Friday, March 11, 2011
UB's newest ALL AMERICAN
The Windy City
After a while, you just get use to the wind tunnel known as the UB track stadium. Today our women hit the track for a tempo workout of 4 x 2000m... Judging by the looks the distance women gave me, they were not pleased to be heading outside... it was 40 degrees, but the winds were sustained at 27mph with gusts well over 35mph and a sand-blasting snow. Despite the disparaging looks, they ran a strong workout. The tough get tougher; that is the approach we must take. I also believe that despite some sleet, icy snow, and rain, we were very fortunate compared to the natural disasters in other parts of the world. And, we can be even more excited about our training trip to North Carolina tomorrow!
Rob Golabek is in the shot put circle as I write this post.... waiting for the results!
Rob Golabek is in the shot put circle as I write this post.... waiting for the results!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Pre-NCAA Championships
Today Coach Jenkins, Coach Garnham, Rob Golabek and Becky O'Brien landed in College Station, TX. Texas A&M will be hosting the Indoor NCAA Champs, and tomorrow Rob will be honored at the banquet as the Northeast Field Athlete of the Year - this is the first time that a UB T&F athlete has won this honor. And, let's make a note on Coach Garnham - this is the 6th NCAA Championship in a row that he's had 1 or more throwers competing! Talk about a winning streak. Where he goes, success follows.
The recruiting battle continues, though, for the rest of our events. We just solidified NINE distance men committed already for next fall. And, we have several women with verbal commitments as well., including a local runner! However, we have some critical recruits keeping me on the edge of my seat.... JUST SAY YES, please!!!! Make my day!!! Apparently I believe that the exclamation marks will make my plea seem louder and and more convincing. I have to say, when a recruit gives that desired, "yes," it is one of the greatest feelings of joy (and relief). I am not sure which is better: a top recruit committing, or one of our current athletes having a great workout or a personal best. Both are equally rewarding and exciting. I suppose that is why I continue to do this coaching thing. Anxiety, stress, worrying, and all....
The recruiting battle continues, though, for the rest of our events. We just solidified NINE distance men committed already for next fall. And, we have several women with verbal commitments as well., including a local runner! However, we have some critical recruits keeping me on the edge of my seat.... JUST SAY YES, please!!!! Make my day!!! Apparently I believe that the exclamation marks will make my plea seem louder and and more convincing. I have to say, when a recruit gives that desired, "yes," it is one of the greatest feelings of joy (and relief). I am not sure which is better: a top recruit committing, or one of our current athletes having a great workout or a personal best. Both are equally rewarding and exciting. I suppose that is why I continue to do this coaching thing. Anxiety, stress, worrying, and all....
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Sports & Anxiety
Sports and Anxiety. They go hand in hand it seems, at least for me. My former coach made things look so easy! He seemed to never showed anxiety (although I am sure he had some when I toed the line). I, on the other hand, seem to live it with my student-athletes. I dream about the meets. I worry about the athletes - did they get good sleep, are they healthy, are they ready to go? Last week at the MAC Champs, we saw the deepest and most competitive MAC Conference championship ever. Becky O'Brien continued her winning way by not only winning the SP title but also breaking the 16 yr old MAC Championship Meet record. Our athletes on the track competed and had too many "slow close" to making finals but just missing. Times that ordinarily place in the top 3 did not even make finals this year. The belief that the MAC is a "Mid-Major" conference was definitely put to rest. We are as competitive as many of the "big" conferences. The season was spent preparing for this one meet, this one chance to go out and make it big. We did. More than have of our women had personal best marks at the meet - can't ask for more than that, right? Wrong, I will expect more, and I believe our women want more, too. Personal bests are nice, but moving up the ranks is even nicer!
Now we are in the sit and wait game to see if Rob Golabek makes the NCAA Champs in the men's SP. He's currently 12th in the NCAA, top 14th go, with one remaining meet in the country to be contested. We'll know tomorrow if he's in... it's looking good. Becky is already an automatic qualifier by virtue of hitting the auto mark several weeks ago. Sit and wait.... anxiety? Oh yeah. Good anxiety, but nonetheless, anxiety!
Now we are in the sit and wait game to see if Rob Golabek makes the NCAA Champs in the men's SP. He's currently 12th in the NCAA, top 14th go, with one remaining meet in the country to be contested. We'll know tomorrow if he's in... it's looking good. Becky is already an automatic qualifier by virtue of hitting the auto mark several weeks ago. Sit and wait.... anxiety? Oh yeah. Good anxiety, but nonetheless, anxiety!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Morning of MAC Champs
To subside my nerves, I went for a run this morning. All of the local schools are closed for a snow day due to high winds, blowing snow, and poor visability. Bowling Green, Toledo, and surrounding districts all closed. Traffic was light on my run, which was good because ice pellets were hitting my eyes and I could not see a thing! Otherwise, it was a nice and peaceful run.
The team is set to compete. We have many athletes in position to place and score well, and now it is about putting the last 6months of hard training to the test.
Competition is the opportunity to create something special. It's the opportunity to achieve excellence. It's about the team, the environment, and the chance to compete at the highest level.
Live it up.
The team is set to compete. We have many athletes in position to place and score well, and now it is about putting the last 6months of hard training to the test.
Competition is the opportunity to create something special. It's the opportunity to achieve excellence. It's about the team, the environment, and the chance to compete at the highest level.
Live it up.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thoughts on the MAC Championships
Two days until the start of the Mid American Conference Track & Field Championships... I am not sure if I am excited, nervous, or anxious. Maybe a mix of all three. We go in to the Champs with a great note on Jamiee, who was selected as the UB Athlete of the Week (http://www.buffalobulls.com/general/aow/2010-11/aow022111). The women just need to believe that they can compete with the amazing talent in our conference. Looking over the seed times, it is clear that the MAC is stacked. Gone are the days of running 5:10/mile and running in the seeded heat. Sub-5:01 to make the fast heat this year! This should convince all of those that question the MAC conference in track & field that we are no "Mid-Major" conference. We are with the big-dogs - the Big East, the ACC, the PAC-10, etc. Just look through the results.
Back to my last post about the 7 great recruits on campus... they all left with smiles on their faces and great experiences while on campus. The sit and wait period has begun. Many still have more college visits to do, for some we were their first. As hard as worked in recruiting, it seems inevitable we sit and wait... and wait... and wait... When we start getting the "YES" for 2011 commitments, it will be worth it all (positive thinking... I know we will get "yes's" at some point... I know we will, I know we will...).
Next post will come from the land of Bowling Green State U.... Go BULLS!
Back to my last post about the 7 great recruits on campus... they all left with smiles on their faces and great experiences while on campus. The sit and wait period has begun. Many still have more college visits to do, for some we were their first. As hard as worked in recruiting, it seems inevitable we sit and wait... and wait... and wait... When we start getting the "YES" for 2011 commitments, it will be worth it all (positive thinking... I know we will get "yes's" at some point... I know we will, I know we will...).
Next post will come from the land of Bowling Green State U.... Go BULLS!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Weekend of UB Track & Field
What did you do this weekend? A simple question with a series of answers all containing "UB" in some form. Saturday our UB Track team competed at Cornell. On the 200m track our UB sprinters blazed two new school records. Jamiee McClary claimed another school record in the 300m. She crushed the previous record that had been set way back in 1994. Now, just to be clear, Jamiee holds the records in the 60m, 200m, 300m, and 400m. Not bad for a sophomore. In fact, we might say her performances have been impressive. Not to be outdone, Brian Smith (aka: Smitty) broke the men's 300m school record. UB = fast.
Today, our distance crew headed to the Ridge for practice. Bright sunshine, light winds, dry roads, and 22 degrees was the recipe for great running. The men cruised through 1:40 on the rolling hills of Orchard Park. The women a little shorter. I was able to get in on the action with a wonderful 6-mile loop. I do not run with the women; they are too fast. But, I held my own running the 6-miles on hills in just over 46minutes. I was on a time limit, though... so I pushed my pace to get back to the lodge. When the women finished we loaded back into the UB van and drove back to campus... just in time to meet our 7 high school recruits for their official visits to our program. By this point, I NEEDED COFFEE! No time for that, though... met the recruits, and headed to the Take Down Cancer event with the UB Wresting Team. I almost felt bad for NIU as UB crushed them in the wrestling match. In our efforts of cheering on the Bulls, we worked up quite an
Today, our distance crew headed to the Ridge for practice. Bright sunshine, light winds, dry roads, and 22 degrees was the recipe for great running. The men cruised through 1:40 on the rolling hills of Orchard Park. The women a little shorter. I was able to get in on the action with a wonderful 6-mile loop. I do not run with the women; they are too fast. But, I held my own running the 6-miles on hills in just over 46minutes. I was on a time limit, though... so I pushed my pace to get back to the lodge. When the women finished we loaded back into the UB van and drove back to campus... just in time to meet our 7 high school recruits for their official visits to our program. By this point, I NEEDED COFFEE! No time for that, though... met the recruits, and headed to the Take Down Cancer event with the UB Wresting Team. I almost felt bad for NIU as UB crushed them in the wrestling match. In our efforts of cheering on the Bulls, we worked up quite an
appetite. Dinner was at Santora's. Coach Todd & I enjoyed the company of our recruits and parents and look forward to seeing them not only tomorrow, but hopefully in the fall 2011! Better really turn on the UB charm tomorrow. Can someone order another sunny day, please? And, a Venti Americano?
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