Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason University

Join us for two days of expert track & field instruction at a state-of-the-art track facility.

July 13-14 | Fairfax, Virginia

20+

1:12

Olympians coached by clinic staff

Staff to athlete ratio at clinics

10+

400+

NCAA All-Americans produced by clinic coaches

Colleges represented across 3 divisions

Featured coaches

Clinic staff come from 10+ top college programs to provide training education to coaches and athletes of all levels. See full staff >>

ANDREW GERARD

Clinic Director

Director of Track & Field/XC

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

  • In his 19th season at George Mason University since taking over in 2005, Andrew Gerard oversees the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs with over 32 years of collegiate coaching experience. Since joining the Atlantic 10 in 2013-14, Gerard has led the Patriots to incredible success, claiming 12 A-10 titles across various disciplines and earning 13 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors.

    Under his guidance, George Mason's relay teams and individual athletes shattered records and earned numerous All-American honors, showcasing the team's prowess and exceptional talent. Gerard's remarkable coaching career spans numerous successful seasons, conference titles, NCAA appearances, and record-breaking performances, earning accolades and recognition for his coaching excellence.

    Gerard's coaching journey extends beyond George Mason, having previously coached Stanford Cardinal to the lowest score in the modern era when the won the NCAA Cross Country Championship in 2003, and William and Mary in the 1990’s, where he took the program to national prominence as the team finished in the top 16 every year under his tenure.

    A graduate of Colgate University, Gerard holds a degree in biology with a focus on human physiology and was a standout athlete himself, ranking in the top 50 in the United States in the steeplechase. With an illustrious career and a commitment to education, Gerard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as the Clinic Director of the Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason University.

BOO SCHEXNAYDER

Featured Speaker

SAC SPEED

  • With over 40 years of experience in coaching and consulting, Boo Shexnayder is regarded as one of the world’s premier field event coaches. He was the mastermind behind 26 NCAA Champions during his collegiate coaching career and is regarded as one of the greatest field event coaches in NCAA history. He has been a part of 13 NCAA Championship teams and a pair of Juco National titles, as well as developing a host of conference champions and All-Americans.

    Schexnayder has also been a prominent figure on the international scene. He has coached 18 Olympians and 7 Olympic/World Championship medalists. He has served on coaching staffs for Team USA to the 2003 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo, the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, and was the Jumps Coach for Team USA at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

    Schexnayder has been just as successful off the track. He is certified at Level I, II and III, and owns the prestigious Master Coach Designation from USA Track and Field. He is also certified by the NSCA as a Strength and Conditioning coach.

    Schexnayder has been heavily involved in Coaching Education. He formerly served as national chair of USATF’s Coaching Education Committee, Jumps Subcommittee chair, and chair of the Biomechanics subcommittee. Schexnayder was the founder of the Track and Field Academy, the educational branch of the US Track and Field and Cross Country Association. He served as program director from its inception in 2009 through 2017, and still serves as an instructor in biomechanics, training design, and event-specific courses.

JASON SARETSKY

Director of Track & Field/XC

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

  • Jason Saretsky is in his 18th year at the helm of the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs at Harvard.

    As just the 10th person to serve as head coach of the track and field program since Harvard began formal competition in 1874, Saretsky has mentored 64 NCAA qualifiers, 181 NCAA regional qualifiers, coached nine individual ECAC/IC4A title winners, 164 Heptagonal champions, 5 NCAA Champions, 2 Olympians, and guided athletes to countless school records, with more than 275 marks added to the program’s top-10 list.

    Saretsky has been named USTFCCCA Northeast Regional Coach of the Year 13 times, and assistant coaches have won USTFCCCA Northeast Assistant Coach of the Year 16 times during his tenure at Harvard. Saretsky most recently coached the Crimson men's and women's teams to their first-ever combined titles at the Ivy League Outdoor Track and Field Championship, and their teams had respective finishes of 9th (women) and 11th (men) at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The women's team also completed the triple crown, winning Ivy League (Heps) cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field titles. The Harvard teams produced a program record three NCAA Champions and 16 All-Americans throughout the 2022-23 season.

TRAIN WITH COACHES FROM THESE PROGRAMS AND MORE…

  • UMass-Lowell

  • Davidson

  • URI

  • George Mason

  • Harvard

  • Penn

  • Amherst

  • Virginia Tech

  • UMass-Lowell

What to expect

Spend 2 days learning from some of the best minds in the sport.

TRAIN WITH WORLD-CLASS COACHES IN EVERY EVENT

With experience coaching high school, college, and professional track & field, clinic staff have found success at every level. Collectively they’ve coached over 400 NCAA All-Americans and 20 Olympians. Through 12 total hours of training instruction, you’ll learn the skills you need to take your performance to the next level – no matter your event.

LEARN THE CONCEPTS BEHIND ELITE PERFORMANCE

In addition to training, you’ll learn the building blocks of elite performance. From periodization to acceleration mechanics, we’ll break down concepts that will help you improve even after you leave the Ascent Track and Field Clinic. Not only that, but we’ll send you home with a link to download training programs that you learned at the clinic.

EXPAND YOUR NETWORK AND STAY CONNECTED

Ascent Track Clinics are open to any and all entrants – athletes and coaches of all skill levels, and even passionate fans of the sport.

Come meet your peers and college coaches from all over the country, and forge relationships in the track & field community that can last a lifetime.

TRAIN AT A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY

George Mason’s track and field facilities boast records set by some of the fastest athletes in the history of the sport. Follow in the footsteps of Michael Johnson, whose 400m time of 45.23 still stands as the indoor facility record; or Jackie Joyner-Kersee, whose 7.81 in the 60m hurdles has yet to be topped. Find out why elite athletes travel from around the world to compete at George Mason alongside some of the most incredible talent in the sport.

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN PROVEN CURRICULUM

Coaching attendees get access to “coaches only” classroom sessions led by renowned coaches like Boo Schexnayder, Kebba Tolbert, and Dan Ireland.

When you’re not in the classroom, observe real-life applications of proven training strategies as staff critique and empower athletes throughout the clinic.

Save your spot:

STAFF COACHES

Please note that the below coaching staff is scheduled to participate at the Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason University; however, staffing may be subject to change without prior notice.

ANDREW GERARD

Clinic Director

Director of Track & Field/XC

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Distance

  • In his 19th season at George Mason University since taking over in 2005, Andrew Gerard oversees the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs with over 32 years of collegiate coaching experience. Since joining the Atlantic 10 in 2013-14, Gerard has led the Patriots to incredible success, claiming 12 A-10 titles across various disciplines and earning 13 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors.

    Under his guidance, George Mason's relay teams and individual athletes shattered records and earned numerous All-American honors, showcasing the team's prowess and exceptional talent. Gerard's remarkable coaching career spans numerous successful seasons, conference titles, NCAA appearances, and record-breaking performances, earning accolades and recognition for his coaching excellence.

    Gerard's coaching journey extends beyond George Mason, having previously coached Stanford Cardinal to the lowest score in the modern era when the won the NCAA Cross Country Championship in 2003, and William and Mary in the 1990’s, where he took the program to national prominence as the team finished in the top 16 every year under his tenure.

    A graduate of Colgate University, Gerard holds a degree in biology with a focus on human physiology and was a standout athlete himself, ranking in the top 50 in the United States in the steeplechase. With an illustrious career and a commitment to education, Gerard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as the Clinic Director of the Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason University.

BOO SCHEXNAYDER

Featured Speaker

SAC SPEED

Sprints/ Hurdles/ Jumps/ Throws

  • With over 40 years of experience in coaching and consulting, Boo Shexnayder is regarded as one of the world’s premier field event coaches. He was the mastermind behind 26 NCAA Champions during his collegiate coaching career and is regarded as one of the greatest field event coaches in NCAA history. He has been a part of 13 NCAA Championship teams and a pair of Juco National titles, as well as developing a host of conference champions and All-Americans.

    Schexnayder has also been a prominent figure on the international scene. He has coached 18 Olympians and 7 Olympic/World Championship medalists. He has served on coaching staffs for Team USA to the 2003 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo, the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, and was the Jumps Coach for Team USA at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

    Schexnayder has been just as successful off the track. He is certified at Level I, II and III, and owns the prestigious Master Coach Designation from USA Track and Field. He is also certified by the NSCA as a Strength and Conditioning coach.

    Schexnayder has been heavily involved in Coaching Education. He formerly served as national chair of USATF’s Coaching Education Committee, Jumps Subcommittee chair, and chair of the Biomechanics subcommittee. Schexnayder was the founder of the Track and Field Academy, the educational branch of the US Track and Field and Cross Country Association. He served as program director from its inception in 2009 through 2017, and still serves as an instructor in biomechanics, training design, and event-specific courses.

JASON SARETSKY

Director of Track & Field/XC

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Distance

  • Jason Saretsky is in his 18th year at the helm of the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs at Harvard.

    As just the 10th person to serve as head coach of the track and field program since Harvard began formal competition in 1874, Saretsky has mentored 64 NCAA qualifiers, 181 NCAA regional qualifiers, coached nine individual ECAC/IC4A title winners, 164 Heptagonal champions, 5 NCAA Champions, 2 Olympians, and guided athletes to countless school records, with more than 275 marks added to the program’s top-10 list.

    Saretsky has been named USTFCCCA Northeast Regional Coach of the Year 13 times, and assistant coaches have won USTFCCCA Northeast Assistant Coach of the Year 16 times during his tenure at Harvard. Saretsky most recently coached the Crimson men's and women's teams to their first-ever combined titles at the Ivy League Outdoor Track and Field Championship, and their teams had respective finishes of 9th (women) and 11th (men) at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The women's team also completed the triple crown, winning Ivy League (Heps) cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field titles. The Harvard teams produced a program record three NCAA Champions and 16 All-Americans throughout the 2022-23 season.

TRAMAINE SHAW

Director of Track & Field/ XC

NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps/

  • Tramaine Shaw was named the Northeastern Track and Field Director on July 24, 2018 after spending nine seasons as an assistant coach and one season as the interim head coach in 2017-18. Shaw is now in her seventh year at the helm of the Huskies and ran for the program as a student-athlete from 2005 to 2009, earning a spot in the Northeastern Hall of Fame in 2015.

    Shaw currently owns the outdoor Northeastern school record in the 100-meter hurdles (13.58), 4x100-meter relay (45.59), 4x200-meter relay (1:37.82) and the 4x400-meter relay (3:39.21) and the indoor school record for the 4x400-meter relay.

    In the 2022-23 season, Shaw earned her fifth-straight CAA Men's Outdoor Coach of the Year Award, dating back to her interim tenure in 2018. Shaw led the Huskies to its eighth-straight CAA outdoor title, a conference record, and coached the Huskies to 80 personal-bests, 30 top-ten program marks and three school records. Shaw also coached five NCAA preliminary qualifiers, including NCAA Championships participant Ethan Exilhomme, who finished 17th nationally in the 110m hurdles and earning Honorable Mention All-American Honors.

    On the women's side, the Huskies finished sixth at the CAA Outdoor Championships after Dominique Biron was named Most Outstanding Field Performer at the competition. Shaw guided Biron and four other Huskies to the NCAA East Preliminaries.

    Shaw also led the men's team to the first-ever CAA Indoor Track and Field Championship and earned the first CAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year award. The Huskies finished with 11 medals over the two-day championships with six gold, three silver and two bronze medals. The women's team finished third at the Indoor CAA Championships with Biron taking home Most Outstanding Field Performer then as well.

    In the Fall, Alexander Korczynski was named 2022 CAA Runner of the Year for the second time after winning the CAA Cross Country Championship and competing in the NCAA Championships.

    In 2022, Shaw was named to the CAA Title IX 50th Anniversary Team, which recognized five women student-athletes from each CAA institution who made a significant impact during their time as an athlete.

    The Huskies had a strong 2021-2022 season, with the men's team earning a seventh-straight CAA Outdoor title, led by Co-Most Outstanding Track Performer Donatien Djero. The Huskies had 14 first-place finishes across both teams, with the women's team taking home fifth place overall.

    Shaw earned CAA Men's Outdoor Coach of the Year honors, coaching athletes to 12 gold medals at the CAA Outdoor Championships and 22 male athletes who earned All-CAA Honors. She also guided Alexander Korczynski to the CAA Men's Track Athlete of the Year, Nicholas Pisciotta to the CAA Men's Rookie of the Year and Dominique Biron to the CAA Women's Co-Field Athlete of the Year.

    Korczynski also earned 2021 CAA Runner of the Year honors after winning the CAA Cross Country Championship and earning All-Northeast Region honors after finishing 17th at the NCAA Northeast Region Championships.

    2020-2021 was another impressive year for Shaw and the Huskies, as the men collected a sixth straight CAA Outdoor title and she earned her third straight CAA Men’s Outdoor Coach of the Year Award. Her tutelage led 28 Huskies to All-CAA honors. She coached David Adams and Alexander Korczynski to the USTFCCCA Outdoor Track and Field All-America Team for the first time since 2018.

    Shaw oversaw individual success at the CAA Championships, as Adams set a new school record in the 400 hurdles and won four gold medals, taking home 2021 CAA Most Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet at the CAA Championships. On the women’s side, Dominique Biron won the 2021 CAA Most Outstanding Field Athlete at the CAA Championships.

    The Huskies’ cross country teams also saw success that season, with the men finishing first at the CAA Championships and the women earning their first-ever second-place finish. The men’s team ended William & Mary’s 20-year championship streak.

    In a shortened 2019-2020 season with no outdoor track, the Huskies finished second at the New England Indoor Track & Field Championships with the most impressive meet being the Joe Donahue Meet, as Dametrius O’Connor set a meet record in the men’s 200 meters.

    During that cross country season, Shaw oversaw a men’s program that finished second at the CAA Championships and a women’s program that finished sixth. Louisa Wise, Cameron Dickson and Alexander Korczynski all earned All-CAA honors that year.

    Shaw’s first season as Director of Track and Field was 2018-2019, and it followed her interim campaign nicely. She was named CAA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year following the men’s fifth-straight CAA Championship win. The Huskies won eight gold medals at the event, including three from Most Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet Dametrius O'Connor (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay). In all, Shaw coached 19 different male athletes to All-CAA honors for placing top-three in their event, including eight who medaled in multiple events.

    Shaw coached Kerri Ruffo to a Women’s Track Athlete of the Year honor that season, winning gold in both the 5,000-meter and the 10,000-meter. Ruffo bested her own program record in the 10,000-meter with a time of 34:32.79 at the Raleigh Relays in March. Six women earned All-CAA honors alongside the men, pushing the total number of honorees to 25.

    The cross country season another successful venture, as the Huskies topped their program-best finish at the NCAA Northeast Regionals, with the men finishing 10th. The Huskies’ Bridget Foote was named CAA Women’s Cross Country Rookie of the Year and Louiza Wise and Camila Cortina joined her in All-CAA honors.

    In the interim year of 2017-2018, Shaw produced both men’s and women’s squads that won the CAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the only time in program history to do so, and marked the fourth-straight men’s title and first women’s title since 2007. For her efforts, Shaw was named CAA Coach of the Year on both the men’s and women’s sides, the first time a CAA coach accomplished that feat since 2013.

    As an assistant coach and interim head coach, Shaw coached 10 national qualifiers - four of which were in the long jump, including 2018 All-American Kyle Darrow. Shaw has also coached student-athletes who have broken or tied 12 school records, including a pair of 30-year-old school records in the men's 4x100m relay and the men's long jump.

    Shaw joined Zara Northover as one of 25 members to be named to the 25th Anniversary CAA women's track and field team in December 2009.

    As a student-athlete from 2005-2009, Shaw wrapped up her Northeastern career with Husky records in the 100 hurdles (13.58) and pentathlon (3,685), CAA records in the 100 hurdles (13.71) and 400 hurdles (59.88) and the America East record in the pentathlon (3,607). She was also part of the Huskies' record-setting indoor 4x400 relay and outdoor 4 x 100, 4 x 200 and 4 x 400 relays.

    Shaw's forte was not record-setting performances, however. It was championship wins. She was named America East Rookie of the Year during both the indoor and outdoor seasons as a freshman. NU then moved to the CAA, and over three outdoor championships, Shaw went on to win CAA individual titles in the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, long jump and relays. She was named CAA Co-Most Outstanding Track Performer in 2007 after helping the team win NU's first CAA title in any sport.

    Shaw earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Northeastern in May 2009 and earned a master's in Nonprofit Management, with a Specialization in Sport and Social Change, in 2013.

MATT STUCK

Director of Men’s Track & Field/XC

DAVIDSON COLLEGE

Hurdles/Jumps/ Throws

  • Matt Stuck was promoted to Director of Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field in July of 2023.

    Stuck joined Davidson in October of 2021 where served as the assistant coach for two seasons. In his tenure, Stuck has guided and coached Davidson’s hurdlers, vertical jumpers, throwers, and multis. He also served as the recruiting coordinator for all event groups on the women’s side while also recruiting the men’s hurdlers, vertical jumpers, throwers, and multis.

    Over the last two seasons with Stuck on staff, Davidson has set ten indoor and outdoor school records in his area of emphasis on the women’s side and eight school records on the men’s side. Stuck has also helped coach four-time A-10 Champion Jayden Smith, two-time NCAA qualifier Bryce Anthony, and school record holders Megan Burkholder, Hannah Kanjian, Anna Davis, and Jack Stajos.

    Prior to Davidson, Stuck spent three seasons as the Associate Head Coach at UNC Pembroke. While with the Braves, Stuck led the 2019 men's cross country team to a conference championship, and he also helped guide the women's indoor track and field team to back-to-back conference championships in 2020 and 2021. He also coached NCAA Division II All-Americans in the indoor and outdoor men's high jump, 60m, and 110m hurdles. Stuck also coached a slew of individual conference champions and school record holders while at UNC Pembroke.

    Before his time at Pembroke, Stuck served as the Assistant Track and Field Coach at Coker University where he coached 13 school record holders in sprints, hurdles, and jumps.

    Prior to Coker, Stuck had a two-year stint as the Head Cross Country and Track & Field coach at Lake Erie College from 2016-2018. In 2017, he was the runner-up for the GLIAC Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year.

    As a student-athlete, Stuck was a multi-event performer for Bloomsburg University. He excelled in 16 different disciplines, qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships in four straight seasons, and still holds school records in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault. He was also named a Bloomsburg University Scholar-Athlete.

    Stuck graduated from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2013 and received his master’s degree in Kinesiology from Michigan Technological University. He also holds a USTFCCCA Level 2 Combined Event Certification and a USATF Level 1 Track and Field Certification.

ANDREW DUBS

Associate Head Coach

VIRGINIA TECH

Throws

  • Andrew Dubs is a highly accomplished and dedicated track and field coach, currently serving as the Associate Head Coach for the throwing events at Virginia Tech. With an impressive coaching career spanning several institutions, Dubs has consistently delivered outstanding results and developed numerous top-tier athletes.

    Under his leadership at Virginia Tech, Dubs has overseen remarkable achievements by his throwers. In 2022, he guided Sara Killinen to set a new ACC record in the hammer throw, marking a historic moment in conference history. Additionally, Dubs led Rebecca Mammel to a dominant performance in the ACC indoors, securing multiple victories, including the ACC title. His throwers have consistently excelled both indoors and outdoors, delivering strong performances at the conference and national levels.

    Throughout his career, Dubs has coached athletes to new school records and elevated his athletes to new heights. His coaching prowess was particularly evident during his time at the University of Iowa, where he led his throwers to numerous All-American honors. Dubs also made a significant impact at Harvard, guiding athletes to Ivy League titles and international success. His commitment to coaching is further exemplified by his own impressive collegiate track and field career as a standout thrower at the University of Connecticut.

    With a background in kinesiology, coaching, and higher education, Dubs brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his coaching role. His dedication to the sport and his athletes' success has made him a prominent figure in the world of track and field, and his track record of developing elite athletes speaks volumes about his coaching abilities. As he leads the throws section at the Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason, participants can expect to benefit from his extensive expertise and passion for the sport.

KEBBA TOLBERT

Women’s Associate Head Coach

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Jumps

  • With over a decade at Harvard and a coaching career that spans three decades, Kebba Tolbert’s coaching tenure redefines excellence. As the women’s sprints/hurdles and horizontal jumps coach and associate head coach at Harvard University, Tolbert has steered the team to unparalleled success.

    The women’s team at Harvard has seen unparalleled success in the sprints, jumps and multis under Tolbert’s tutelage, as the Crimson have swept the Indoor and Outdoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championships numerous times. In 2019, Tolbert coached Gabby Thomas to a NCAA championship win in the 200m, setting a collegiate record. His coaching group has set numerous school and Ivy records, continually pushing the boundaries of achievement.

    A graduate of Colby College with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a Master of Arts degree in exercise science from Smith, Tolbert's holistic approach to coaching shapes not just athletic prowess but also intellectual and personal growth. His legacy as a transformative coach cements his place as a visionary in the realm of track and field coaching.

ALLYSON WARUCH

Associate Head Coach

UMASS-LOWELL

Jumps

  • Allyson Waruch (Thomas) is in her eleventh season as associate head coach at UMass Lowell for 2023-24 academic year. Waruch was hired in 2014 after serving as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for six years. Her specialty is working with the jumpers and multi-event student-athletes.

    During her time at UMass Lowell, Waruch has coached school record holders in the men’s pole vault (Vladimir Popusoi, 16’11’’), the men’s heptathlon (Dennis Peary 4936), the women’s high jump (Kerstin Darsney 5’10.75’’), women’s triple jump (Darsney 42’2’’), women’s pentathlon (Darsney 3662) and in the women’s pole vault (Rachel Hill, 11’11.75’’).

    Popusoi, Peary, Darsney and Hill were all conference champions. Darsney also set an America East Conference record in the high jump and won Athlete-of-the-Meet and the Cushing Award (best female athlete at UMass Lowell). Popusoi was a two-time qualifier for the NCAA Regional Meet in the vault and Darsney also qualified in the triple jump.

    Peary was second in the decathlon at the New England Championship in 2017 while Darsney won the ECAC triple jump in the same year.

    Waruch has also coached multiple Top 10 performers in all of the jumps, multis, 200 and 400.

    While Waruch was at VCU, she served first as a graduate assistant while getting her master’s degree in Sports Management, then as a part time assistant prior to being elevated as a full time assistant for the newly combined men’s and women’s programs. She coached the pole vault, high jump and multis and several athletes helped rewrite the record books.

    In making the move to UMass Lowell, Waruch also returns to the America East Conference where she excelled as student-athlete at the University of Maine.

    A four-year standout member of the women's track & field team at the University of Maine, Waruch was a consistent contender in the pole vault at the America East Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships. She finished in the top eight at the New England Indoor and Outdoor Championships in three of her six appearances.

    Waruch was outstanding in the classroom as well. She graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Kinesiology and Physical Education as well as earning her teaching certification. She was also named to the America East Conference Academic Honor Roll during all four years. In 2009, Thomas graduated summa cum laude with a M.S. in Sports Management from VCU.

    The Auburn, Maine native got her first taste of coaching during her college days when she was a youth and middle school soccer coach and as a volunteer pole vault coach at her alma matter Edward Little High School, where she coached numerous state meet contenders and a state champion.

BRENNER ABBOTT

Assistant Coach

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Jumps (Pole Vault)

  • Brenner Abbott is in his 13th season with the Crimson in 2023-24 and continues to lead the Harvard pole vaulters, high jumpers and decathletes.

    In 2019-20, Abbott guided first-year's Chet Ellis and Sam Wright into the Harvard record books. Chet Ellis won four different times in the high jump, while also finishing second at Indoor Heps and moving into eighth all-time at Harvard. Sam Wright won the pole vault in two meets on the year, while also moving into fifth all time.

    Abbott continued to guide the Crimson athletes to success in the 2018-19 season. He helped junior Donagh Mahon to the Indoor Ivy League Heps Championship title in the high jump, while assisting junior Erick Duffy to USTFCCCA All-America Honorable Mention status in the outdoor season in the pole vault.

    The 2017-18 season saw Harvard see immense success in the pole vault as freshman Erick Duffy set the second-best mark in program history, clearing 17-3.

    In 2016-17, freshman Zoe Hughes became Harvard's first Heps champion in the women's pentathlon since 2009 (Shannon Flahive), recording the second most points in school history (4,093). Hughes qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships, earning All-America honors and becoming the second student-athlete in program history to represent Harvard in the pentathlon at NCAA Indoors. During the outdoor season, senior captain Raegan Nizdil capped off her career with her first individual Heps title, winning the high jump by clearing 5'7.75" on her first attempt. Marlena Sabatino (pole vault), and Donagh Mahon (high jump) were also regular scorers for the Crimson.

    In 2015-16, with Harvard records were falling on a weekly basis, Abbott helped mentor Marlena Sabatino to both the indoor and outdoor program records in the pole vault. The Crimson women also saw success in the decathlon, where Madison Hansen became the school-record holder with her Ivy title at outdoor Heps.

    The Crimson had another banner year in 2014-15, as the women won the indoor and outdoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. At the indoor meet, Hannah Mayer collected second team All-Ivy League honors in the javelin. Abbott also coached junior Mark Hill, who posted the third-best decathlon score in school history at outdoor Heps.

    Abbott helped with the success of the 2013-14 squad, as the team combined to send a record number of athletes to both the NCAA Championships (seven) and the NCAA East Regional (28). The women won both the indoor and outdoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championships for the second time in program history.

    Abbott played a key role in the successful 2012-13 season for both the men’s and women’s teams. The pole vaulting corps shined at the 2013 Indoor Heptagonal Championships with Sydnie Leroy ’13 claiming second-team All-Ivy status, helping the women’s team claim its first league championship since 2000. Nico Weiler ’13 earned Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet honors in a championship performance at the indoor event. He went on to capture the IC4A indoor pole vault title as well as the 2013 Outdoor Heptagonal Championships pole vault crown.

    In his first year with Harvard, Abbott helped the men's outdoor squad record its best finish in a decade at the Heptagonal Championships, taking third in the competition. He also worked with pole vaulters Nico Weiler '13 and Allie Pace '14, the former breaking the indoor and outdoor school records and earning first team All-America honors and the latter setting the women's indoor and outdoor school marks.

    Abbott joined the Harvard track and field/cross country staff during the 2011-12 season and worked primarily with the vertical jumps. Abbott joined the Crimson staff after an 11-year stint at nearby Northeastern, working under head coach Sherman Hart.

    While with the Huskies, Abbott helped the pole vaulters and javelin throwers rise to regional and national prominence. In addition to his work at NU, Abbott has been a featured clinician for six years with the “On the Road” Track & Field World Tour. He has also been the Director of Pole Vaulting at the Winged Foot Track & Field Camp for nine years, the Director of Javelin Training at the Mass. Track & Field Academy for 11 years and has been a pole vault clinician at the M-F Athletic Jumps Camp for 10 years.

    Prior to joining the Huskies, Abbott coached at his high school alma mater, Milford High. As an athlete, he was a captain of the track & field team at the University of Maine, where he set the pole vault record and was All-IC4A twice in the javelin. Abbott resides in Charlestown.

BENJAMIN CARROLL

Assistant Coach

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

Throws

  • Ben Carroll is in his 14th year as assistant men's track & field coach for the Rams in 2023-24.

    Carroll works primarily with the throwers. He holds his Level II United States Track and Field certification in Sports Science with a concentration in throws and is also a Certified Throws Specialist through the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

    During his decade-plus time in Kingston the throws group has flourished, garnering 26 individual Atlantic 10 Conference Champions, 15 Team Championships, 35 All-Conference performers and two field performer of the meet winners. At the New England level Carroll has produced eight individual Champions and been a part of five team Championships (2012, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023). In 2012 Carroll’s throwers scored more points than the second place team in the meet.

    On the bigger stage Carroll has helped coach 28 IC4A qualifiers, four Junior National Championship qualifiers and 11 NCAA Regional Championship qualifiers.

    Prior to arriving in Kingston, Carroll served as the head indoor/outdoor track coach at Stonington High School in Stonington, Conn. In just one year at Stonington, Carroll developed a program that saw 14 all-conference performers in the indoor season and a state champion in the discus and an all-state performer in the high jump during the outdoor season.

    Before his one-year stint in Stonington, Carroll was the strength, throws and assistant football coach at Westerly High School where he helped lead the boy's track team to the Rhode Island Outdoor team championship title in June 2009. Carroll was responsible for the coordination of daily strength training workouts for both throwers and members of the football team.

    Carroll is also the founder of Rhody Throws Track Club in Westerly. The Rhody Throws Track Club is an extracurricular youth club for current and recently graduated throwers who wish to throw competitively and expose their talents to a larger audience.

    Carroll is a 2006 graduate of URI with a B.A. in journalism with a concentration in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist thru the National Strength Coaches Association and a Level II Functional Movement Screen practitioner. He lives in Westerly, R.I.

BRIAN DOYLE

Assistant Coach

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

Sprints/Distance

  • Brian Doyle joined the men’s track & field and cross country staff as an assistant coach in August of 2021.

    Since joining the Rams, Doyle has been a part of four straight Atlantic 10 Track & Field Championship titles, and three New England Championship crowns. Rhody won its first New England Cross Country Championship since 1952 this fall and under Doyle's guidance, Ben Fleischer became the individual champion and earned USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors.

    Doyle comes to the Rams from Davidson, where he was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator in 2021. He spent six years with the Wildcats and was responsible for recruiting all event areas for both the men’s and women’s programs. Doyle coached the sprinters and assisted the head coach with middle- and long-distance runners.

    While at Davidson, Doyle coached athletes who set 25 combined school records in the 600, 800, 1,000, mile, 3,000, 5,000 and the 4x800. He also coached 44 more school records in the 60, 100, 200, 400, 500, 600, 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 events. Davidson had six NCAA East Preliminary qualifiers in the 5,000 and 10,000 events during Doyle’s time.

    As a student-athlete, Doyle began his career at Northeastern, where he earned All-CAA honors in both cross country and track & field. He was voted by his teammates as the lone captain for the track & field program.

    He finished his career with two years at Providence College, also serving as a team captain for the Friars. While at PC, Doyle led the Friars to a pair of top-20 finishes at the NCAA Cross Country championship, including a 13th-place finish in 2014. He was an All-Northeast Region selection in cross country in 2013 and 2014.

TONY MIHALICH

Assistant Coach

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Distance

  • Tony Mihalich enters his seventh year at George Mason as Assistant Coach for Track and Field and Cross Country, working primarily with the middle distance and distance athletes. He was hired in December 2017 after spending the previous four years at Iona University. Before that, he served as a volunteer assistant coach at George Mason from 2012-14.

    During Mihalich’s tenure, Mason has captured six Atlantic 10 titles: women’s indoor (2014), women’s outdoor (2014, 2019, 2023), men’s indoor (2019) and men’s outdoor (2019).

    Mihalich has been instrumental in the development and success of All-American Annabelle Eastman. Eastman became Mason's first-ever steeplechase national qualifier in 2021. She finished 13th overall at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning Second Team All-American honors.

    In 2021, Eastman broke three school records (steeplechase, 3000m and 5000m)and also set the A-10 Championship record in the steeplechase (9:53.07) to qualify for her second NCAA East Preliminary Championships. In total, she improved her school record time in the event on three occasions. In addition, Eastman earned a bid to the 2020-21 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma where she finished 83rd. She became Mason's sixth-ever national qualifier, and the first since 1996. She went on to represent Mason again in the Fall of 2022, where she finished 92nd at the NCAA Championship in Tallahassee, Florida. She was on the USTFCCCA All-Southeast Region team twice.

    Mihalich has sent three steeplechase runners to the NCAA East Preliminaries in the last five years (2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic): Eastman (2019, 2021, 2023), Khalilah Hamer (2019) and Trent Lancaster (2018, 2019). He has worked with eight of the ten best women’s Steeplechasers in George Mason history.

    In 2014, Mihalich helped the women’s track and field team win both the indoor and outdoor Atlantic 10 titles. He also assisted the men’s team in earning A-10

    runner-up finishes in both indoor and outdoor that year.

    During his first stint on Patriot Circle, Bethany Sachtleben won the first individual Atlantic 10 title in George Mason’s inaugural cross country season in the conference (2014) before earning an All-Southeast Region honor as well.

    The Buffalo, N.Y., native found success as well at Iona as the Gaels’ men’s cross country team won four MAAC cross country championships during his tenure, adding to their impressive streak of 27 straight conference titles, a streak that continues today. The women won three MAAC championships during Mihalich’s time at Iona, winning back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017.

    In the fall of 2017, the men finished 12th at the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championship. Seniors Gilbert Kirui and Johannes Motschmann earned All-America status by finishing in the top 40 in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2016, Mihalich also partook in the growth of Tara Jameson, who earned All-American recognition with her seventh place finish in the 10,000m race at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

    During Mihalich's first fall campaign with the Gaels in 2014, junior Kate Avery won the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championship with a first-place time of 19:31.6. He also helped the women’s team to its first ever NCAA Northeast Regional Championship title. That same year, the men’s cross country team finished eighth at the NCAA Championship and took third in the Northeast Regional. Avery went on to claim a Silver Medal at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria.

    Prior to his first Mason stint, Mihalich served as graduate assistant coach at Temple University from 2010-12. Under Mihalich’s tutelage, Travis Mahoney earned the school’s first All-America honor in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Mihalich also worked with the recruiting and operations processes of the program, while earning a master’s degree in sport and recreation management.

    Mihalich earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish from John Carroll University and is a USATF Level I Certified Coach.

TIM NICKAS

Assistant Coach

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Jumps (Pole Vault)

  • During the 2023 season Nickas’ athletes exceled to new levels with 3 NCAA Championship qualifiers, 3 USTFCCCA All-Academic Award honorees and 7 Atlantic 10 Champions. His athletes accounted for 121 points during the outdoor conference championship. The women’s triple jump group finished the year ranked 10th in the country with an average distance of 12.52m (41’ 1”). During the A10 Outdoor Championship Cason Gardner set a meet and facility record in the decathlon with a score of 7393. Dhiambi Otete set a facility record in the triple jump with a mark of 12.77m (41’ 10.75”) to lead a 1-2-3 finish for George Mason. Grace Furlong and Henrike Fiedler finished 1-2 in the women’s long jump with marks of 6.02m (19’ 9”) & 5.96m (19’ 6.75”). Colton Ocetnik set a facility record of 5.02m (16’ 5.5”) in the pole vault. Freshman Micah Jones leapt to a personal best of 7.42m (24’ 4.25”) at the Raleigh Relays and was named the rookie of the year for both the indoor and outdoor A10 Championships. During the indoor championship Nickas’ athletes controlled the pole vault scoring 25 points in the women’s pole vault and 25 points in the men’s pole vault, winning both events. Cason Gardner won his 3rd A10 heptathlon title by setting a new personal best of 5364. George Mason’s jumpers, vaulters and multi-eventers earned 21 A10 medals this past year.

    The 2022 season was highlighted by Xavier Shirley setting the A10 Indoor Conference Record in the long jump with a jump of 7.46m (24’ 5.75”). He also qualified for the NCAA Championships during the outdoor season with a jump of 7.58m (24’ 11”) and earned USTFCCCA Academic Award honors. During the A10 Outdoor Championship Nickas’ athletes placed 1st & 2nd in both the men’s and women’s pole vault and won the men’s long jump and decathlon. During this season Xavier Shirley and Autumn White earned All-East honors and 6 athletes won A10 Conference Championships. In total 11 athletes earned A10 medals.

    In the shortened 2020 & 2021 seasons 3 athletes earned USTFCCCA Academic Award honors and 3 athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships (Shotwell: Pole Vault 5.17m 16’ 11.5”, Stallworth: Long Jump 6.17m 20’ 3”, Rosenfeld: Javelin 46.79m 153’ 6”). Kiana Stallworth won the 2021 Outdoor ECAC Championships in the long jump, 4 athletes earned All-East honors and 5 athletes won A10 titles.

    In addition to 7 national qualifiers and 18 conference champions Nickas has helped his athletes set 2 new A10 Conference Records and earn 2 A10 Rookie of the Year awards. Regionally he has guided 1 ECAC Champion and 12 athletes that have earned All-East honors.

    Prior to joining Mason, Nickas served as Head Track and Field Coach at Mount St. Mary's University after serving as Associate Head Cross Country, Track & Field Coach for the previous five seasons.

    Nickas coached 1 NCAA All American in women’s javelin , 7 NCAA Championship qualifiers, 5 USTFCCCA Academic Award honorees and 4 Penn Relays Championship winners during his time at The Mount. 1 Athlete qualified for the USATF National Championships and 1 athlete qualified for the USATF U20 National Championships. Regionally, 10 athletes earned All-East honors with 2 of his athletes winning individual IC4A/ECAC Championships.

    At the conference level, Nickas was part of the staff that won the 2018 Men’s Outdoor NEC Championship and he coached an NEC MVP, 10 NEC Champions, 25 All-NEC performers and 3 NEC Rookies of the Meet. Nickas saw 7 school records and 2 NEC records fall under his watch.

    As an athlete, Nickas was part of The Mount’s storied decathlon tradition working under hall of fame coach, Jim Deegan. Nickas achieved All-East honors in the decathlon during his time competing for The Mount. Prior to coaching, he worked as a personal trainer and strength coach who focused on sport specific development for high school, collegiate and professional athletes.

    Nickas graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in 2012 with a degree in political science and minor in philosophy. He currently resides in Fairfax, VA with his wife Danielle and their daughters, Nora, Ella and Thea.

ZACH HAUPT

Assistant Coach

DAVIDSON COLLEGE

Sprints/Jumps

  • An Assistant Coach at Davidson since 2021, Zach Haupt has mentored athletes to several Atlantic-10 Championships in the sprint events. In the past two years Haupt coached Josh Hardin to several conference championships and an NCAA Regional birth in the 400 meters.

    Haupt competed collegiately at McKendree College, where he was a four-time All-American selection and earned Most Valuable Field Athlete following the 1997-98 season. He also qualified for the 1996 Olympic Trials.

    His first foray into coaching was the 2000-01 season at Syracuse University in 2000 before returning to his alma mater as the Assistant Coach in 2002. After a three-year hiatus, he returned to McKendree as the Associate Men's and Women's Track & Field and Cross Country coach until 2007 before making the move to Webster University from 2008-2010.

    Haupt spent a year at Central Arkansas from 2010-2011 and left to be the Assistant coach at MIT. He spent two years as the short sprints and jumps coach as well as the strength and conditioning coordinator. While with the Engineers, Haupt coached three freshman school record holders, three conference champions and five All-Conference nominees.

    The All-American was named the head coach at Lynchburg College and stayed there for two seasons, where he was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year after both teams earned the ODAC title. He also coached the national champion in the 200-meter race in indoor competition as well as the Regional Athlete of the Year.

    His most recent stop was at the University of Delaware as the Assistant Track and Field coach. There he coached, 27 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) qualifiers and three NCAA First Round Qualifiers.

TAELOR JEFFERSON

Assistant Coach

UMASS-LOWELL

Sprints

  • Taelour Murphy Jefferson re-joined the River Hawks Track and Field program as an assistant coach in October of 2020 after spending the previous three seasons at Massachusetts, where she served as an assistant coach, working with the sprints group for the Minutewomen and Minutemen.

    A double-River Hawk, Murphy Jefferson was a two-time All-American, New England champion and America East champion for the River Hawks and set six program records during her collegiate career. She was a two-time recipient of the school's Lester H. Cushing Award for best female athlete and served as team captain in 2014-15.

    After graduating UMass Lowell with a bachelor's in history in 2015, Murphy Jefferson served as the track and field director of operations for the River Hawks while earning her master's in education curriculum in 2015-2016. She went on to serve as the sprints and hurdles coach at Missouri Southern State University in 2016 where she coached the school's first Division II indoor and outdoor NCAA qualifiers.

REYNALDO RADLIN

Assistant Coach

GEORGE MASON

Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps

  • Reynaldo Radlin is in his second year coaching the Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays at George Mason University.

    In his first season at Mason, he mentored athletes to 3 A10 Individual Championships, 2 A10 relay titles, a 4x400m relay berth to the NCAA First Rounds, and assistance in winning the 2023 Women’s Outdoor A10 Team Championship.

    Prior to Mason, Radlin coached athletes to 5 individual NCAA Titles, a 4x100m Relay NCAA Title, 19 Individual GLIAC Titles and 8 Relay GLIAC Titles at Grand Valley State University. He was named the 2022 USTFCCCA Indoor and Outdoor Men’s Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year. In total he has mentored 75 All-Americans, including relays participants, while assisting the Head Coach and staff win 3 NCAA DII Team Championships and 14 GLIAC Team Championships.

    Radlin began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Troy from 2015-17, before receiving an elevated role to an assistant coach for the sprints, hurdles and jump athletes for the 2017-18 season. In his first two seasons with the Trojans, Radlin assisted the Head Coach in nine individual and one relay team that earned All Sun-Belt honors, along with five NCAA East Prelim qualifiers. In 2018, Radlin coached eight athletes to All Sun-Belt accolades along with two conference championships by the men’s 4x100m relay team and the men’s 400m dash champion, before sending three individuals and one relay team to the NCAA East Prelims. In addition, Radlin has also coached two different Troy athletes that competed at the USA Junior Championships in 2017 and 2018.

    Prior to Troy, Radlin served as the assistant track and field coach at Pinnacle High School and served as a sports performance coach at Redline Athletics in Phoenix, Arizona.

    He brings four years of collegiate experience with him as well, having competed at The University of North Carolina, where he was a two-time ACC Champion in the 400m hurdles (2011) and the 4x400m relay (2013), a four-time NCAA East Regional qualifier and a NCAA qualifier in the 4x400m relay (2012). He was also a six-time All-ACC athlete and served as a captain.

    Radlin graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sports Science from UNC in 2013, and earned his Master's degree in sport and fitness management from Troy University in 2017.

    • 13 USTFCCCA All-Academic Recipients

    • 3 USTFCCCA National Scholar Teams of the Year

    • 3 USTFCCCA Programs of the Year

    • 3 time NCAA Division II Team National Championships

    • 6 NCAA DII Champions

    • Angelica Floyd – 2021 Indoor 60m

    • Nicole Sreenan – 2021 Indoor and Outdoor 400m

    • 2021 Women’s 4x100m Relay

    • Brandon Miller – 2022 Indoor and Outdoor 200m

    • 75 All-Americans

    • 15 Team Conference Championships

    • 23 Individual Conference Champions

    • 11 Relay Conference Championships

    • 3 Individual & 2 Relay NCAA East First Round Qualifiers

    • 4 USA Junior Championship Qualifiers

    • 1 USTFCCCA National Indoor Athlete of the Year

    • 1 Sun Belt Freshman & Newcomer of the Year

    • 1 World U20 Relay Gold Medalist

    • 2 USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year Awards

MICHELLE WALLERSTEDT HODGE

Assistant Coach

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

Throws

  • In the 2022 season, Wallerstedt Hodge made her mark at George Mason University as she embarked on her coaching journey, focusing her expertise on throws, including the discus throw, shot put, weight throw, and hammer throw.

    In her inaugural season, Wallerstedt Hodge's coaching prowess shone brightly, guiding two NCAA championship qualifiers to success, both of whom earned esteemed All-Academic awards. Among her standout athletes was Jaylen Simmons, who clinched an impressive 4 A10 gold medals and showcased remarkable skills in the hammer throw. Simmons etched his name in Mason's history books by setting a school record in the discus with a remarkable distance of 53.67 meters during the 2022 A10 Championships. Adding to this achievement, the Mason throwers secured an additional 3 A10 medals, and in 2022, they achieved an impressive 13 top 8 finishes across various events, including all 4 men's discus throwers securing top 8 positions.

    Despite the challenge of transitioning after graduating several throwers, Wallerstedt Hodge continued to lead a smaller yet highly competitive throws group in 2023. This group included Garsen Gross, who achieved a significant milestone by setting a school record in the hammer throw with an impressive mark of 60.21 meters at the ICAAAA championship. During the 2023 season, Wallerstedt Hodge's throws group secured 3 medals at the A10 championships and impressively garnered 7 top 8 finishes in various events.

    Wallerstedt Hodge brings a wealth of track and field coaching experience, spanning over a decade, across various levels, from youth track and field programs participating in USATF sanctioned meets to several high school coaching roles. She also served as a volunteer assistant throws coach at Weber State University from 2018-2020, working alongside renowned coach Robert Weir. Her tenure at Weber State yielded notable successes, including coaching Nathan Dunivan to gold medals in the discus and hammer throw at the Big Sky Championships and a 10th-place finish in the discus at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. During her time at Weber State, she also prepared for the 2019-2020 professional season, further demonstrating her commitment to the sport.

    Notably, Wallerstedt Hodge herself has a rich athletic history at George Mason University, where she competed from 2012-17. Her impressive five-year career included achieving NCAA Second Team All-America honors after placing 15th in the discus at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She secured two Atlantic 10 championships in the discus and consistently qualified for the outdoor ECAC championships throughout her four-year tenure. To this day, she holds the school record in the discus, with a remarkable distance of 55.16 meters.

    Beyond her athletic achievements, Wallerstedt Hodge's dedication to excellence extended to academics and leadership. She was a semifinalist for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year award, a three-time Academic All-America honoree, and served as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council. Her outstanding contributions to women in sports were recognized with the Sue Collins Leadership Award.

    Wallerstedt Hodge is a USATF level I Certified Coach. Additionally, her commitment to George Mason University extends to her role as an IRB Compliance Specialist within the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance.

    Currently, Wallerstedt Hodge resides in Rockville, MD, with her husband, Pat, a former Mason thrower, and their canine companion, Clio

MOOSE AKANNO

Associate Men’s Head Coach

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Sprints/Jumps

  • Moose Akanno joined the Penn staff in November 2020 and is the lead on men's sprints as well as men and women's horizontal jumps.

    Prior to Penn, Akanno spent the previous six years at his alma mater, the University of Connecticut, the first five as an assistant coach and last year as an assistant director. He directed all aspects of the Huskies' sprints, jumps and multi-event programs while also developing strength & conditioning programs for all speed and power events.

    Akanno had countless career highlights with UConn that included coaching two NCAA All-Americans, 34 NCAA qualifiers, a Southeast Asian Games champion, a Philippines national record holder, and the fastest 4x100 relay run by a New England school. He has helped the Huskies to 15 school records, eight American Athletic Conference (AAC) championships, 120 all-conference selections, and an AAC team championship in 2015 when he was included among the Coaching Staff of the Year.

    Akanno also has experience within the Ivy League, spending four years at Dartmouth College before his return to UConn. Working with the Big Green's jumps and multi-event programs, he coached an NCAA All-American, 12 NCAA qualifiers and 14 Ivy Heptagonal champions including Janae Dunchak who won four straight pentathlon championships. Overall, Akanno guided student-athletes to 24 school records and 46 All-Ivy selections.

    Prior to his stint with the Big Green, Akanno started his full-time coaching career with Fairleigh Dickinson University in his home state of New Jersey for one season, developing practice and workout plans for horizontal and vertical jumpers, intermediate high hurdles, and short sprinters. He also had recruiting responsibilities in sprints, hurdles and jump groups.

    Recently, Akanno was named an assistant coach for the United States National Team for the 31st Summer World University Games which are scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China in August 2021. He will oversee vertical jumps and the decathlon on the staff.

    Prior to coaching, Akanno was a four-year letter winner at UConn and was a part of Huskies track teams that won three indoor Big East championships as well as three New England titles. A captain his senior season, Akanno was an eight-time All-Big East selection with four coming in the triple jump and three in the long jump.

    Akanno has four USTFCCCA certifications and two USATF certifications. He graduated from UConn with a degree in psychology with a concentration in sports psychology.

D.J. PETTY

Assistant Coach

AMHERST COLLEGE

Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps

  • A three-time conference champion as a collegiate hurdler, D.J. Petty joined the Amherst College coaching staff in 2022. Petty works with the sprinters and hurdlers at Amherst.

    Petty joined the Mammoths after spending two years coaching at his alma mater, Randolph College. He worked as a graduate assistant in 2020-21, aiding and coaching the sprinters, jumpers and hurdlers. Petty was promoted to assistant coach for the 2021-22 season and worked exclusively with the jump squad, designing their workout regimen and conducting practices.

    During his coaching tenure at Randolph, Petty coached athletes to second, third and fifth place finishes at the ODAC Outdoor Championships and a second-place finish in the women's high jump at the ODAC Indoor Championships. Under Petty's guidance, Randolph school records fell in the women's triple jump, women's high jump and women's long jump.

    As a student-athlete at Randolph, Petty won three ODAC championships, winning the 60m hurdles in 2018 and 2019 and the 110m hurdles in 2018. Petty became the first WildCat to compete at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships, qualifying in both the 60m dash and 60m hurdles in 2019, and also qualified for the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in the 110m hurdles before the national championships were canceled his senior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Petty holds the Randolph school records in the 60m, 60m hurdles, 100m and 200m. He was a six-time USTFCCCA All-Region selection in his career with the WildCats.

    Petty graduated from Randolph in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in sport and exercise studies and completed his M.A. in coaching and sport leadership at Randolph in 2021. Petty is a USATF Level 1 certified coach.

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Clinic Schedule

9 AM - 4PM Daily

(EXAMPLE)

MORNING SESSION (VARIES BY EVENT)

8:15 - 9 AM - Registration

9:00 - 9:10 AM - Staff Introductions

9:10 - 9:45 AM - Active Isolated Stretching/Dynamic Warm-Ups

9:45 - 10:15 AM - Acceleration Mechanics

10:15- 11 AM - Acceleration Session

11:00 - 11:30 AM - Breaking Down the Drive Phase

11:10 - 12 PM - Max Velocity Mechanics

12:00 - 1 PM - Lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION (VARIES BY EVENT)

1-1:45 PM - All-Clinic Lecture: Approaching Track & Field from a Mental Health Perspective

1:45-2:15 PM - Strength & Conditioning: Event Specific Periodization and Proper Form

2:15 PM-3 PM - Dynamic Warm-Up #2

3:00-3:25 PM - General Strength Circuit Session

3:25- 3:45 PM - Medicine Ball Routines

3:45- 4 PM - Q & A, Recap of Day

4 PM - Depart Clinic

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frequently asked questions

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Already signed up? Visit the info hub for an extensive FAQ and announcements for attendees.

  • No. Athletes of all skill levels are encouraged to attend.

  • Though we have access to the indoor track, the 2024 Ascent Track & Field Clinic will be run outdoors, rain or shine. In the event of thunderstorms, the clinic will be delayed until the weather clears.

  • There are many hotels in the area, but the number of attendees means space may be limited, so we suggest reserving your room as soon you can.

  • All event groups are represented. Sprints (55/60m, 100m, 200m, 300m, 400m), distance (800m, 1600m, 3200m, cross country), throws (javelin, discus, shot put), jumps (high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault), and hurdles (55/60h, 100/110h, 300/400ih).

  • The $25 fee partly covers the additional costs of insurance and rental of specialized gear (landing mats, poles, standards, etc).

  • The Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason is located on the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia. It’s a track clinic open to any and all athletes –  and highly accessible to attendees from Virginia and surrounding areas like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Washington DC, and many more.