Annual USTFCCCA Convention Set to Begin Monday in Orlando, Fla.

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Annual USTFCCCA Convention Set to Begin Monday in Orlando, Fla.
December 11, 2013

NEW ORLEANS – Florida, currently the hottest area of the widely-chilled contiguous United States, will also be the hotbed of track & field and cross country next week as the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla., plays host to the annual U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Convention from Monday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 19.

A record number of more than 1,200 collegiate and high school coaches will all gather for a week of development sessions and seminars, legislative voting sessions, social gatherings and two of the premier events in collegiate track & field: The Bowerman and the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The Bowerman Trophy — track & field’s equivalent of college football’s The Heisman Trophy named in honor of legendary Oregon coach and track & field innovator Bill Bowerman — will be awarded to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track & field student-athletes in an award show Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Hosted by ESPN SportsCenter anchor and ABC WipeOut co-host John Anderson and streamed live on Flotrack.org beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET, the signature The Bowerman Trophy will be awarded to one of three women’s finalists and one of three men’s finalists.

Arizona high jumper Brigetta Barrett, Stanford hurdler Kori Carter and Clemson hurdler Brianna Rollins are all vying for the women’s trophy, while Indiana high jumper Derek Drouin, Arizona distance runner Lawi Lalang and UCLA discus thrower Julian Wruck are all in contention for the men’s trophy.

Former winners of the award include decathlon world record holder and Olympic champion Ashton Eaton; 10,000 meter Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp; and 2011 World Champion at 1500 meters Jenny Simpson.

Two nights earlier on Monday, Dec. 16, convention attendees will be on hand as some of the greatest coaches in the sport’s history will be honored at the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Induction Ceremony and Dinner.

Ron Allice (USC, Long Beach State, Long Beach City College), Al Cantello (Navy), Dennis Craddock (North Carolina, Virginia), Curtis Frye (South Carolina), Jim Hunt (Humboldt State, UC Davis, Sierra College) and Paul Olsen (Augustana (Ill.)) comprise the distinguished Class of 2013.

The 2012-13 USTFCCCA Program of the Year winners will be honored before the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, as will the winner of the George Dales Award. During the opening session on Tuesday, NCAA Championships from the 2012-13 academic year will receive their championship rings from Balfour in a presentation, and the winner of the Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award will be announced.

There’s much more to the convention experience than attending award shows and induction ceremonies, however.

Throughout the week, convention-goers will have the opportunity to attend Symposium presentations made by a number of the nation’s top coaches specializing in each of the sport’s disciplines, each with a specific technical focus.

Each discipline — endurance, jumps, sprints/hurdles/relays and throws — will have eight separate presentations.

In addition to the Symposiums, the convention will also feature three Assistant Coach Seminars hosted by co-NCAA Outdoor championship coaches Pat Henry of Texas A&M and Mike Holloway of Florida, as well as long-time Air Force head coach Ralph Lindeman.

Assistant coaches will also have the benefit of being able to attend a pair of roundtable discussions centered around common aspects of an assistant coach’s job duties.

High school coaches will have similar seminars to aid their development, and for the first time directors of operations will have sessions specifically directed toward them.

For those especially keen on developing their coaching background, the USTFCCCA’s Track & Field Academy is hosting in-depth courses Saturday, Dec. 14 through Monday, Dec. 16. Registration for these courses is closed and was separate from convention registration.

In between the learning experiences and ceremonies are business meetings for each of the NCAA divisions for both track & field and cross country that will help shape the future of those sports. The meetings throughout the week culminate in voting sessions on Thursday.

Attendees will have numerous chances to enjoy the warm weather of Florida as a number of meals will be held outdoors, including a dinner Tuesday night hosted by USTFCCCA sponsor MONDO. Convention-goers can even kick of the week with the USTFCCCA Golf Scramble Monday morning.

More information about the 2013 USTFCCCA Convention can be found on the official website of the convention.

LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 16
Program of the Year/George Dales Award 7:30 p.m. ET Flotrack
Hall of Fame Induction 8:30 p.m. ET Flotrack
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17
Opening Session 11:10 a.m. ET Flotrack
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18
The Bowerman Red Carpet Show 6:30 p.m. ET Flotrack
The Bowerman Award Presentation 7:00 p.m. ET Flotrack





U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
1100 Poydras Street, Suite 1750
New Orleans, LA 70163

Contact: Kyle Terwillegar
Communications Assistant
kyle@ustfccca.org
(504) 599-8905