Oct. 22, 2014 
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina track and field program will host the South Carolina Sprint, Jump and Hurdles Coaches Clinic on Fri., Nov. 21, and Sat., Nov. 22, on the University’s campus. The event is recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and USA Track and Field (USATF) for continuing education.
The program includes biomechanics pioneer and USATF Director of the Elite Athlete Sprint & Hurdle Program Dr. Ralph Mann, former U.S. Olympic Committee Winter Division head sport physiologist Dr. Brad DeWeese, former Clemson head coach Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson, former world and Olympic champion Dennis Mitchell, and fitness, strength and speed expert Dr. Mike Young. Also on the program’s schedule is South Carolina’s own Dr. Kendra Ogletree-Cusac, a licensed psychologist and sports psychologist, who works with athletes, teams and coaches at all levels. South Carolina Head Coach Curtis Frye will serve as a facilitator throughout the two-day clinic.
Friday begins at 9:30 a.m., at the Indoor Track Facility as Dr. Mann will conduct biomechanical analysis of elite athletes until 6 p.m. Sessions include presentations from Dr. Young on performance optimization and Dr. Ogletree-Cusaac on the influence of teammates in performance. The day concludes with a presentation from Dr. Mann on the analyses of sprint mechanics.
The second day starts at 7:30 a.m., with Dr. DeWeese speaking on training theory for speed, followed by Dr. Mann discussing start mechanic and maximum velocity at 8:30, before Mitchell wraps up the morning sessions, speaking on the development of young athletes.
After a lunch break, Dr. Young will speak on conditioning for track and field athletes at 1:30 p.m., followed by Dr. Mann looking at hurdles biomechanics. A break will lead into the clinic’s final presentation from Johnson as he discusses the development of world-class hurdle group training at 4 p.m.
Cost of the event, which is open to all coaches, is $100.00 (cash or check only, please). There is an additional fee of $50.00 to observe Dr. Ralph Mann’s biomechanical analysis on Nov. 21. Walk-up registration will be available on Nov. 21 from 5-6 p.m., and Nov. 22 from 7-8 a.m. Checks will need to be made out to Speed Elite. Space is limited so please register early to guarantee a seat. For more information and online registration, click here (http://southcarolinaclinic.weebly.com/). For any further questions, contact Hadrien “Coach Frenchie” Choukroun at 803.777.8672 or hchoukroun@gmail.com.
Dr. Ralph Mann highlights the group of distinguished speakers. Mann, an Olympic silver medalist, is a scholar in the field of sport biomechanics. In 1982, Mann was one of six individuals that founded the Elite Athlete Program that brought Sport Science to the forefront of USA Track and Field. For the past 25 years he has served as USATF Director of the Elite Athlete Sprint & Hurdle Program.
Known as one of the nation’s top sport performance coaches and sport scientists, Dr. Brad DeWeese has served as the head sport physiologist for the US Olympic Committee’s Winter Division. Currently, DeWeese is serving as a professor at East Tennessee State University in the Department of Kinesiology, Sport Science and Leisure Studies. The school also serves as a U.S. Olympic Committee Training site.
Coach of 100-meter hurdle 2013 World Champion and current American record holder Brianna Rollins, Lawrence “Boogie” Johnson will speak on the development of a world champion in the 100-meter hurdles. Prior to moving into the professional realm, Johnson spent five years as Clemson’s Director of Track & Field and Cross Country.
Coach of Olympic and World champion Justin Gatlin, Dennis Mitchell is a former World and Olympic champion himself, who now coaches several of the elite sprinters in the USA. This past May, he served as Team USA’s Sprint coach for the IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas.
Dr. Mike Young has been recognized as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength & Conditioning Association, a Level 3 coach by USA Track & Field, a Level 2 coach by USA Weightlifting & a Cross Fit Level 1 coach.
