In researching history, an interesting perspective is to begin with the present and work your way back. That way you see the way things turned out, and a subsequent look back explains why. (To borrow a phrase from the popular X-Men movie, Days of Future Past; the past and the future are interconnected.)
In this case, my visit to the 2015 Florida Athletic Coaches' Association meeting began with the annual Florida Track Hall of Fame Induction. Sitting in the room was a group with cumulatively, and probably literally, a millennia of track experience among them. Going back to, and beyond the halcyon days of the sport, these men and women represented the foundation upon which all that is Florida Track and Field has been built upon: the organization, the coaching philosophies, the records, and all that has yet to unfold.
Here then, is a roll call of some of the best of their era (much of the following information generously provided by HOF Committee Chairman Ron Coleman):
Walter Dix – This Broward County native and Coral Springs H.S. graduate, born January 31, 1986, is the fourth fastest 200 meter runner ever with a best of 19.53, and a 100 meter personal record of 9.88. His best in the 60 is 6.58.
At the age of 18, he set the Florida State 200 meter record (20.62), was third in the 100 (10.28)—the two fastest U.S. marks that year--and qualified for the U.S. Olympic trials.
As a freshman at FSU, he set the indoor world junior record (20.37), broke the American Junior 100 meter record (10.06), and won the NCAA Outdoor Championship. He went on to set the NCAA 200 meter record (19.69) and came within .01 of the 100 meter record. He completed a 100, 200 and 4 X 1 sweep at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and in 2008 his 200 meter title made him the third most decorated track athlete—two indoor and six outdoor titles-- in NCAA history. He was named an All American 18 times.
In 2008, the year he signed with Nike (at $1 million, then the largest contract ever signed by an athlete coming out of college), he won 100 (9.91) and 200 (19.96) bronze medals in Beijing.
He continued his success with double golds at the 2011 USA Nationals, and double silvers at the 2011 World Championships.
While at Arkansas, John McDonnell—with 42 national championships (including five triple crowns) and a 30 time NCAA Coach of the Year, the winningest coach in NCAA in any sport—was asked whom among his 28 individual champions was his favorite, he named Teddy R. Mitchell, his 1994 10,000 meter champion.
That team, the 1993-94 Razorbacks Triple Crown Champions—cross country, indoor, and outdoor track--was regarded by Track and Field News as the greatest Collegiate Team ever assembled.
While at Lyman High School, Mitchell was a five time state champion (cross country in 1988 and 1989; mile in 1989; two mile in 1989; 3200 in 1990), a five time High School All American, and a two time Track and Field High School All American (5K and 10K in 1990).
Mitchell was an Olympic Trials qualifier five times (once in the 5,000, twice in the 10,000, and twice in the marathon).
Included among his running successes are a long list of wins and/or top finishes in road races, not only in America, but internationally.
Teddy R. Mitchell, in short, is a long distance legend.
Freddie Johnson – While at Ribault High School (class of 1981), Johnson graduated with five individual (three in the 330 Yard Intermediate Hurdles and two in the100 yard dash) and three team state championships (two in the 4 X 4, and one in the mile medley). He was listed in Track and Fields’ “Who’s Who,” and appeared as a “A Face in the Crowd” in a 1981 Sports Illustrated.
While attending Hampton University (Class of 1985), he was a four time NAIA—indoor and outdoor track--and four time NCAA Division 1 All American.
A career social worker, he ran the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation “Freddie Johnson Track and Field Camp” for inner city kids from 1989 to 2005.
Paul Nowicki – While he sometimes seems to take himself less than seriously—his self-deprecating humor is endearing—Nowicki could never be accused of being any less than completely dedicated to his athletes and their sport.
Nowicki’s coaching career spans over 45 years: 1970 to 1971 at Darnell-Cookman JHS; 1971 to 1973 at Stillwell JHS; 1973 to 1976 at Ribault HS; 1976 to 2003 at Wolfson HS; and 2005 to the present at Bartram Trail.
At Wolfson Paul won 16 conference, 10 district, and eight regional championships. Reaching the state finals 15 times, he won two championships and was runner-up once. He coached 46 all- conference, 38 all-district, 23 all-region athletes, and 16 all-state athletes (four of whom were state champions).
Nowicki was selected as the Gateway Conference Coach of the Year 16 times.
At Bartram Trail his cross country teams won seven conference and four district championships; he reached the state finals five times and was runner-up once. His athletes were awarded 36 all conference, 28 all district, 10 all region and three all state awards. He himself was a seven time St. Johns River Conference Coach of the Year.
In track, Paul's Bartram Trail teams won six conference, two district, two region, and two state championships. Seventeen of his athletes were all state and six were state champions. He was chosen the St. Johns River Conference Coach of the Year six times.
For a lifetime of coaching excellence, he was inducted in the Florida Athletic Coach's Hall of Fame in 2004, to which he adds this award.
His success even attracted the attention of the Florida Dairy Association, which selected him as their Cross Country (1995, 1996, and 1997) and Track and Field (2012) Coach of the Year four times.
Lewis James and Sammie Smith round out the 2015 Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame Inductees.
The HOF induction ceremony also included two other awards: The Ron Book Distinguished Service Award and the Jimmy Carnes Lifetime Achievement Award.
Although Mal Harpell's career began in Binghamton, New York, the bulk of his professional and personal life was spent in Florida; from 1982 to 1991at Osceola High School, and 1991-2012 at Poinciana. In that time he spent 27 years as a track and field coach, 23 coaching cross country, 15 coaching basketball, and 14 as an athletic director. In his tenure at these schools he won over 20 conference, district, and regional championships.
Mal's honors include 18 Coach of the Year awards (including two “Dean Cherry" Coach of the Year Awards) and four Orange Belt Conference Athletic Director of the Year awards. Upon his retirement, Poinciana named its track the “Mal Harpell Track and Field Complex," and their cross country invitational after him.
Harpell served for five years as the FACA State Chairman for Track and Field, and five years on the FHSAA State Track and Field Committee. He was the Assistant National Meet Director and was on the field prep staff for Footlocker for seven years, both in Orlando and San Diego.
If complete, the list of positions Mal Harpell filled in service to the sports of cross country would go on for pages. Suffice it to say that the title of this award, named for its first recipient in 2008, is self-explanatory.
Ken Brauman’s selection as the recipient of the Jimmy Carnes Lifetime Achievement Award, will no doubt be—like its namesake—forever intertwined with the sport itself. In his acceptance speech, Brauman made a point of recognizing Carnes’ role of building track and field to the point where it is today, not only on a local level, but beyond to its national and international recognition. But Brauman now carries the torch that was once Carnes’.
Seemingly omnipresent—as a coach, organizer, presenter, meet director, and track fan—Ken Brauman is one of the most recognizable “faces in the crowd” at track events. And, as the award itself identifies its recipient, he will no doubt continue in his many roles as long as he lives. The sport, and its participants, are richer by that expectation.
Accolades also went out to the 2014 Florida Coaches of the Year:
Tyron Perry – Boys Track, Sebastian River
Chuck Williams – Girls Track, Haines City
Frankie Ruiz – Boys Cross Country, Belen Jesuit
Loretta Purish – Girls Cross Country, North Fort Myers
For going on 18 years now, the annual FACA Conference has had, at its core, a theme of exchanging important information. Here is where the most successful high school and college coaches in the state—with a sprinkling of those from other states—share their “secrets.” Throughout the weekend, an extensive schedule of clinics filled each afternoon and evening.
The 2015 conference gives us a peek at how the past influences the future. Present for clinic presentations were such long-time track icons as Clyde Hart (42 years as head coach at Baylor before “retiring” in 2005 to become their Director of Track and Field) teaching “speed development” and technique in the throws, and 400 meter training, while Andy Vance (former British Director of Throws and now Murray State coach) focused on “strength training for the throws”; Ken Brauman (Sanford-Seminole High School and international teams manager) lectured on jump drills, the triple jump, and--assisted by Chuck Harris (formerly Lake Brantley, and now at Embry Riddle)--the long jump as well (Chuck also gave a talk on “coaching the throws successfully”); Mark Strawderman (M-F Athletic) and Ken Taylor (Pole Vault Central, and UNF Asst. Coach) gave separate incursions into building success in the pole vault; David Halliday, outgoing—2012-2015-- FACA Track and Field Chairman (Flagler Palm Coach track and cross country coach) gave several talks, including “team dynamics” and “focus on the 1600,” while incoming—2016-2019—FACA Chairman Dan Dearing (Bolles) gave instruction on “practice organization and meet management”; HOF inductee Teddy Mitchell offered insights into “mental preparedness for racing”; Craig Damon (FHSAA) and Scott Peters (Half Mile Timing) gave an FHSAA update; Brian Bombei (East Lake High School and Stampede Athletics) discussed “innovative techniques for track and field training”; Desmond Dunham (Woodrow Wilson HS in D.C. and former University of Maryland coach) explained the “transition from cross country to distance on the track” and “800 and 4 X 8 training and technique.”
Last, but certainly not least, was Jarius Cooper, formerly of Flagler-Palm Coast, where he hurdled himself--and his team--to a state championship (13.97 in the 110 hurdles, May 4th, 2007). He graduated as the school record holder in the 110s (13.85) and 300s (38.34).
From there he went on to UF, where he continued his success with a third place finish in the 2/24/2011 SEC Indoor 60 hurdles (7.93) and a long string of low 14s in the 110s, one of which secured fourth place at the 2010 SEC Outdoor Regionals.
After graduating from UF, Jarius did a one-year stint at FPC, just long enough to leave his mark there by helping coach several athletes to the 2012 State Meet, including his hurdle heir, Kadeem Williams (37.56 in the prelims and 38.70 in the finals).
At present Jarius is an assistant coach at Arkansas State, where he has begun what will no doubt be a long and successful career on the other side of the clipboard. As their sprints-hurdles-relays coach, he has already coached one national champion (Sharika Nelvis, 12.52 in the 100 hurdles this past June), and another athlete, Justin Whitfield, to a school record 6.77 in the 60 hurdles.
At this clinic, Jarius was the youngest coach teaching other coaches. Though gifted as an athlete, he is even more extraordinary as a teacher: easy-going and fluid in his teaching style, he had the ability to capture, and hold the attention of his audience. With his endless examples of training techniques, with ready, plausible, easily executed answers to every coaching problem presented to him, he held the attention of everyone present.
The late afternoon clinic was staged outdoors, on the Seabreeze High School track, and despite the rapidly descending darkness and cold weather, attendees' questions kept coming. It was a rapt audience.
Here was where the past met the future, and the future will be determined by the past; the young taught the old, and the old will, in turn, teach the young. Days of future past. Typical of track and field, and a hallmark of FACA.
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