Track & Field and Cross-Country Bulletin for Sep 20, 2016
Start of the 2014 GACC Boys Race of Champs. Photo by Walter Pinion.
Great American XC: Nike named presenting sponsor
The NSAF is excited to announce that Nike is the new presenting sponsor of the Great American Cross Country Festival -- which returns October 1 to WakeMed Park in Cary, N.C. after a 1-year hiatus. Full PRESS RELEASE | Register HERE.
The agreement also means that the GACC will serve as the Pre-Regional meet for Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) Southeast meet, which takes place at WakeMed on Nov. 26. The first 10 finishers in the GACC boys’ and girls’ Nike Race of Champions races will receive a “Golden Ticket” entry into the NXN Regionals as well 
as a Nike backpack. The top three finishers in each of the other Great American (and HBCU Challenge) races will also win Nike backpacks. Another new meet feature is the “Anchor” award, to be given by Nike to the 5th runner of the winning team in each race.
Nike’s sponsorship also means athletes, coaches and fans will be able to purchase a wide variety of great Nike apparel at the GACC, both on race day and during packet pickup and course run-throughs the day before. Again, check the full PRESS RELEASE and home pages for Great American XC Festival and HBCU Challenge for more details.
The NSAF also welcomes sponsors Body Armor, ROLL Recovery and Primo Water to the GACC – all 
of whom also supported NBNO. Body Armor is our official hydration sponsor and will 
be giving a free water bottle to all athletes. Primo Water, our official water provider, will have hydration stations to refill your bottle around the meet staging area. ROLL Recovery will have an area where athletes can stretch and roll out before and after their races, as well as sign up for giveaways and try and/or purchase ROLL Recovery products – which will be sold at special discounted event pricing.
Excellent competition will again rule the day at GACC, not just from Southeast region teams, but beyond. The 2014 boys’ ROC champ, La Salle Academy, RI, is among the top entrants.
More links: GACC Home Page | HBCU Home Page | Register HERE | Watch the NSAF site for previews, recaps, photo galleries and race day interviews/videos on the NSAF Home, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for videos and photos from the GACC/HBCU Challenge.
Project Javelin: 6 newcomers join 3 veterans
The NSAF's Project Javelin Gold is launching the 2016-17 campaign with a big group of new, exciting young talents after its massive '16 graduating class moved on to the collegiate ranks. In doing so, the Project 
will return to East Stroudsburg U. in the city of the same name in eastern Pennsylvania. It will be the 3rd time we've trained there, in addition to holding our two American JavFests. Interested coaches and athletes can register HERE.
The five newcomers are Ty Hampton (North Bend (OR) HS soph), Gavin Darcy (Dunmore (PA) HS junior), Joe Nizich (Central Catholic HS (OR) frosh), Lillian Hill (North East HS (PA) junior) and Skylar Ciccolini (Mifflin HS (PA) soph). The three returnees include Liam Christiansen (Academic Magnet HS (SC) senior), Roman Mitchell (Southeast Raleigh HS (NC) junior) and Meghan Owens (Mercer County HS (KY) soph).
The NSAF coaching staff at the clinic is without peer, headed by Project co-founder Jeff Gorski, and including Olympians and former American record-holders Tom Pukstys and Duncan Atwood, Finnish 1991 IAAF World Champion Kimmo Kinnunen and East Stroudsburg coach and 2-time Olympic Trials finalist Barry Krammes. This clinic will also mark the first time Dr. Margaret Ottley has led a sports psychology session with Project Javelin, having previously worked with the NSAF for Project Triple Jump and the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational.
Links: Project Javelin Home Page | Register HERE for ESU Clinic | Watch the NSAF site for stories on the clinic and the Project newcomers and the NSAF Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for videos and photos from East Stroudsburg.
Project Triple Jump: Return to IMG follows Bahamas trip
The NSAF's Project Triple Jump athletes who trained in The Bahamas 2-plus weeks ago will have a great opportunity to quickly carry over what they learned in Nassau to their next clinic stop at the IMG Academy 
in Bradenton, Florida. With a turnaround of just 4-1/2 weeks between clinics, fall training takes on new possibilities with the indoor season looming just a few months down the road. Interested coaches and athletes can register HERE.
The two newcomers to the Project are Koi Johnson (Dickinson HS (TX) soph) and Jasmine Moore (Mansfield Lake Ridge HS (TX) soph) – who joined this past May. The six returnees include Arielle Mack (El Paso Burges HS (TX) senior), Jalen Seals (Fort Worth Boswell HS (TX) senior), Allyson Weiss (East Ridge HS (MN) junior), Jordyn Lesh (Harpeth Hall HS (TN) senior), Marcus Floyd (Middleburg HS (FL) soph) and Saudia James-Heard (Curtis HS (WA) junior).
Nassau provided another tremendous experience for the Project, led by Head Coach Peter Pratt and Project Coordinator Macka Jones – with Johnson and Moore experiencing it for the first time. Sports psychologist Dr. Margaret Ottley – veteran of many NSAF Caribbean Scholastic Invitational trips – made the week even more special with her presentation. The Project earned a special segment on Bahamas national television, which featured several interviews. Now the return to IMG will include more opportunities to take advantage of the Academy’s outstanding testing and training facilities, as well as their elite staff.
Links: Project Triple Jump Home Page | Bahamas Clinic TV Clip (go to 3:40 mark) | Bahamas Clinic Gallery | 2015 story on first IMG Clinic | Register HERE for IMG | Watch the NSAF site for stories on the clinic and the Project newcomers and the NSAF Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for videos and photos from the Bahamas and IMG.
News You Can Use
Can you help us get athletes to the starting line this year? Please consider giving today to our 2016 Track and Field Kick-off Campaign. Since 1992, the NSAF has been a tax-exempt 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization with the mission to inspire youth to live active, healthy lifestyles, and to prepare them for future success. With your support at our NetworkForGood.com page, the NSAF can continue to provide funding for thousands of student athletes around the country; many of whom could not afford to do so on their own.
Our partners at NCSA: You can build a FREE recruiting profile with the The National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA), the Official Provider of Recruiting Education and Services of the NSAF. We have partnered together with them since 2010 to help parents and athletes navigate the recruiting process. Make your dream a reality with NCSA!
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Bullet Belt can improve your block starts, build strength and coordination for acceleration, increase efficiency when sprinting and stimulate the neuromuscular system to recruit more fast twitch fibers. Click here to order your Bullet Belt™ today. Enter the code “NSAF” at checkout and Bullet Belt™ will donate 15 percent of the sale to Project Triple Jump. Purchasers will also receive a discount on their shipping costs as a thank you!
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