Create your own Pro Track Team

ecoli

With Pro Athletics teams such as Oregon track club playing a pivotal role in the US distance resurgence of the last few years there have been arguments made here for the need to develop a more centralized training setup. So we are calling all would be athletics visionaries to put your money where your mouth is (not really but just a bit of fun)

Here is the scenario:

Kevin Ankrom has just put you in charge of a new initiative to set up Irelands first Pro Athletics team. He has provided the funds to support the entire team to become full time athletes (just to reiterate the fact this is a fantasical scenario:rolleyes:) He has asked you for the following:

Team Of 16 Athletes. The following Stipulations apply:

• 2 Junior athletes minimum per gender
• Atleast 5 of both gender
• Any discipline

3 Coaches maximum

Location (Can do up current facilities but not able to build new one from scratch)

This is not about just the best athletes but rather creating a set up which would compliment and benefit the development of the sport. Factor in why you would select the athletes/coaches/location also

RoyMcC

Men
Paul Hession (capt, age 28) 200m/400m
Steve Colvert (21) 100m/200m
Marcus Lawler (16) 100m/200m
Ciaran O'Lionard (23) 1500m
Ben Reynolds (21) 110mH
Brian McGovern (20) PV
Colin Quirke (21) DT/SP
Killian Barry (19) HT

Women
Amy Foster (22) 100m/200m
Kelly Proper (22) 200m/LJ
Derval O'Rourke (capt, 30) 100mH
Meghan Kiely (17) 400mH
Deirdre Ryan (29) HJ
Tori Pena (23) PV
Cara Kennedy (19) HT
Claire Fitzgerald (20) DT/SP

The accent is on youth, goal the 2016 Olympics, guided by a few older heads.

I have largely ignored the MD events at which I consider the gap to Olympic success too far to bridge at present. Sorry runners, hope I'm wrong.

My head coach is going to be Dan Kennedy who will appoint three coaches with a proven track record at the highest level - this may mean looking outside the country. The best young Irish coaches will be mentored by these top guys with a view to taking over in due course.

My base is Irishtown, mainly to avoid that schlepp out to Santry We're going to build a dedicated indoor centre over the five-a-side pitches and seating along the home straight. This will include a PV area with one of those fancy downhill runways like at Loughborough. There is already a good gym to which all my athletes will have access. Also needed will be proper medical and physio facilities.

Free local housing will be provided and the athletes will be contracted on a fair salary.

In return results are demanded, not expected.

ecoli

Men
Paul Hession (capt, age 28) 200m/400m
Steve Colvert (21) 100m/200m
Brendan O Neill (23) 5000
David McCarthy (23) 5000
Ciaran O'Lionard (23) 5000/10000
Mark Christie (25) 5000
Joe Sweeney (25) 5000/10000
Rob Heffernan (33) 20k/50k W



Women
Kelly Proper (22) 200m/LJ
Derval O'Rourke (capt, 30) 100mH
Katie Veale (17) 10k W
Olive Loughnane (35) 20k W
Ciara Mageean (18) 800/1500
Roseanne Galligan (23) 800/1500
Mary Cullen (25) 5000/10000
Fionnuala Britton (26) 3000 S/C / 5000


I went other way. Very much endurance based. One or two the athletes who just missed the list I felt probably should have but didnt have room to fit them. I think this group could compliment each other quite well as the experience for some of the older athletes (not just in performances but major championship experience) is the main reason for their inclusion in what is a generally youthful team

Coaches:Rob Denmead (Tullamore) has a proven track record with development of youth I would also include Keith Kelly. Though inexperienced enough coach seems to be getting the best out of Fagan recently. Given his only injury woes and his background he also can give insight into coping with injuries and rehabilitation (the training aspect after comingback anyway) as well as his experience in US. For the sprints I would probably go with Team Cahill (only way i could think to include both of them). Continually get the best from athletes at the right time.

Location: Belfield
Reasons behind this were access to the Dublin mountains. New trails around the campus as well as a track (which would obviously be renovated). High performance gym on the campus and access to airport for international competition

RoyMcC

ecoli wrote: »

Location: Belfield
Reasons behind this were access to the Dublin mountains. New trails around the campus as well as a track (which would obviously be renovated). High performance gym on the campus and access to airport for international competition

I see, you're creating a sort of Eldoret south of Dublin. I see some flaws in that, but if you could get all the top runners working together intensely and with purpose it might work wonders.

ecoli

RoyMcC wrote: »

I see, you're creating a sort of Eldoret south of Dublin. I see some flaws in that, but if you could get all the top runners working together intensely and with purpose it might work wonders.

Think its my distance background kicking in:D. I still think that distance are among our top hopes as I still feel we are a league apart in terms of field events bar the odd gem (High Jump being one field we seem to be blessed with individual talents atm). I think we would be closer to a 13 -13.10 5k runner than a 5.40 pole vaulter or a 70m Hammer Thrower

RoyMcC

I believe that there is much more scope for improvements in the technical events with top facilities, top coaching and the right environment. Double or treble the amount of purposeful training in these events and I think our field eventers would improve beyond recognition.

ecoli

RoyMcC wrote: »

I believe that there is much more scope for improvements in the technical events with top facilities, top coaching and the right environment. Double or treble the amount of purposeful training in these events and I think our field eventers would improve beyond recognition.

Good point perhaps we do need to get away from the notion that everyone can teach themselves the hammer from an old second hand video and actually supply them with the facilities;)

RoyMcC

ecoli wrote: »

Good point perhaps we do need to get away from the notion that everyone can teach themselves the hammer from an old second hand video and actually supply them with the facilities;)

I don't suppose things are quite that bad However I can give a fine example of how exposure to the right environment can produce superb results. From being an island of very few throwers Jersey has produced five national class throwers in the last six years, from a population of 90,000 (Therin, Stevenson, Rothwell and Duquemin x 2). The difference is top coach John Hillier who has connections to the Island and who is, or was, coach to all these.

His technical coaching is first class. But the difference is that all of these athletes now train virtually every day, sometimes more than once. Each session is 2-3 hours long, done with purpose. Others will throw for maybe an hour, three times a week in a pretty mechanical, repetitive fashion - I guess that will be true of the majority of throwers. It's crystal clear (to me anyway) that huge gains can be made given the right environment.

Of course the top Irish athletes have always endeavoured to do this with the Villanova connection and US colleges generally, Gillick at Loughborough etc. Wouldn't it be great to have it all on the doorstep though.

TFBubendorfer

ecoli wrote: »

Good point perhaps we do need to get away from the notion that everyone can teach themselves the hammer from an old second hand video and actually supply them with the facilities;)

I guess the general thinking is, that second hand video worked for the last one ...

ecoli

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I guess the general thinking is, that second hand video worked for the last one ...

And eating chicken nuggets before a 100m sprint race will make you faster............ Exceptions justify the rule not disprove it:D