Wariner, Hart Sever Partnership

Is it just me of is this the  worst timing  possible. No one can really know the whole story but from where I stand humbly , One way or the other, no amount of money is worth possibly losing  an Olympic Gold Medal and no amount of money can buy  an Olympic Gold Medal  either.  

Where will Jeremy Wariner find the piece of mind to concentrate with a familiar setting and coach when now everything is turned upside down?? I would have waited to  change my world famous coach and all the talk that will go with his decesion until after the Gold was in my hot little hands.

Well ,That’s  just me….I guess this will be another “Big” story this summer to take away from the real stories of the hard work our athletes have had to put in to get to China . 

Track Mom

Wariner, Hart Sever Partnership
 Wednesday, January 30, 2008

By Brice Cherry

Tribune-Herald staff writer

The successful partnership between Jeremy Wariner and Clyde Hart has reached its finish line.

Hart confirmed Tuesday that because of a contract dispute he will no longer serve as the personal coach for Wariner, the defending Olympic gold medalist and world champion in the 400 meters.

The veteran Baylor track coach had been operating on a one-year contract each year that called for him to receive a percentage of Wariner’s earnings. But Hart balked after recently receiving a contract proposal that reduced that percentage.

“It was a significant cutback, and I didn’t think I could do it. Well, actually, I knew I couldn’t do it,” said Hart, who has trained Wariner since the sprinter’s freshman year at Baylor in 2003. “I don’t have a sign around my neck that says ‘Discount Coach.’ I never asked for more, I never wanted more, but each year the percentage was always consistent.

“I was just taken aback at the offer.”

Wariner, who is continuing to train in Waco at Baylor’s Hart-Patterson Track Complex - a facility named in part after Hart - did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday.

Wariner turned professional immediately after winning gold medals in the 400 and 4×400 relay at the Athens Olympics in 2004, and hired former Baylor and Olympic great Michael Johnson as his agent. Wariner also asked Hart to continue to serve as his coach, and Hart agreed to do so under a contract he crafted.

“I simply wrote up an agreement, without a lawyer or attorney,” Hart said. “I always thought it should be a one-year deal, because I’d never want to coach someone who doesn’t want me to coach them. The contract called for me to earn a percentage of Jeremy’s earnings, like an agent, though my percentage wasn’t as high as what an agent would get.

“I just thought it was the fairest thing, because if he does well, then I do well. And if he doesn’t, I don’t either.”

Hart believed that the arrangement had been mutually beneficial until receiving a new “quite lengthy” contract from Wariner’s attorney that called for a cutback in the coach’s potential earnings.

“We had been going through contract negotiations for the past couple of weeks, and we finally got to the point where we were at an impasse,” Hart said. “I made a decision I couldn’t accept the contract that was presented to me.”

Since the split with Hart, Wariner has been training under Baylor assistant Michael Ford, who also coaches Wariner’s training partner and old BU teammate Darold Williamson. Ford said Tuesday that he hasn’t yet signed a contract to coach Wariner, but that he felt compelled to offer his services despite the unusual circumstances.

“There’s nothing official on paper,” Ford said. “It just made sense for me to work with Jeremy because he and Darold have worked together for so long. Plus, I just felt an obligation to Jeremy as a Baylor guy to do what I could to help. It’s like I told Coach (Todd) Harbour, ‘How could I turn down an opportunity to coach the best 400 runner in the world?’ ”

Nevertheless, Ford admitted that the severing of the Wariner-Hart partnership has already created an odd dynamic at the Baylor track. Over the years, Wariner has often - though not always - worked out at the same time as the Baylor track team, which Hart continues to help with in his role as Baylor’s director of track and field.

Asked if his coaching Wariner has generated any friction between himself and Hart, Ford said, “A little. I’ve sensed maybe a little. I mean, I hope not. I definitely still have my loyalty to Coach Hart, especially working here at Baylor, but I sense an obligation to Jeremy as well. I really feel like this is a business decision between Coach Hart and Jeremy, and I’m just kind of caught in the middle.”

For his part, Hart said that he’s not “mad at anyone,” including Wariner. The coach will continue to train Sanya Richards, the former University of Texas star who has been the world’s top-ranked women’s 400 runner the past three years.

But Hart also admits to being “disappointed” that he won’t be there to assist Wariner in the sprinter’s quest to repeat as Olympic champion later this year in Beijing.

“I’m not mad at Jeremy, not at all,” Hart said. “I just cannot understand where he was coming from (with the contract offer). It caught me by surprise.

“But he’s a great athlete, and I’ve enjoyed these five years working with him. I regret I won’t be there for the final part of the race, because I think he’s destined for great things.”

Former Region 15 Stars Continue to Shine In the Track Galaxy

Here is just an  another example of the fine talent that dominates the Southern California Area 

   Watch Out Here They Come….

  
photos by Doug Speck and Kirby Lee - Image of Sport
Akawkaw Ndipagbor and Elias Gedyon

 The Golden State has on the frosh scene two of the nation’s best middle-schoolers from last year in Akawkaw Ndipagbor (pronounced ah-coco in-dee-pag (bag with a p)-bore), with the Southern Californian who has shown up as a student at Long Beach Poly a super age-group career, topped last summer by bests up through the 400 of 11.98 100m, 24.21 200m, and 53.73 400m. She was the USATF Youth Nationals age 13-14 100 meter champ, and the USATF JO age 13-14 200 and 400 champ last summer at Mt. SAC. She is obviously in a program that has had a ton of great athletes at Poly, with a healthy four year career for the Jackrabbits probably leading to some amazing results.  Appearing far from fragile, Akawkaw was third in the recent Fresno Run for the Dream indoor at 55 meters, racing 7.24 for third behind Ashton Purvis in an event that is quite dependent on a quick start.

 This super frosh obviously bears watching!

 (Track Mom’s Favorite)

At Loyola HS this fall the top Middle School middle distance runner of the last couple of years, Elias Gedyon, joined a fine cross-country squad that went on to a State Division II title and finished ninth in the entire nation as a club at the Nike Team Nationals. Impressively, one of the squad’s steady forces during the championship campaign was ninth grader Gedyon, with the tall youngster with the loping stride able to generate strong momentum during his end of season races that typically had him move way up through the pack to a fine position by the finish. With sub-50 second speed for 400 meters and good conditioning a willing athlete can move up to the 800 and 1500/1600 meter distance with great success, but it takes a special ‘mental’ strength to battle with the nation’s best over the 5000 meter distance over hill and dale, as Gedyon did this Fall in his first prep season.

 At the State Meet Division II in November Gedyon was seventh place overall at 15:45, a frosh clocking that places him seventh on a tough all-time grade list there in select company, with two ahead of him eventual National prep Champs in that sport (Bryan Dameworth and Louie Quintana), and one an eventual NCAA Cross Country Champ (Josh Rohatinsky from Utah). At the Nike Team Nationals he was one of only five frosh contestants in the Championhip team race, with a thirty-fifth place finish as the top ninth grade placer for his Club’s ninth place finishing group. With his basic speed we would imagine that his focus would be on the 800 and 1600 during the spring track and field season, with the young athlete probably a force on the annually strong Loyola 4×400 relay group.

He will be another fun one to watch this coming season!

Thanks to Dye Stat for pics and updates!!

TrackMom

Dr.Lorraine

Dan Harris of “Dan Draws”

I meet Dan Harris at the 2007 AAU National Championship Track and Field Meet, in Knoxville, Tennessee  last summer.

He is a wonderful young man that has passion for track and his God given talent to share track and field in a most unique expression of art full of color and vibrance, the same way track and field is to those who love it .

I loved his art work from the moment I laid eyes on it and I wanted to purchase 3-4 pieces.Well I got caught -up with the meet and Lauren’s heat and I didn’t get back to him before almost EVERYTHING was sold out. I did manage to get one beautiful “Long Jump Girl” to take home having to order additional art work later. For more information see below.

http://www.dandraws.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Trackmom

Dr.Lorraine

Daniel Alexander Harris was born in 1982 in Houston, Texas. He is a self taught artist and accomplished track and field athlete. In high school Daniel was a two time state champion, AAU champion, Gatorade track and field athlete of the year for Missouri and he finished his senior year ranked #4 in the triple jump by Track and Field News Magazine. All of this while only standing 5ft. 7in. and weighing 144 lbs.  Daniel began his college career at the University of Purdue. As a freshman at Purdue Daniel was an outdoor provisional NCAA qualifier in the triple jump. That summer he went on to compete for the USA 19 and under Junior Team in England and Argentina. After a tumultuous sophomore season Daniel transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Daniel competed in the triple jump, long jump, high jump and on the 4×100m relay. As a Tarheel Daniel was selected team captain two consecutive years, qualified for many NCAA regional and championship meets, was the 2004 ACC triple jump champion and he competed at the 2004 Olympic Trials in Sacramento, CA. Daniel ranks #2 all-time indoors and #3 all-time outdoors for the Tarheels in the triple jump.  After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Fine Arts Daniel has decided to give back to the track and field community by using his artistic talents to portray the sport which he loves and that has given so much to him.

Soda Consumption Worse Than You Think

Kids and Soda Consumption

On so many levels soda consumption for children and adults is one of the most insidious  and harmful habits Americans have today.

The largest proportion of empty calories comes from SODA! Yes Soda.Can you imagine how much weight America could lose if we simply started with cutting out Soda and corn syrup and fake sugar  (like aspartame) filled drinks.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELgW4KBY-o4&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=0]

Dr.Mercola( one of my fav docs)  is quoted saying “One of the most important physical choices you can make is to discontinue the use of any types of soda and replace it with clean water. This can have absolutely profound influences on not only your health but the health of your children.

For ten years after I graduated from medical school I could never determine which type of soda was worse, regular or diet. In some ways this is analogous to asking which would you rather get hit with a hammer or a baseball bat? There simply isn’t a good answer to this one.

About two years ago I started writing a book on Splenda and it will finally be published this fall as Sweet Deception. Writing this book required me to perform a very critical review of artificial sweeteners and after performing that analysis I am absolutely convinced that artificial sweeteners are more dangerous than even high fructose modified corn syrup.

So don’t fool yourself and say you are drinking diet soda because it is safer than regular soda. The reality is that it is even worse and will cause you to gain even more weight than regular soda.

If you are drinking any soda, in my book, there simply is no excuse for you not to immediately take strong actions to discontinue this pernicious habit. If you struggle with addiction I strongly recommend you consider Turbo Tapping as a simple yet highly effective tool to help you stop this health-sucking habit.”

We as parents have to set the example.Research shows this is the most powerful message we can give our children and good healthy example.

 Surveys have found that parents are major role models for their kids’ eating habits, even more so than their peers.

• Almost one-third of the children surveyed drank soft drinks daily, and most drank “regular,” not “diet,” drinks.
• Consumption was greater among boys than girls and their intake increased as they got older
• Virtually all of the respondents liked or “strongly liked” the taste of soft drinks. The “strongly liked” group was almost five times more likely to have soft drinks at least five times a week
• A child’s odds of having a soft drink daily almost doubled if they watched at least 3.5 hours of TV
• Soft drinks are far more likely to be consumed when they’re available in homes and schools
• Parents who regularly drink sodas may indeed relax rules and restrictions for their kids

Soft Drinks: Disease in a Can

Out of over 100 soft drinks and other beverages analyzed by the government, five contained levels of benzene — a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia — that exceed federal standards set for benzene in drinking water, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).While the federal benzene limit for drinking water is 5 parts per billion (ppb), researchers found benzene levels as high as 79 ppb in the drinks, and most had at least some detectable level of benzene present.Benzene is able to form in beverages that contain vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and the preservatives sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate. Exposure to heat and light can trigger the formation.The five drinks that contained excessive benzene levels were: Safeway Select Diet Orange Crush Pineapple AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail. In response, soda manufacturers, including Safeway, are changing their beverage formulations to reduce the risk. Aside from the potential benzene risks, MindConnection has compiled a thorough article on all of soft drinks’ potential health threats. Soft drinks, they say, could rightfully be called: Osteoporosis in a can Diabetes in a can Cancer in a can

Bloomberg.com May 20, 2006Yahoo News May 19, 2006MindConnection

WE need to make sure are children are getting the best nutrition and hydration for their health and their athletic performance

 TrackMom

Allyson Felix Graduates From USC

  Allyson Felix continues to give us reason to be very proud of her and even prouder she will represnt team USA this summer in Bejing. She is what we all would desire for our children balanced, humble and a winner in the game of Life. Read her words from the IAAF  web site earlier this month. One more thing…

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY  ALLYSON!! 22years old

TrackMom

Dr.Lorraine

Osaka triple gold medallist Allyson Felix is the latest addition to the exclusive IAAF Online Diaries. Throughout the year the 22-year-old will share her personal thoughts and opinions on her training, competition and life off the track.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DFC9sUDis0&rel=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=0]

“Happy New Year everybody!

“December was a hectic month for me. I finally finished my degree in Elementary Education at USC and I’m now able to train full time.

“It’s just an enormous burden lifted off me with the stress with classes and training. I am training longer and getting the rest my body needs.

“I was determined to finish school so I could focus on preparation for the Olympics this year.

“Initially, I was going to spread it out and do it little by little but then I was determined to get it all down.

“Definitely, there were conflicts with my school schedule and my meet schedule but school always came first. I’ll probably have to miss the Doha meet this year so that I can participate in graduation ceremonies.

“Graduation isn’t that important to me but I am doing it more for my mom. I promised my dad that I would get a college degree when I decided to turn professional after high school in 2003. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be.

“There were times when I had to ease off of practice because I was so tired from school and studying.

“There are definitely going to be a lot of expectations for me in the Olympics after the World Championships but I am glad that I have more time to be more focused.

“My initial reaction to the Olympics schedule that made a 200m-400m double unfeasible wasn’t anger. It just made my decision a lot easier to focus on the 100m and 200m.

“I am even more determined to work harder in the 100m now to see if that race can finally come around for me.

“On the 3rd of January, I got into spikes and blocks for the first time. Last year, I hadn’t done any block workouts until I ran a 300m in an indoor meet in Fayetteville.

“We’re still into heavy conditioning and longer stuff but I think I am a lot stronger this year because I have really been able to do weight workouts. I have been spending as much time in the weight room as on the track.”

Allyson

Athletes of the Jump

It’s Inspiration Friday and it’s all about the Hops…. 

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXRKzhBYmWg&rel=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=0]

Pre Season Preparation…..Are You Ready?

Here’s a great list for you and your  child athlete as the track season begins.

Track Mom

Child’s Pre-Season Checklist

Name ________________________ Sport ____________________Date _________________________Think about why you want to play a sport this season. Put a X  next to the 3 most important reasons, then put a “1″ next to your most important reason, a “2″ next to the 2nd most important reason, and a “3″ next to the 3rd.

_____ I want to be a part of a team
_____ I want to be with my friends
_____ I want to make new friends
_____ I don’t have any special reason, I just want to try it
_____ I want to improve my skills
_____ I want to learn new skills
_____ I want to have fun
_____ I want to do it for the excitement
_____ I want to get some exercise
_____ I want to get in shape
_____ I want to compete against others
_____ I want to be challenged
_____ I want to win
_____ I want to become a champion
_____ I want to be popular
_____ I want to please my parents

Parent’s Pre-Season Checklist

Name: ______________________________
Sport: ______________________________
Date: ______________________________

Reflect on why you want your child to play this particular sport this season. Put a ? next to the 3 most important reasons. Then, rank those 3 reason 1, 2, 3 putting a 1 next to your most important reason, a 2 next to the 2nd most important reason, and so on. Compare your choices with your child’s and with your spouse / partner’s.

 Discuss openly, and with respect and curiosity, any differences that come up.

_____ I want my child to have a team experience
_____ I want my child to be with their friends
_____ I want my child to make new friends through the sport
_____ I want my child to improve their skills
_____ I want my child to learn new skills
_____ I want my child to have fun
_____ I want my child to have excitement
_____ I want my child to get some exercise
_____ I want my child to get in shape
_____ I want my child to compete against others
_____ I want my child to be challenged
_____ I want my child to learn to deal with losing
_____ I want my child to win
_____ I want my child to develop self-confidence
_____ I want my child to become a champion
_____ I want my child to be popular

SoCal USATF Region 15 16th Annual Awards Banquet

On Sunday we ….Lauren , James Jr.Dad ,Mom,Granddad and Grandma went to the 16th Annual  Southern California Region 15  Awards Dinner. All I can say is wow,there are a lot of talented kids from our neck of the woods !

150 National Champions in as many events and countless national records.

They had a nicely done montage of the athletes in action and some poises over the course of the previous season.Lauren was so excited to see her 2 action shots she could hardly contain herself. She was also  was very excited to see some of her new found friends from last season and possibly recieve an award too! 

 There were guest athlete speakers to inspire, and I think this was a very nice touch of encouragement for the youth in attendance as they begin to prepare for the coming season. The speakers were Torrie Edwards (see an amazing  gold and silver medal finish below) and USC Student Athletes Terry Prentice and Lionel Larry.

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4TM_IrQKP0&rel=1]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-98WPRTgp0&rel=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=0]

We  didn’t tell Lauren she would recieve a trophy but, boy was  she happy when they called her name. The event ran smoothtly and everyone seem genuinely excited and supportive of all the athletes in the room.

We happen to be sitting at Torrie Edwards table and Lauren really wanted her autograph.(Yes she knew who she was) She said she was scared and shy so I ask her. She graciously signed the back of the program and the rest of the evening  and the  short drive home that’s all she talked about. The evening really charged her up for the season and I am looking forward to what lies ahead for

 “My” Most Valuable Track and Field  Sub-Bantam

Lauren RainWilliams

Lauren’s Overall Standings for the Season

All American 3 Events Elite Youth National Rankings  

http://www.eliteyouth.com/rf2007/rf2007.asp?DCODE=SBG&ECode=100

#1 100m 14.36 National Best 2007 

National AAU Juniopr Olympic Champion

#2 200M 29.82

Silver Medalist AAU Junior Olympics 

#12 Long Jump 11′.06”

4th place finisher AAU Junior Olympics

                         Here are a few highlights pics of the evenings winners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

                                                                                               

 

 

Until next time…

Track Mom

Dr.Lorraine

Your Child and Steriods

I think I am almost steroided out at this point, except that this topic is so very important we have to keep awareness on this important topic for our developing youth athlete.

Track Mom

(Guest post from CJ) 

This Sports Illustrated article demonstrates why society must respond to steroid use by sports figures:

“When former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell presented his much anticipated report last month that chronicled the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, he encouraged the discussion to be broadened beyond MVPs and Cy Young Award winners. In particular he warned about what he called “the most disturbing part of my research”: the prevalence of steroids in youth sports. “Several hundred thousand young Americans are using steroids; it’s an alarming figure,” Mitchell told SI the day after he issued his report. “At that age, they’re subject to hormonal change, and the risk to them - both physical and psychological - is significantly greater than it is for mature adults.”

Had Mitchell wanted an embodiment of that risk, he needed to look no further than Corey Gahan. With his promising in-line skating career now reduced to videos and a scrapbook, and his estranged father serving a six-year sentence in a federal prison - believed to be the first parent convicted of providing steroids to his own child - Corey, now 18, represents a chilling cautionary tale of what can happen when performance-enhancing drugs poison youth sports.”

Marion Jones …A Hard Lesson To Learn

   

Marion Jones Atones For Mistake  

By LUKAS I. ALPERT

  Disgraced Olympic track star Marion Jones sets her record straight on Oprah.  January 17, 2008 — With most other athletes running away from allegations that they used performance-enhancing drugs, disgraced Olympic track star Marion Jones says the best move she ever made was to admit she cheated.

“I have no regrets for doing what I did on October 5th, pleading guilty and admitting to the world that I lied,” she said in an interview aired yesterday on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

“I truly think a person’s character is determined by their admission of their mistakes and beyond that, what they do about it.

“How can I change the lives of people? How can I use my story to change the life of a young person?” she said.

Jones, 32, pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about her use of performance enhancing drugs during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where she won three gold and two bronze medals.

She had been repeatedly dogged by the allegations that picked up speed when the head of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative - the lab at the center of steroid scandal that has rocked professional sports - told an interviewer he had given her banned drugs.

But until pleading guilty, she had repeatedly denied using the drugs.

“I made a mistake. I made a choice, at that time, to protect myself, to protect my family,” she told Winfrey. “And now I’ve paid the consequences dearly.”

Jones’ admission came amid sweeping allegations against professional athletes that they used steroids and other drugs.

“I cannot go on anymore with this baggage, lying to the world, lying to God,” she said. “I should absolutely accept responsibility for breaking the law.”

Jones was sentenced to six months in jail and is set to surrender to authorities by March 11. Once one of the most celebrated female athletes in the world, Jones said she had yet to tell her 4-year-old son that she would have to go to prison.

“I put myself in a position to have somebody else determine my immediate future,” she said. “I made that decision. I have to live with it, my family has to live with it. With the grace of God we’ll get through it and come out even better in the end.”

Having to surrender her medals was easy, she said, compared to having to face her family.

“The pain that my family and friends have had to endure,” she said. “Those things to me are what mean the most.”

lukas.alpert@nypost.com

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