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Director's Cut, by Ashley Wright"THESE ARE A FEW OF JACK WICKENS' FAVORITE THINGS" FEBRUARY 4, 2011 - Hello fellow track fans, Holy moly, it’s cold outside! Thank goodness someone decided a long time ago that track and field could be competed indoors part of the year. I’m currently looking forward to meeting up with other USATF Foundation Directors in LA next week. It’s always so much fun meeting with folks who care so much about the sport and supporting our athletes. One Director that I look forward to seeing is Jack Wickens. Recently, I asked Jack what he was most looking forward to in 2011… <<< OK, to be honest, it wasn’t recently. Yes, it’s true, I’m a dirty liar. I actually asked Jack and others for their favorite track moment of 2010 and what they most look forward to in 2011. You know, a standard year-end/new year question. I’m a terrible blogger – I haven’t posted a new blog in over a month and I hang my head in shame. So, for the purposes of this blog, let’s pretend that it’s January 3rd instead of February 4th :). So… Happy New Year!!! I hope you had a nice holiday season and enjoyed time with family and friends. Blah, blah, blah…. >>> As for Jack’s favorite moment of 2010… “Hmmm...so many great 2010 track moments to choose from! I could go with a couple personal highlights - - got to meet and chat with one of my childhood heroes, legendary distance runner Craig Virgin, at the National Outdoor Championships - - or eking out a victory over a more recent athlete hero, Deena Kastor, in a 5K.” When telling the story, Jack noted that it was a "fun run" and she was six months pregnant at the time. I prefer the version of the story without footnotes :). Another favorite moment of 2010 for Super Star Jack Wickens was when Tyson Gay beat Usain Bolt in Sweden last August (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm7p8k5XVkI). At this point, I would like to add that both Deena Kastor and Tyson Gay were Arkansas Razorbacks (as was I). So clearly Jack is a closet Hog fan. I’m sure he has a hog hat hidden somewhere and knows how to call the hogs with the best of them. JACK EDGING OUT DEENA KASTOR & RENEE NIPPING SARA HALL (photo courtesy of azrunning.com) There is a flaw in my hypothesis, as Jack didn’t choose his win against Deena Kastor or Tyson Gay beating Usain Bolt as his favorite moment. “I think I'll give my vote for a race I had the pleasure of witnessing in Albuquerque at the Indoor National Championships. Underdog Renee Metivier Baillie fearlessly took off alone in the Women's 3000 meters - at one point building a half lap lead. The last lap was the kind of high drama that makes track & field the greatest sport in the world. With the crowd going crazy Sara Hall closed the gap and caught a tiring Renee with 50 yards to go and they both dove at the tape. Renee would not be denied and got her first national title winning by 2 hundredths of a second. I still get goose bumps thinking about it.” So what is Jack looking forward to in 2011? Another 5k win perhaps :). “I am convinced that this year will be remembered as the beginning of a breakthrough era for our sport....for fans, for athletes, for kids, and for revenue generation. I've never seen so many talented and passionate people in all corners of our sport rolling up their sleeves toward common goals. This includes our professional athletes, web entrepreneurs, major road race leaders and the staff and board leadership within Running USA, RRCA, USOC, USATF, and the USATF Foundation....to name just a few.” Even through his email, I could sense Jack’s excitement. I love his heart for track and field and I hope that his prediction is proven right. I can’t wait to see you next week, Jack. Thank you for all you do for the sport and for the awesome pictures. ABOUT ASHLEY: "Like many of you, growing up I wanted nothing more than to be an Olympian. The idea of competing to be the best in the world seems to me to be the ultimate thrill and accomplishment. I never realized my Olympic dream, but it has truly been an incredible opportunity supporting others to achieve theirs. As a member of the USATF Foundation Board, I’ve had the pleasure to meet athletes. I love hearing their stories. As my buddy Tom and I were talking about ways to better market the sport, we decided that very few fans get to know the athletes outside of results and BLOG would be a good way to share Foundation News, connect with youth teams and get to know our elites." -- Ashley ARCHIVES |
ASHLEY WRIGHT, USATF FOUNDATION DIRECTOR READ ASHLEY'S BIO HERE.
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