Dick Pond Athletics has been a staple in the Chicagoland running scene for many years, and putting on summer events is one of their strong suits. Cross country meets are an excellent way that running shoe stores engage themselves with the community.
For most people summer track and field (at least in Illinois) is an extension of the high school running season. It is an opportunity for kids to improve on individual marks not achieved during a sometimes short outdoor season that does not get hot until the state championship weekend. For the parents and coaches it is an opportunity to work educate themselves with the sport and develop their athletes. Why not, the weather is consistently great and the distraction of sitting in a school classroom for eight hours each day is gone. All that has transpired is club track, IAAF U20 Championships, and cross country training. Sit back and take a ride.
The Pacesetters Track Club 17-18 boys 4x400 relay qualified for USATF Nationals with a smoking time of 3:17.96. The quartet featured Kevin Sager, Brian Jimenez, Haneef Spikener, and Isaiah Robinson
During these steamy, hot summer days I have been busy coaching youngsters and getting them ready for either summer track nationals, cross country season, or development. The first stage of summer 2016 was the USATF series which started with the state association meet followed by the regional round a few weeks later. However, it is the association meet that draws the most attention. This meet usually commences the last weekend in June at Illinois Benedictine University. If you recall IBU has been the home of some great track and field action last summer with association meet, USATF World Junior Trials, and USATF Hersey Nationals. Over 3000 athletes from ages 5-18 take their best shots at competing and while only a select percentage move on to the next level, it is a satisfying feeling to the happiness that summer brings.
Some have argued that USATF and AAU need to come together or merge because it forces kids and families to chose nationals. I have mixed feelings regarding only the process of qualifying. I don't care if kids chose one meet or the other. I just like good competition. I love to see kids running in both associations. I know several coaches would never do that. They would rather hate on each other by either talking bad who one association run its operation. They also would never let their kids compete in another association. That is crazy to me since the events overlap enough to allow kids to maintain their normal training and get invaluable experience. I simply say the more the merrier.