Breaking news! USATF Elite Development Club program is alive and well in the Midwest!
The Kansas City Smoke sent 14 men to Ichan Stadium in NYC for this past weekend’s Club T&F National Champs. Mostly distance runners but no relevant Elite Development Club is without its field and/or sprint athletes. Keifer Smith contributed 8 important points by taking 2nd in the Pole Vault.
3rd Overall Men’s Team! The Kansas City Smoke demonstrated its understanding and support for the Original Vision of our EDC program. A vision that once held sway in Nebraska.
As one of the architects of our EDC Program I am damned proud that the Smoke gets it. I truly believe that one day Nebraska athletes and clubs will return to our rightful place in the upper echelons of USATF Clubs. I also believe that unless our designated EDCs support our Club National Championships, the program may be in jeopardy.
Locally our RRCA and USATF Road Mile champs were in Lincoln. Connor Gibson’s 4:23.91 took the win, as did Erica Doering’s 5:18.65. My favorite result was 49 year old Stacy Shaw’s 5:48.85, that age grades to a 4:47 which rates a National Class 82 on the WAVA tables.
History lesson. Read this below. A loyal reader pointed out last week that the names we are resurrecting over on our LDR facebook page accomplished all their glories (70s & 80s) without the club system, sponsorships, USATF, or advocacy. I was queried as to my thoughts on this. Easy as pie my friends. The vast majority of today’s generation have had a too easy time. Entitlement. And they have no Real Fire. Not like Tim Dooling’s fire. Because the majority of today’s runners are over socialized. I’ve heard a local runner insist that running is “all about the relationships” she has made. And yes, for a vast majority of runners that is all there will ever be. Over Socialization of our sport. Give me one Dooling and I will re-write our Nebraska history books, Again.
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