Going to start out with Big Tips to the KC Smoke. They have experienced a revival after weathering some down years as an Elite Development Club. A boatload** of talent headed to Seattle, four men entered into the 10000 alone. I was there and saw politics nearly ruin that club. Founder and good friend Shawn Love built it into a powerhouse. He hosted the 2008 USATF Club Championships and the next thing I knew he was off the roster and that was that. Of course, the athletes didn’t want to be involved in the drama, so they just let things slide. And they did, downward. In short order they no longer were seen dominating the local road and track scene. No longer struck fear into the hearts of their competitors. Became a shadow of their former selves. The Most Serious of the athletes suffered the most.
So I’m really happy that they have the talent and funding and training and advocacy necessary to best serve the mission statement of our USATF EDCs.
Also glad to see that Team Nebraska is sending 3 athletes to the most important track meet of the summer. Ashley Miller will be running the 1500 and 5000. I’ve got her picked to win the latter and be in the mix for the former. Peter Falcon will be contesting the 5000 and 10000 and has a great shot at a medal in the longer race. Aubrey Baxter will be tossing the Hammer, Shot, and Discus. Events she has won repeatedly over the years.
Aubrey will always be one of the best stories from my time as head honcho at Team Nebraska. Only Aubrey, Bill Roe, Devon Martin, and Dave Oja knew how far out on a limb I had to go to get her counted as a scoring athlete for the Red & White. Because I took up for her as an athlete first, geographical and procedural impediments be damned. I saw her talent, was convinced she had the key ingredient, Potential Development, in her corner and I was not going to back down. Sat in meetings convincing the powers that were to give this young lady the opportunity that she could get nowhere else. I’ll always be proud of my success in that battle.
The rest, like me and Shawn, is history.
**Aaron Davidson, Drew Frizzell, Jeramey Jordan, Joe Moore, Jordan Umsheid, Justin Garrard, Kelvin Busienei, Kory Cool, Michael Alexander, Mike Hernandez, Randy Wasinger, and Tim Testa.
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