The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Today we bring you behind the scenes track person who has influenced and improved our great sport. We welcome Paul Merca to the show to discuss his influences to becoming a track and field announcer at University of Washington Dempsey Center, his journalistic background, and his work with televised track events. Paul is 'Mr. Washington' growing up in Seattle and running cross country for the Huski...

What change in the women's sprints are the guys talking about that could change the game???  Off the track, what other sports do you think each of the guys fancy? Do you think you know? Talking about on and off the track, who gets to make the list of the greatest combo football/track and field guys ever?  Our sport across the pond, is significantly more followed than State side.  Do...

Maurice is the head coach of Niwot High School outside of Denver, Colo. Today we talk about the influences in his life that have helped him become one of the more successful high school coaches in the country. We learn of his mom's influence, famed coach Gary Dirks' influence, Coach Bill McCartney the HC of Univ of Colorado football, and many more people who poured into Maurice.  Coach is mak...

Just when we think we've covered the greatest topics ever, we find another stone to turn over.  This week we are joined by the one and only, JACKIE JOYNER KERSEE! Listen to what she has to say when we ask her to compare today's jumpers to those of her era and some personal insight to who Ms Jackie, the humanitarian, is nowadays.  Then just when you think the conversation can't be more re...

Today we have a fun talk with Daniel McKim. Daniel is a former thrower at Northwest Missouri State University who has gone on to create some of the internets funniest videos centered around throwers, Crossfit, Highland Games, and more. We had a great time talking about Daniel's lessons regarding 'choking' at nationals repeatedly and the specific steps he took to practice his way out of it. Do your...

Ever have those moments when you get asked a question and all that can happen after is: mouth open, crinkled forehead and squinted eyes?  Yeah, us either! ;)  This week the guys cannon ball into the current topic of the status of XC Championships and then how to actually coach females!  Did you know there is a way to do that?!  Then cross the street to speak on whether there is...

What a great adventure we have for you in today's episode. Jim grew up in Iowa City and fell in love with the sport of track and field. After graduating from the University of Iowa he went on to have an amazing coaching career at Simpson College, Drake University, Northwestern University and more. We get to discuss Northwestern University dropping track which we found interesting considering the i...

How are we deciphering experiences?  Listen to the thoughts of the guys as they dive into the waters of rating experiences.  Is there a difference of success at the different levels?  Does is differ when applying to jobs?  Lastly, how do we change the land in terms of hiring of coaches?  Does it fall in the laps of those who are hiring or those applying?  Clear your s...

While Ron's coaching career has been within a 30 mile radius, his influence in our sport reaches world wide. Today we explore Ron's track background as an athlete, the influences that led him into coaching, and multiple stories each stop of the way. Throughout the episode, Ron drops nuggets of value to coaches today; "You are in the entertainment business!"  So thankful for Ron to sit down wi...

Happy 20th episode!  As we celebrate our 20th episode, 5 months of coming together weekly to chat about all things on and off the track or field, we wanted to give you-our viewers-some incentive to watch this week's show. We took in many questions/topics sent by you all and picked a few to deliberate and discuss with each other.  What questions did we pick???  Was one of them yours?...

Happy National Coaches Day! To celebrate we bring you four mini-podcast throughout the day with an awesome athlete telling us about their most influential coach. Today is a day to celebrate the impact coaches make on the world.  We here at Gill Athletics could not do what we do without YOU! In our fourth and final mini-pod, Olympian James Carter tells us about his most memorable coach. Having...

Happy National Coaches Day! To celebrate we bring you four mini-podcast throughout the day with an awesome athlete telling us about their most influential coach. Today is a day to celebrate the impact coaches make on the world.  We here at Gill Athletics could not do what we do without YOU! In our third episode today, we put hammer throwing guru Kibwe Johnson on the spot and ask him, "Who's y...

Happy National Coaches Day! To celebrate we bring you four mini-podcast throughout the day with an awesome athlete telling us about their most influential coach. Today is a day to celebrate the impact coaches make on the world.  We here at Gill Athletics could not do what we do without YOU! In our second episode of the day, we put javelin thrower extraordinaire Kara Winger on the spot and ask...

Happy National Coaches Day! To celebrate we bring you four mini-podcast throughout the day with an awesome athlete telling us about their most influential coach. Today is a day to celebrate the impact coaches make on the world.  We here at Gill Athletics could not do what we do without YOU!  In our first episode, Team Pacer Pole Vaulter Alysha Newman joins us to tell us about her favorit...

You must know that you are not *JUST* a track coach. You are a value giving selfless individual who coaches track and field. Today's guest exemplifies this to the top. Quinn is a track coach in Colorado where he also enjoys still competing as a Master's athlete. By profession, Quinn specializes in at-risk behavioral issue students throughout his school district. We talk about the stresses of that...

On this episode of Athletics LLC, hear the guys' views on the stance of #WeWanttoPlay and how it plays with the the movement set forth last week by a similar population.  Then listen in on some effects of our current climate on those who haven't seen direct effect until the next few months come upon us, both athlete and coaches alike.  Is there such thing as a wrong birthday??? Guess you...

Cedric is Mr. Arkansas through and through. Growing up running track in Little Rock, he joined the University of Arkansas team during a real special time. Fun fact: Cedric was an athlete at Arkansas when our host Mike was a coach at Mississippi State! We get to learn about Cedric's private training business, summer track club team, as well as being the head coach of HBCU Arkansas Baptist College....

On this week's installation of three of the brightest minds out there, we visit what potential #WEAREUNITED has and what could be its downfalls, how collegiate football can be effected by some of the decisions that have (not) been made by the NCAA...Then we venture into the importance of training groups as well as a "good" HS/club level coach.  Lastly, we reveal who were our sports heroes gro...

We can't wait for you to listen to this one! Brent had the good fortune of taking over the head coaching duties of his alma mater Boyle County HS. During his nine year head coaching career he crafted some unique tips and tactics to increase the stature of his program. Today we discuss how he recruited athletes in the high school to the team in a similar fashion to how college coaches recruit athle...

You better shape up, we've got the honorable BROOKS JOHNSON with us this week!  Oohweee, he did not disappoint with his knowledge.  Coach and the guys share the greatest evolutions in TF that they've seen or experienced,  and shine light on those who were mentors to them.  The guys then speak to the concerns for African American coaches in TF, their philosophies on the construc...

Today we explore the story of a track athlete from high school, to multiple colleges, and now with the Olympic Dream in his heart. Nigel is a post-collegiate runner aiming for the Olympic Trials in 2021 training in Atlanta, Ga. with famed athlete/coach Dwight Phillips.  We talk about what it takes to make it as a post-collegiate from facilities, to coaches, and the monetary costs. One of the...

Join us for a conversation with William & Mary head coach Alex Heacock!

It doesn't get more Chicago than Bob! Amazing time getting to know Chicago Bob Thurnhoffer in today's episode. We learn of his athletic background as a high schooler at Glenbard East HS, his life changing experience as an athlete at College of DuPage, and how that experience parlayed him into a scholarship to University of Illinois-Chicago.  After that we learn of his transition from Graduate...

In another fun discussion of track and field with the Athletics LLC crew, we are joined by GOLD medalist Tianna Baroletta!  She shares her views on what are the 3 outstanding storylines leading up to the Olympics next year as well as determining a permanent site for World Championship or Olympics...would that be a desired decision?  We are also able to hear about 2 entities that Tianna i...

There aren't many people in our sport who have worked 5 Olympics and 'more World Championships than I can count', but Garry Hill is one of them. As the Editor of Track and FIeld News Magazine he has a unique aspect in the sport. Today he joins us to talk about how he started working at the magazine, what his job duties entail, as well as discuss his announcing stints.  This is a fascinating l...