Latest news with #trackandfield
Forbes
17 minutes ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Wallace Spearmon Talks About His New Role With USATF, And Shaping The Future Of U.S. Relays
US' Courtney Lindsey reacts after competing in the men's 4x100m relay heat of the athletics event at ... More the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP) (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images) Wallace Spearmon has always been interested in the science behind performance. In 2011, less than a year removed from one of his best efforts on the track when he ran 200 meters in 19.79 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League, he was called upon by the television show MythBusters to determine whether a human could walk on water. 'Wallace, how far do you think you're going to get?' the show's host, Jamie Hyneman, said. 'I'm hoping for three steps,' Spearmon replied. The Chicago native sped down the sloped dirt path and proceeded to land directly in the water, ending that experiment's hopes. But 14 years later, maybe Spearmon has some tricks up his sleeve. As the General Manager of International Teams, Athletes, and Coaches Services for USA Track and Field (USATF), he's earned an opportunity to shape the direction of the U.S.'s hopes in the relays and says he intends to lean on data science to help promote future success at the national level. His appointment in February was part of a major restructuring of USATF's High Performance Department, which also saw Robert Chapman become its Chief of High Performance Operations and Tyler Noble as its Lead Sports Science & Data Analyst. In total, the USATF made a swift culture change – while at the same time laying off high-ranking employees, according to a report by LetsRun. In the aftermath of that organizational change, the USATF also moved on from relay coaches Mechelle Freeman, who coached the women's 4x100 team to Olympic gold in 2024 and World Championship wins in 2022 and 2023, and Mike Marsh, who were operating on contracts which ended after the 2024 year. Marsh's men won gold in 2023 at the World Championships, but were disqualified at the Paris Olympics following a head-scratching hand-off in the zone. Daryl Woodson, an assistant during the Paris Olympics, was hired in March to take over as head coach of the division. The American men haven't run faster than 37.40 in the 4x100 since 1992, while the U.S. women hold the world record of 40.82, though that time was last broken in 2012. Spearmon, 40, revealed to me that there's a grand vision in place. 'I'm actually really excited about this,' he said. 'Tyler Noble, he has some programs that can motion-capture stride length, stride frequency, gait – they can almost project injuries. And he's at every relay practice.' An Important Time For Change With USATF EUGENE, OREGON - JULY 06: Athletes compete in the Women's 10,000m Final during the 2023 USATF ... More Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field on July 06, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by) This moment is particularly important for Spearmon, who became a world champion in 2007 as a member of the U.S. men's 4x100 team and reached both the Beijing and London Olympics in the mid aughts. His most gut-wrenching setback, however, came when he was not selected to be a part of the men's 4x100 lineup in 2008. And in fact, failure in the relays has been an ongoing sore subject for Team USA. The American men's 4x100 team has not won gold since 2000, enduring a drought of six straight Olympic cycles. This bothers Spearmon, because the U.S. men have won three Olympic golds at the men's 100 meters since 2000 and won the last four golds at the World Championships. It's not an issue of talent. 'I believe we have the best athletes in the world,' Spearmon said. The most important piece to the puzzle, Spearmon contends, is an overarching, consistent vision of the team's objectives and its strategy. He confirmed to me that flaws in communication were an issue in previous cycles. Prior to Spearmon's appointment, the USATF pivoted from a model of hiring relay coaches who were, more or less, volunteers or contractors, to a more precise and long-term outlook decided upon by USATF. Woodson's hire reflects that vision, he said. What also elevated that strategy was a directive by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which issued a $6.2 million dollar grant to the governing body and advised for a more centralized model of hiring. Florida track coach Mike Holloway, who is on the executive committee of the USATF High Performance Division, told LetsRun that he felt that Freeman and Marsh, who do not coach college or professional athletes, were more akin to 'relay coordinators' than coaches of the program. Spearmon said shoring up communication issues within the relay pool is one of his main priorities. 'As an athlete, if you're given at the beginning of the year a certain direction, you can train for that. You can make sure you're ready for it,' he said. 'But when you don't receive any information until you make the team, that's too late. So we've addressed that by hiring a relay coach who applies consistent concepts from the youth level all the way up to our senior teams.' But this also applies for athletes who aren't ultimately selected for teams. Notably, U.S. 400 meter runner Kendall Ellis expressed frustration in Paris when she was not selected to run in the Olympic final. 'If we win and people are feeling negative about the experience, then that's something I would like to address,' Spearmon said. 'I feel like it's our job to provide you with information. It is not our job to ensure you like that (information), but it is our job to make sure you have it.' Hiring Woodson was the first step, Spearmon said. Next were key hires like Jeremy Wariner, the Olympic 400 meter champion in 2004 and a three-time gold medalist; Kyra Jefferson, a 3-time NCAA champion; and Taylor Washington, an Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400 in Rio in 2016. All three are assistants under Woodson. If not more important are the relationships USATF's new coaches forge with the likes of Lance Baumann, Mike Holloway and Tonja Buford-Bailey—three coaching veterans whose technical acumen lead the likes of Noah Lyles, Grant Holloway and Gabby Thomas, among others. Can a collaborative vision coincide with U.S. success ahead of Los Angeles 2028? Spearmon said he got his first glimpse of his new standard in March at the Texas Relays. The 4x100 foursome of Tamari Davis, Thomas, Jenna Prandini and Anavia Battle ran a time of 41.74, which was four-hundredths of a second faster than the U.S. women's winning time from Paris. 'This is the most prepared we've ever been,' Spearmon said of USATF's relay strategy. 'We have some big goals and I would say we have some big expectations for LA28. I think we'll be able to achieve those.' What's Next For Wallace Spearmon's Vision On The Track With USATF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 26: Noah Lyles of Team United States reacts after winning the Men's ... More 4x100m Relay Final during day eight of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 26, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by) Spearmon will get answers for all of his questions soon enough. And he says his experience will have prepared him for it. From his time as the USATF Athlete Commission's Chair, to his tenure as an Associate Director of Athlete Services, which saw him work through governance and advocacy for athletes, his influence has grown and shaped around the changing dynamics of the sport itself. Spearmon has even coached at the international level, from the under-20 ranks all the way up to the senior team. From 2017-2019, he was an assistant relay coach and in 2021 became the team's lead when Orin Richburg could not attend the Tokyo Olympics, per LetsRun. Identifying objectives and meeting core expectations will be a subject shared between Spearmon and the staff that reports up to him. 'What I felt like as an athlete was completely different then what I felt as a coach,' Spearmon said. 'So in this administration role, I believe it's going to be different then either one of those previous experiences. 'It's my job to make sure that our relay coach operates within a certain scope and does the best job he can do,' he continued.
BreakingNews.ie
17 hours ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Tributes paid to Ireland's first female track and field Olympian and 'trailblazer' in Irish sport
Tributes are being paid to Ireland's first female track and field Olympian, Maeve Kyle, who was 'a trailblazer' in Irish sport. Ms Kyle, who died at the age of 96, was born in Kilkenny in 1928. She made history at the 1956 Melbourne Games, competing in the 100m and 200m. Advertisement A former Kilkenny College student, she went on to represent Ireland at three Olympic Games, becoming the nation's first triple Olympian. Also a star in Irish hockey, she earned 58 caps and was twice named to the World All Star team. Athletics Ireland in a statement said it is "deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our esteemed Life Vice President Maeve Kyle.' They said that Ms Kyle was a 'true pioneer of Irish sport and one of our most iconic and inspirational athletes and she broke new ground for women in Irish athletics.' Advertisement She represented the country with distinction at the Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, and Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. At the Tokyo Games, she reached the semifinals in both the 400m and 800m. Maeve went on to win a bronze medal in the 400m at the 1966 European Indoor Championships in Dortmund and continued to compete with distinction in the Masters category, winning world titles and setting world records. 'Her presence on the international stage opened doors for countless others, and it was her courage, determination, and dignity on and off the track that truly set her apart,' continued Athletics Ireland. A gifted multi-sport athlete, Ms Kyle also became a renowned coach, working alongside her beloved late husband, Sean, to help shape generations of Irish athletes including their daughter Shauna. Advertisement She completed her involvement in a fourth Olympic Games by serving as coach to the Irish track and field team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. 'Her contribution to athletics spanned decades, from her ground-breaking career as a competitor to her roles as a coach, mentor, administrator, official, and advocate for women in sport and coaching structures,' the statement added. 'Maeve Kyle was more than a legend; she was a torchbearer who lit the path for those who followed. Her legacy lives on in the athletes she inspired and the standards she set. 'On behalf of the athletics community across Ireland, Athletics Ireland extend our heartfelt condolences to her daughter Shauna, her granddaughter Indy, to the extended Kyle and Shankey families, her many friends, and all those whose lives she touched through her extraordinary career and enduring legacy. She was also appointed an OBE for her services to sport. A spokesperson for the Kilkenny College said: 'Maeve Kyle's legacy as a trailblazer in Irish sport will never be forgotten."
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maeve Kyle, Irish trailblazer and 3-time Olympian, dies at 96
DUBLIN (AP) — Maeve Kyle, who became Ireland's first female track-and-field Olympian when she competed at the 1956 Melbourne Games, has died. She was 96. The Olympic Federation of Ireland said Wednesday that Kyle was a 'trailblazer for women's sport.' The cause of death was not announced. 'She competed at three consecutive Olympic Games – Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, and Tokyo 1964 – at a time when women had to overcome huge prejudice and when opportunities in international athletics were extremely limited,' the federation said in its announcement. The federation also praised the breadth of Kyle's career. "A sprinter and middle-distance runner, she represented Ireland in the 100m and 200m sprints in 1956 and 1960, and went on to reach the semifinals of the 400m at the age of 36 in Tokyo 1964, cementing her status as one of Ireland's all-time greats on the track,' the statement added. Kyle also represented Ireland more than 50 times in field hockey. 'We have lost a legend of Irish Olympic sport who rose to the top despite huge challenges in 1950s Ireland. She was an inspiration to us all. May she rest in peace,' OFI president Lochlann Walsh said. ___ AP Sports:
Associated Press
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Maeve Kyle, Irish trailblazer and 3-time Olympian, dies at 96
DUBLIN (AP) — Maeve Kyle, who became Ireland's first female track-and-field Olympian when she competed at the 1956 Melbourne Games, has died. She was 96. The Olympic Federation of Ireland said Wednesday that Kyle was a 'trailblazer for women's sport.' The cause of death was not announced. 'She competed at three consecutive Olympic Games – Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, and Tokyo 1964 – at a time when women had to overcome huge prejudice and when opportunities in international athletics were extremely limited,' the federation said in its announcement. The federation also praised the breadth of Kyle's career. 'A sprinter and middle-distance runner, she represented Ireland in the 100m and 200m sprints in 1956 and 1960, and went on to reach the semifinals of the 400m at the age of 36 in Tokyo 1964, cementing her status as one of Ireland's all-time greats on the track,' the statement added. Kyle also represented Ireland more than 50 times in field hockey. 'We have lost a legend of Irish Olympic sport who rose to the top despite huge challenges in 1950s Ireland. She was an inspiration to us all. May she rest in peace,' OFI president Lochlann Walsh said. ___ AP Sports:
Irish Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Trailblazer Maeve Kyle, Ireland's first female Olympian in athletics, dies aged 96
Athletics Ireland have led the tributes to Irish Olympic and sporting trailblazer Maeve Kyle, who has died at the age of 96. A three-time Olympian, and the first Irish woman to compete in track and field at the Olympics, Kyle devoted much of her life to sport. In a statement Athletics Ireland said Kyle was 'a true pioneer of Irish sport and one of our most iconic and inspirational athletes; she was a torchbearer who lit the path for those who followed. Her legacy lives on in the athletes she inspired and the standards she set.' Olympic Federation of Ireland president Lochlann Walsh added: 'We have lost a legend of Irish Olympic sport who rose to the top despite huge challenges in 1950s Ireland. She was an inspiration to us all. May she rest in peace.' READ MORE In 2012, Kyle was the recipient of The Irish Times/Sport Ireland Lifetime Achievement award, presented by 1956 Olympic 1,500m champion Ronnie Delany, her team-mate on her maiden Olympic voyage of 1956. It was at those Games in Melbourne where Kyle became the first woman to represent Ireland in athletics at the Olympics, selected in both the 100m and 200m events. Kyle often told the story of how news of her selection for Melbourne was greeted, perhaps best surmised in a letter printed in The Irish Times. Maeve Kyle (87) first represented Ireland in three Olympic Games, Melbourne in 56', Rome in 60' and Tokyo in 64'. She was the first female representative for Ireland in the Games and was trained by her husband Seán Kyle. Video: Enda O'Dowd 'I was a disgrace to motherhood and the Irish nation', she once proudly recalled. 'That's what one letter in The Irish Times said. Imagine! A woman leaving her husband and daughter to go and run!' Kyle's achievements didn't stop there, as she packed several lifetimes worth of sporting involvement across several different codes. Born in Kilkenny in 1928, educated in Dublin at Alexandra College before attending Trinity College, her first love was hockey. Kyle earned 58 Irish caps and represented three of the four Irish provinces – Leinster, Munster and Ulster – and she was also named in the All-Star teams of 1953 and 1959. In addition to Melbourne, she also competed in the Rome Olympics in 1960 and in Tokyo in 1964, reaching the semi-finals of both the 400m and 800m. She also took bronze in the 400m at the 1966 European Indoor Athletics Championships in Dortmund. Kyle was equally deft at tennis, swimming, sailing and cricket. She later cofounded the Ballymena and Antrim Athletic Club with her late husband and coach Seán. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
