The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

"Don't try and reinvent the wheel," Norbert Elliott head coach Purdue University Today we highlight the amazing journey in the coaching profession of Norbert Elliott. Norbert takes us from the playgrounds of the Bahamas to his undergraduate career at the University of Texas-El Paso. Its there at UTEP during his Graduate Assistantship that he discovered his calling; teaching young people how to imp...

When you want things to get better, when you want progress you have to get your material together to achieve the great result.  This week in "track is back" we see this happening with the various results put up by the amazing athletes all around the world.  Especially the new WR in the men's 60mH be set to 7.29!  Congrats to athlete and coach!  Is Van Niekerk putting it togethe...

Today we talk with highly accomplished long jumper Andreas Trajkovski from Denmark. We learn of his journey to Iowa Western CC and the University of Arkansas along with the coaches who mentored him along the way. His longest coach was his father and Andreas tells us about the special bond between him and dad. Then we discover Andreas passion for the jumps, and athletics overall, as he is the creat...

What's all the hype about right now!?  Are there results/performances that are being over-hyped or not hyped enough???    TRACK IS BACK!!!  We've got to continue to celebrate each week's noteable performances and, we say it each week, IT JUST KEEPS ON GETTING BETTER.  How Sway?  Then after the highlights of the week previous, let's reflect on something that is to...

"I'm into listening more than talking," said one of our guests today on a talking podcast!  Thank you to Justin St. Clair and Stevie Keller of North Dakota State for joining us to discuss their coaching journey and their program's unique culture. We learn how each coach came to NDSU, the transition from NCAA D2 to an NCAA D1 program, and how the entire NDSU ecosystem (administration, staff, a...

Well well well...welcome to episode 45!  We got the HBIC with us, Ms Aretha Thurmond!  Four time Olympian, mom, wife, the lead of international teams...she does it all. We asked her for her insight as to what will it take to see MORE females at the higher ranks of track and field.  We then follow it up with what is her advice to those females who desire to be up there with her. &nbs...

The Dynamic Duo of UNLV - Yvonne Wade & Larry Wade In a special episode of the Connections Podcast, host Mike Cunningham is joined by the dynamic duo of UNLV track and field: Head Coach Yvonne Wade and Assistant Coach Larry Wade. Together, they delve into their unique journey in the world of track and field, sharing personal anecdotes and insights that have shaped their careers. "I wanted...

Here's the surprise y'all been waiting for! This week we have the MAN HIMSELF...Paul Doyle. See what he has to say and reveal to us in conversation. If your jaw doesn't drop AT LEAST once, you might want to check to see that your heart is still ticking!   After we get Super Bowl predictions out of the way, including Paul's, we touch on the lack of representation of white sprinters and wh...

This week's episode we feature another excellent coach from Division III. Dustin Dimit is a former DIII athlete as well as several stops at DIII institutions such as Buffalo State and currently as the men's head coach of Rowan University. We get a great look at what it's like to have two job offers at the same time and his roles as the USTFCCCA DIII President. Near the end we get into a valuable d...

They sure did do it again!!!  Results from the ATL indoor meet, new collegiate marks, international marks...track and field is DOING IT!  Ain't it beautiful?!  Lucious, Lamar, Clyde make note of what stood out to them from the past weekend and give you a fair warning on what is on the horizon.    We got word this week that the size of the field that will be present at...

Learn the coach behind the stats from the coach herself. Well known as coaching the javelin sweep at the 2019 NCAA DI Championships in the javelin, Mississippi Associate Head Coach April Thomas joins us to discuss her journey in track and field. From growing up in Albany, Ga through a valuable life-altering stop at Cloud County Community College, Tennessee Vol undergrad April shares with us her st...

TRACK IS BACK!  OOHHWWWEEE, what a weekend on the oval!  What stood out to Lucious, Lamar, and Clyde? Who caught their eye?  Next, let's talk about who ISN'T toeing the line yet.  What is the perspective of the guys as to what is happening in California, in regards to return to play for the CIF athletes.  Next, the big topic during COVID (and always, if we are honest) was...

Stefanie joins us today to talk about her career from Arizona State, Florida State, McNeese State through becoming the head cross country coach at University of North Texas and now the head track and field and cross country coach for the Nicholls Colonels. We had a great conversation on what it takes to build a great cross country course at your school as well as an honest look at interviewing for...

In our second Mega-Pod installment we take all three parts of our well-received series with Coach Harry Marra, add the bonus episode with Ashton Eaton, and package them together for your listening pleasure. Mega-Pod Volume 2 puts the original episodes in a different order; we start with episodes #25 and #27 to hear Marra's entire coaching journey, then we throw in Ashton's version of his time with...

Well, well, well...we've got some items developing on the show tonight!  Let's put our toe in the water by talking about the adjustment to the NCAA indoor championships schedule.  What does it ultimately do to the landscape of team championships?  Now that we are knee deep in the water, let's talk about the youth athletes declaring pro status before college.  What are the benef...

Dana joins us today to talk about her journey in the sport of track and field and her career as a collegiate coach. After a promising Olympic career in the long jump was cut short by injury, several coaching mentors in her life gave her opportunities to coach. With stops at Middle Tennessee State University, University of South Carolina, Tulane University and more Dana has cultivated a career of w...

Here we are again for another conversation!  This episode, Lucious, Lamar, and Clyde discuss all things CHAMPIONSHIPS.  What do championship teams all have in common?  The guys all weigh in on what they have experienced to be characteristics of most championship teams.  Then we make a hard left and discuss the upcoming college football championship game as well as the NFL playo...

Today we explore the journey of a DIII athlete and coach who earned his position on a Big Ten coaching staff. Mike Erb ran track at Alleghany (Pa.) College and wound up the head coach of DIII University of Redlands (Ca.). After becoming the volunteer coach at Marquette University he applied and earned an assistant coaching position at the University of Illinois. Mike's story is one of not being a...

High school and (former) collegiate indoor 200m record holder and Olympian Bianca Knight joins us for a special announcement. Tomorrow she unveils a new app (BK Track Stars) designed to help coaches around the country coach better, athletes to take ownership of their training results, and parents to get and stay involved with their child's track and field training. Hear directly from Bianca as she...

Happy New Year to everyone!  Sit back and watch/listen to Lucious, Lamar and Clyde Talk about which of the training groups can be called THE GOAT of professional training groups.  Next, what is the NCAA indoor championships going to look like if programs are going to have different freedoms/restrictions imparted on them.  Do you agree or disagree with their perspectives?  Lastl...

Bryan has been a teammate of ours at Gill Athletics for over 20 years having served in the sales department, R&D department and now as a member of our Field Service department. He brings decades worth of experience as a high school and collegiate pole vaulter, a Marine who still vaulted, and as a college coach, vault club owner, and father of two state champion high school vaulters. We get to...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you today!  We are excited to share some time with you.  You're going to notice our #UGLYSWEATERS today, we are going to be putting up voting posts on the different social media platforms for you to vote on.  Make sure you cast your vote :)    First we talk about the CFP; how do Lucious, Lamar and Clyde feel about who made...

Journey Beyond the Track: A Candid Conversation with Karen Dennis of The Ohio State University Join host Mike Cunningham on the Gill Athletics Connections Podcast for a deeply insightful episode featuring the esteemed Karen Dennis, the driving force behind the track and field program at The Ohio State University. This episode is a treasure trove for track and field fans, offering a rare glimpse in...

Paul is the founder/CEO of Doyle Management Group. DMG's full concierge service handles competition schedules, meet entries, transportation, hotel accommodations, training camps, physical therapy and any last minute need that arises. A natural fit for these services is to create your own domestic track meets to help athletes compete on their home turf. Paul and his team did exactly that with the c...

Well, if you were able to sign on with us this week, you've already seen this in real time!  In true Big League form, I forgot to hit record when we started!  I know, get it together CHEW!  So you start off when I remembered to hit the button.  But to keep the notion of the LIVE show, we did not add our intro or outro this week.  We hope you enjoy and this was FUN to do! &...