The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Today we take a look at how the state of New Mexico qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: New Mexico runs five relays at their state meet; 4x100m, 4x400m, 4x800m, the 'wild west' 4x200m (athletes cut in after the first exchange), and the Sprint Medley Relay (200, 200, 400, 800)!

🎙️ **Gill Connections Podcast: Ep. 258 - Finding Balance with Paul Brueske** In this revealing episode of Gill Connections, host Mike Cunningham engages with Paul Brueske, the esteemed head coach of the University of South Alabama's track team. 🏃‍♂️🌟 Discover Paul's candid reflections on the intense demands of collegiate coaching, his transition from high school to university level, and the valuable lessons learned along the way about managing a robust athletic program. From mastering recruitment to nurturing athletes, Paul shares the complexities and triumphs of his coaching journey. 📚✨ Highlight of the episode: Paul shares a personal revelation about the importance of life balance, "I was very unbalanced," discussing how his all-consuming focus on coaching led him to explore his passion for the local history of Mobile, Ala. This new interest not only enriched his life but also prevented burnout, offering him a more fulfilling personal and professional existence. Join us as Paul delves into the challenges and successes of his career, and the surprising joys of connecting with history. Tune in to learn how balance can transform not just personal well-being but also professional success. 🎧💬 🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Boo Schexnayder of LSU, Diljeet Taylor of BYU, Petros Kyprianou of Illinois, and many more! Find us on YouTube and Apple Podcasts for your listening pleasure. 📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍

Today we take a look at how the state of New Jersey qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Public schools and Parochial schools compete in separate state meets, but join together in the season ending Meet of Champions track meet!

Today we take a look at how the state of New Hampshire qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: New Hampshire claims to have the country's oldest heptathlon and decathlon meet for HS athletes. Held after the New England Championships, the meet has boasted over 100+ combined event athletes!

Today we take a look at how the state of Nevada qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Because of the geography of Nevada, the state meet alternates from the northern part of the state (Reno) to the southern part of the state (Las Vegas) for four out of five classes. The 4A state meet stays exclusively in the southern part of the state because there are no 4A schools in the northern part of Nevada.

Today we take a look at how the state of Nebraska qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Nebraska is experimenting with a mixed 4x200m event. They are allowed to contest the event during the regular season, but it's not an official state meet event...yet.

Today we take a look at how the state of Montana qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: One 2-day track meets (such as the state meet) athletes are allowed to participate in 5 individual events and 2 relay events!

Today we take a look at how the state of Missouri qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Missouri is one of about 25 states that sanctions the javelin as an official state event!

🎙️ **Gill Connections Podcast: Ep. 257 - Dream Position with Nick Stenuf** In this illuminating episode of Gill Connections, host Mike Cunningham, National Business Development Manager for Gill Athletics, dives into the life and aspirations of Nick Stenuf, the assistant track coach and women's distance coach at the University of Alabama. 🏃‍♀️👟 Join us as Nick shares his unexpected journey from aspiring inner-city high school teacher to coaching at one of the most prestigious athletics programs in the country. Despite initially planning a career in education, Nick found his true calling in coaching, allowing him to make profound connections and impacts on his athletes’ lives. 🌟 Highlight of the episode: Nick reflects on his professional path with heartfelt enthusiasm, declaring, "I'm in my dream position right now," underscoring his profound satisfaction and love for his role. 🎉 Nick also delves into his family's diverse career backgrounds, from law and automotive entrepreneurship to the more unconventional role of his mother as a part-time sheriff in New York, painting a vivid picture of the hardworking, multifaceted environment that shaped him. 🚓🔨 Additionally, hear about Nick’s collegiate days at Nazareth College, where he transitioned from a dual-sport athlete to focusing solely on running, influenced by national champions. 🏆🏃‍♂️ Tune in for a story of passion, transition, and ultimate fulfillment in the world of collegiate track and field. 🎧👏 🌟 Explore Our Archive: Dive into over 200 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends like Boo Schexnayder of LSU, Diljeet Taylor of BYU, Petros Kyprianou of Illinois, and many more! Find us on YouTube and Apple Podcasts for your listening pleasure. 📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from our listeners! 🎧👍

Today we take a look at how the state of Mississippi qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: The state of Mississippi is in talks to add the Javelin event to the official state meet schedule soon!

Today we take a look at how the state of Minnesota qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Minnesota does a 'True Team State Championship' along with their traditional state championship series.

Today we take a look at how the state of Michigan qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: The state of Michigan does NOT contest the triple jump for boys and girls!

Today we take a look at how the state of Massachusetts qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Athletes in Massachusetts have the opportunity to compete in the javelin, 400m IH, AND the pentathlon at their state championship meet!

Today we take a look at how the state of Maryland qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Maryland has a long tradition of having wheelchair events contested at their state meet!

Today we take a look at how the state of Maine qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Maine has the 1600m Racewalk as an official event for the outdoor state meet! They even do the javelin!

Empowering Success: The Steve Dolan Philosophy 🏃‍♂️💡 In this enlightening episode of our podcast, host Mike Cunningham, National Business Development Manager for Gill Athletics, sits down with the multifaceted Steve Dolan, Director of Track and Field for the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Penn Relays. Dive deep into the world of track and field as Dolan shares his unique journey, the art of balancing dual roles, and his secret to success: empowering others. 🌟 Key Highlights: Empowering Leadership: Discover how Dolan's philosophy of finding and empowering great people has been the cornerstone of his success. "I'm trying all the time to find people that are as good or better than I am at tasks and empower them to do it," Dolan shares, highlighting the importance of trust and delegation in achieving collective goals. 🤝 Innovating the Penn Relays: Get an insider's look at the evolution of the Penn Relays under Dolan's direction. From enhancing the experience for college women athletes to improving warm-up facilities and seating, learn how continuous improvement and innovation have kept this historic event at the forefront of track and field. 🏟️ Navigating Challenges: Dolan opens up about the challenges of managing two full-time roles and the strategies he employs to maintain excellence in both. His candid reflections offer valuable insights into the complexities of leadership in sports administration. 🚀 Vision for the Future: Excitement builds as Dolan discusses the upcoming indoor facility at Penn, set to transform the landscape of East Coast track and field. This state-of-the-art facility promises to be a game-changer for the program and the broader track and field community. 🏗️ A Legacy of Growth: From his unexpected path into coaching to leading one of the most prestigious track and field programs in the country, Dolan's story is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and purpose. 🌱 Featured Quote: "I think the reality is, all of us want things to be done in the best way... I've tried really hard... to figure out how do we identify people that can be successful or more creative or have the skill set and set them up for success and let them do it." - Steve Dolan #PennRelays #TrackAndField #Leadership #Innovation #SportsManagement #Empowerment #Athletics #CoachingPhilosophy Tune in to this episode for an inspiring journey through the lens of one of track and field's most influential figures, Steve Dolan, and discover the power of leadership that empowers others to achieve greatness. 🎧🏆 Check out past podcast episodes (including Boo Schexnayder-LSU, Diljeet Taylor-BYU, Petros Kyprianou-Illinois and 200+ more) on YouTube and Apple podcasts. Connect with host Mike Cunningham on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), email (mcunningham@gillathletics.com) or by text (217-898-3038).

Today we take a look at how the state of Louisiana qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: While Louisiana has a long tradition of having the javelin as an official event, it's only been a few years the 4x800m relay has been an official event.

Today we take a look at how the state of Kentucky qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: While Kentucky Middle School athletes have the opportunity to throw the Turbojav, High School athletes DO NOT have the opportunity to throw the javelin!

Today we take a look at how the state of Kansas qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Kansas is one of the nearly 25 states that throws the javelin as part of their state series.

Today we take a look at how the state of Iowa qualifies athletes to their outdoor state track and field meet. *Fun Fact: Iowa has separate governing bodies for boy's sports and girl's sports; Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union. This means a few subtle differences including the boy's running the 1600m and 3200m events while the girls run the 1500m and 3000m events.