time with the right timing and support you can give birth to something that can prove to be the standard in which everyone else measure themselves by.

► Honoring Coach Casey: One Hurdle at a Time

Posted by SD on Jul 16, 2014 in pausatf | Comments Off on Honoring Coach Casey: One Hurdle at a Time

Honoring Coach Casey: One Hurdle at a Time

Early fall last year one of Youth Track’s most revered coaches decided to hang up his hurdle. Coach Charles Casey the hurdle coach for 3M Track Club out of Oakland announced his retirement at the annual Track Banquet

Since 1985, Coach Casey has been teaching the art of Hurdles to the members of Oakland’s own, 3M. After coming over from Berkeley East Bay to coach his son Byron. Coach Casey has a background in martial arts and was a track athlete himself. He believes he has been so successful over the past years with his athletes, because they believe he really cares about the whole person.

Many of his athletes begin as midgets bunny hopping over the hurdle which he believes is the most important step, just get over and do it the best way you can. Once they get over, he then can work on other aspects of hurdling. Coach Casey had had tremendous success over the past 25 years, he has helped Coach Pittman and the rest of the 3M Coaching staff build a solid foundation for youth hurdling.

Many of his athletes have gone one to both high school and college using the same hurdle count. As these athletes move on and mature, many have gone on to achieve both state, national and international success. Just recently, former 3M Athlete and UC Berkeley signee, Ray Stewart thanked Coach Casey for giving him the framework for his success as he moves on to his college career.

Julian Purvis: “Coach Casey was a fun coach, he had a lot of energy and was always supportive when you did something well, he made Youth Track Fun”

Even though Youth track last a short time in many of our athletes careers, it is clear the impact that the Coaches like Coach Casey have made on the kids have been enormous. This year at the 3M Invitational, many of Coach Casey’s former athletes will be on hand to recognize his time, energy and enthusiasm, and Coach Casey is excited about seeing them all.

Trinity Wilson: “I still use his hurdle cadence to this day, I hear myself saying it as I hurdle”

Trinity Wilson, the current National record holder in the 100mh, is one of Coach Casey’s former athletes, and she says that she talks to Coach Casey all the time and she loves the fact that he continues to offer words of encouragement and tell her how proud he is of her accomplishments”. Trinity just happened to be one of the athletes that had the honor of signing his record holder shirt. This is a quite an honor for any athlete who has trained under Coach Casey, once you break a national record, you have the honor of signing his shirt with your winning time.

Sasha Wallace: “Its important to me that I make him proud, he spent a lot of time trying to make us all better. Needless to say, he has a lot of signatures on the shirt to date.

► Youth Post

Posted by Cynci Calvin on May 28, 2014 in Youth | Comments Off on Youth Post

Testing Post…

► Ultra Running Post

Posted by SD on May 28, 2014 in Mtn-Ultra-Trail Running | Comments Off on Ultra Running Post

Testing Post…

► Road Racing Post

Posted by SD on May 28, 2014 in Road Racing | Comments Off on Road Racing Post

Testing Post…

► Masters Track & Field Post

Posted by SD on May 28, 2014 in pausatf | Comments Off on Masters Track & Field Post

Testing Post…

► CC Post

Posted by SD on May 28, 2014 in XC | Comments Off on CC Post

Testing Post…

► MTF Irene Obera is USATF’s Athlete of the Week

Posted by Cynci Calvin on Apr 23, 2014 in pausatf | 0 comments

► 2009 USATF Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championships COURSE MAPS

Posted by Cynci Calvin on Dec 12, 2012 in legacy | Comments Off on 2009 USATF Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championships COURSE MAPS