By BOB LEDDY
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
Two nationally-recognized figures in track & field will hold clinics in strength and distance training at the 2015 All-State Coaches Clinic on Saturday, April 11 at the M-F Athletic headquarters in West Warwick.
Irving "Boo'' Schnexnayder and Julie Collins will conduct sessions in such areas as warm-up drills, distance training and mechanics in the jump approach. The clinic, presented by the R.I. Track & Field Foundation and M-F Athletic, will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. at the M-F building, 1600 Division Road. Lunch will be served.
For 12 years Schnexnayder was a member of the Louisiana State University (LSU) coaching staff, and is regarded as one of the world's leading field event coaches. He piloted 19 NCAA Division I champions during his collegiate tenure. Schnexnayder has coached 20 Olympians, and has served on the staff for Team USA at the 2003 Pam-Am Games and the '06 World Juniors. He was the jumps coach for Team USA at the Beijing Olympics.
Collins got her start in track locally, graduating from Smithfield High School where she ran the 3000 meters, and was the state champ in that event in 1980. She attended Providence College where she ran track for four years, winning the Big East 10,000-meter title in 1983.
Collins has coached in Massachusetts for the past 32 years, including at Foxboro, Seekonk and Attleboro High Schools. She then coached for 10 seasons at Wheaton College, and is currently in her 14th year at Mansfield (Mass.) High. She was named Massachusetts Coach of the Year on three occasions.
The clinic is limited to the first 75 registrants; the fee is $10. For further information contact Rick Marshall at (401) 295-3227. Checks should be made payable to the R.I. Track & Field Foundation, and be mailed by Thursday, April 2.
SCHEDULE
7:30-8:30: Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:30: Boo Schnexnayder (Using General Strength in the Training Regime Distance Training for the High School Athlete)
9:40-10:40: Julie Collins (Warmup drills, mobility, stretching)
10:50-11:50: Boo Schnexnayder (Developing speed in high school athletes)
11:50-12:30: Lunch
12:30-1:30: Julie Collins (Distance Training for the High School Athlete)
1:40-2:40 - Boo Schnexnayder (Mechanics of the Jump Approach)