MileSplit North Carolina

Unlike the past 7-8 years, there was a dearth of athletes who did hurdles and sprints. I don't remember any female athlete doing the 100H/100dash double in any of the state meets. Only two did the 300H/200dash (Brockington and J. Collins). Of course, R. Collins did the 100H/400/200 -- a weird and valuable combination for her team. On the guys side, it just doesn't happen anymore. Hurdlers are either jumpers or relay members (or just hurdlers).

So my questions are: 1) Did I miss an athlete that doubles on the state meet competition level; and 2) what happened, is the competition so good in the dashes that it prevents the hurdler from coming back?

(And for the sake of this discussion, I started Brockington on 300 hurdles as a freshman because I had too many top quality 400 runners. I had Reggie Barnes train her on 100 hurdles the following year because I thought she had a better chance in the 100H/300H in the move up to 4A than in the 400/200 in 2010. She is a sprinter who know how to hurdler. What about the rest of the hurdlers and sprinters?)

Great question, actually. I think it depends on various factors. There has been a push towards standardizing dual hurdlers in programs which makes it difficult to double up as a hurdler/sprinter combination. Much of that has to do with the fact that it is really hard to learn how to switch back and forth between the 100/110Hurdles and 100 meter dash without compromising rhythm.

My daughter is a 100 meter hurdler but prefers the 200 meter dash over the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. Ultimately, I think it also has a lot to do with the fact that hurdlers tend to make good candidates for other events such as jumps and relays. It's not unusual to find a hurdler who can high jump, long jump and serve as a great leg on the 4x1, 4x2 and 4x4.

@coach_eazy I think too many coaches only push kids toward hurdles if they are not fast enough to be in the top 3-4 sprinters on the school team. The best hurdlers are great sprinters! I essentially taught ALL my sprinters to hurdle, although many did not race it. Hurdle training promotes strength and flexibility in the hips, and also helps to develop stride length while sustaining turnover.

Visionary

Great question, actually. I think it depends on various factors. There has been a push towards standardizing dual hurdlers in programs which makes it difficult to double up as a hurdler/sprinter combination. Much of that has to do with the fact that it is really hard to learn how to switch back and forth between the 100/110Hurdles and 100 meter dash without compromising rhythm.

My daughter is a 100 meter hurdler but prefers the 200 meter dash over the 300 Intermediate Hurdles. Ultimately, I think it also has a lot to do with the fact that hurdlers tend to make good candidates for other events such as jumps and relays. It's not unusual to find a hurdler who can high jump, long jump and serve as a great leg on the 4x1, 4x2 and 4x4.

@Visionary I understand where you are coming from. A. Perry (and her little sister) is an excellent hurdler, high jumper and long jumper. And, she ran a great leg on their 4x1. F. Evans moved away from the hurdles this year, making room for R. Faucette. I think the next great female hurdler in the state will be Ariel Davis of Northern Guilford. I think if she runs the open 200 and open 400 this summer, not only will she have more fun, but the long-run benefits will be innumerable for her development. I can't wait to see what "The Freshman" does as "The Sophomore" next year. Hopefully, she'll run indoor for Northern so that she can get the attention she richly deserves for her talent.

@CoachGeorgeRJR I learned that with A. Brice. She can hurdle -- she was also taught by Reggie Barnes as a sophomore. Along with that, we ran hurdle drills as part of our warm-up on a daily basis. Adding flexibility to the hips and pelvic region really was a turning point for the athletes we had my last three years at Dudley. There is no question hurdlers are the most versatile athletes on a team -- most times, they are also the hardest working.

@CoachGeorgeRJR

I make no secret that I hail from the great state of Florida. I think one area that I noticed where there are many differences with Floridan programs or even elite programs here in NC versus other parts of the country is all sprinters are required to perform hurdle drills for warm-ups, hip flexibility and coordination. Sometimes, I'm criticized for using this approach over at Millbrook high school where I coach the hurdles but it is something I refuse to budge on. And no, the worst mistake a coach can make is to take all of their failed sprinters and try to make them hurdlers. It really truly doesn't work that way however good hurdlers as you stated can actually become very good sprinters.

@coach_eazy It's interesting that you brought this subject up today, given the girl at the top of the sprint/hurdles rankings. It's almost like you were reading the previous rankings and adding up the points...

Actually, my inbox was acting funny so I started a topic instead. But that is the reason I left her put of the conversation

coach_eazy

@Visionary I understand where you are coming from. A. Perry (and her little sister) is an excellent hurdler, high jumper and long jumper. And, she ran a great leg on their 4x1. F. Evans moved away from the hurdles this year, making room for R. Faucette. I think the next great female hurdler in the state will be Ariel Davis of Northern Guilford. I think if she runs the open 200 and open 400 this summer, not only will she have more fun, but the long-run benefits will be innumerable for her development. I can't wait to see what "The Freshman" does as "The Sophomore" next year. Hopefully, she'll run indoor for Northern so that she can get the attention she richly deserves for her talent.

@coach_eazy

Hey Coach Eazy,

I just have a few questions for you in regards to Ariel Davis, whom I have coached since the 6th Grade.

Question 1: Are you saying she should run only the 200m and 400m opens this summer and not hurdle?

Question 2: What are the long term benefits of running the 200m and 400m vs. 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m?
(Sally Pearson/2011 World Champion 100mH - Australia, only runs open 100m and 200m.)

Question 3: What about improving rate of force development (RFD) through mass specific strength or relative strength?

Question 4: How does running high school indoor track get you more attention then say running at collegiate open meets or not running indoors at all? The Jamaican high school programs and national teams do not run indoors but rather choose to train all the way through till the spring before making their debut at the Penn Relays and they have been getting more attention, internationally, then any other group in the world for years now.

Question 5: What about using the FMS (Functional Movement Screen) to address imbalances in stability and mobility?

Question 6: What about laying down a macrocycle with 2-3 mesocycles over the next 9 months?

In the Spirit of Sport
Jonathan Sherbourne

Platinum Sports Academy

Assistant Coach (Hurdles/Jumps) Northern Guilford High

@StengthCoach First and foremost, let me lay down a few facts that will help you understand my perspective. First, I did not (nor have I) study health and human performance in college or any other time. I have a BS in chemical engineering, secondary certification in chemistry and math and a MA in K-12 Education Administration. My track training started as an assistant coach for throwers in Michigan, then on to the NCTCCCA Coaches Clinic after I became the head coach at Dudley, then USATF Level 1 in Boone and USATF Level 2 in Jumps in Chicago in 2007. Through all of that, my best experiences have come from training my own runners with my gut and watching other coaches sometimes overcoach.

Unlike other coaches in this area (Guilford Co.), I have no desire to affirm or denounce any coaching styles. My opinions are just that, my opinions. You can agree or disagree with how I would train an athlete, that is your God-given option. I will answer each of your questions below after the question. (After completing these answers, you have certainly made me think a little deeper than I like at this time of year. Thanks for the opportunity, Coach Sherbourne. Ed. Teasley)

Hey Coach Eazy,

I just have a few questions for you in regards to Ariel Davis, whom I have coached since the 6th Grade.

Question 1: Are you saying she should run only the 200m and 400m opens this summer and not hurdle? That is exactly what I am saying. She is a phenomenal hurdler and has those skills down pat. Now is a great time for her to work on pure speed over the 100, 200 and 400 distances. This may also allow her to have some fun this summer without the pressure of hurdle racing for national medals this summer.

Question 2: What are the long term benefits of running the 200m and 400m vs. 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m?
(Sally Pearson/2011 World Champion 100mH - Australia, only runs open 100m and 200m.) I don't know if there is any long term benefits of training a young athlete year-round. Ariel is too young to be compared to Sally Pearson or even Tyler Brockington. I know at this stage three years ago, Tyler as a freshman was a state champion 300m hurdler who did not run hurdles anymore until mid-year of her junior year. Instead, she ran the 100, 200 and 400. Did it help? I don't know. All I know is the time off didn't hurt her ability or her recruiting results.

Question 3: What about improving rate of force development (RFD) through mass specific strength or relative strength? I am more on the relative strength end of training. If a young lady can crank out 10-15 pull-ups, 20 push ups, and 75 sit-ups, I think she is ready to do some downward force development while running. I don't believe in using weights (especially heavy weights) with young athletes because they are still physically developing. The possibility of hip and pelvic injuries are too great, in my opinion. I should know, my 15-year-old has had three hip surgeries in the past two years (and he was not an athlete, just funny development).

Question 4: How does running high school indoor track get you more attention then say running at collegiate open meets or not running indoors at all? The Jamaican high school programs and national teams do not run indoors but rather choose to train all the way through till the spring before making their debut at the Penn Relays and they have been getting more attention, internationally, then any other group in the world for years now.Amazing how everyone like to compare the US high school system with the Carribean high school system. They are totally different, as most Carribean nations do not graduate "high school" until 19- or 20-years old. Don't get me wrong, Every coach wants a Jamaican on their team, but it is largely due to reputation. Their top-end athletes are phenomenal, however, they have thousands of also-ran athletes that are just like our millions of also-ran athletes. Adjust for the population difference and you may see the percentages are the same.

Also, remember why indoor track was started -- because it is too cold above the extreme southern states to train/compete outdoors year-round. I have found it easier to get a college coach to come see an athlete comepete during indoor rather than outdoor season. Why? Because their indoor competition season does not begin until mid-to-late January, by which time a high shcool athlete will have three or four opportunities (six with the JDL open this year) to compete against some stiff competition. So why not run in collegiate open meets? Depends on the competition: if running against DII, NAIA or some DII schools, it can be a real boost to the ego as most of these athletes were not good in high school, are walk-ons and out there just to say they ran in college. However, if running at Carolina or VaTech against DI and top-tier DII athletes, a sophomore in high school would have to be real special to have achieved the qualifying mark to enter those meets. If they have legitimately reached the mark, then run in the meet. If not, then don't and try to dominate the high school competition.

Question 5: What about using the FMS (Functional Movement Screen) to address imbalances in stability and mobility?One should use any resources available help their athletes improve. I believe this technology will be available during New Balance Outdoor Nationals next week (or something like it). I saw Dr. Manns use it a couple of years back in Nevada. It was remarkable then and he has shown improvements in the program at the University of South Carolina coaches clinc each year since then.

Question 6: What about laying down a macrocycle with 2-3 mesocycles over the next 9 months? Too much training and thought process for a young athlete. When is the time off? When does she get to enjoy being a teenager? For me (again, this is my opionion) it is okay for us to think about macrocycles and mesocycles and peaking; however, that is too much information for high schools athletes. The will get enough of that if they choose to run in college and thereafter (if they are talented enought to go pro). For now, I find it hard enough just getting them to just run. Too much information gives too many opportunities for excuses.

In the Spirit of Sport
Jonathan Sherbourne

Platinum Sports Academy

Assistant Coach (Hurdles/Jumps) Northern Guilford High

@StengthCoach I've been waiting for a few days to ask this (wanted to let Coach Teasley respond first, if he cared to). Why in the world would you "lay down a macrocycle with 2-3 mesocycles over the next 9 months?" 9 months from now would be March of 2013. Why would you end your training plan in March? That just doesn't seem like a good plan.

CoachGeorgeRJR

@StengthCoach I've been waiting for a few days to ask this (wanted to let Coach Teasley respond first, if he cared to). Why in the world would you "lay down a macrocycle with 2-3 mesocycles over the next 9 months?" 9 months from now would be March of 2013. Why would you end your training plan in March? That just doesn't seem like a good plan.

@CoachGeorgeRJR @StrenghCoach No answer necessary. I could only lead to a back and forth that could prove never-ending. When I saw the question, I assumed it began in August and ended in May, peaking at the state meet. If I am wrong, I apologize.

EaZy

The following link relates to the original post.

www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120609/SPORTS/....