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Wilson takes top honors in women’s heavy athletics at ‘Games’

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Wilson takes top honors in women’s heavy athletics at ‘Games’

By Sarah Lowery for Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. LINVILLE, N.C. — Adriane Wilson finished first in five of the seven women’s heavy athletic events during the 2023 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, thereby claiming the top spot overall for the competition. Wilson was the runner-up at these games in 2022.

Wilson is a 43-year-old personal trainer who resides in Columbia, S.C., and has been competing in heavy athletics for 15 years and is a five-time Women’s World Champion. Wilson also coaches adaptive sport for wounded soldiers.

This year saw 10 women competing, including Wilson, in front of an exceptionally large crowd of spectators this past Saturday.

Wilson was previously a professional shot putter. She trained for the 2004 Olympics but finished fifth in the tryouts, falling just short of qualifying. Wilson keeps up with weight training and throwing throughout the week and is at the gym every day for her job.

As for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, she noted that both the venue and the spectators make this particular competition so special.

“Obviously, the location is incredible,” Wilson said. “The crowd always cheers us. It’s so much fun to see how many people are just into the Scottish Highland Games.”

When asked what her favorite event is, Wilson said she loves the caber toss, which she described as a “crowd-pleaser.”

“I’m usually pretty solid with my heavy weight for distance,” Wilson added. “That’s a fun one for me.”

Wilson won the stone throw, the 28-pound-weight throw for distance, the 28-pound-weight toss for height, the caber toss and the hammer throw events.

Morgan Palmer was this year’s runner-up to Wilson. Palmer won the 14-pound-weight throw for distance and finished second in five other individual events. Asylnn Halvorson, who won the sheaf toss, secured the third-place finish overall.

The women’s elite events in which Wilson competed is by invitation only and featured 10 competitors vying to best each other in seven different categories: sheaf toss, 28-pound-weight toss for height, stone throw, 28-pound-weight throw for distance, 14-pound-weight throw for distance, hammer throw and caber toss.

The 2023 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games took place July 6-9 at Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Meadows in Linville, N.C. To learn more about the Highland Games, visit www.gmhg.org.

The nonprofit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com.

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Day 3, something for everyone

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Day 3, something for everyone

By David Rogers. GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, N.C. — Some describe the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games celebrating Scottish heritage a 12-ring circus and, frankly, they would not be far off. As one event official said, “It is nonstop fun.”

If you took the population of Boone, increased it by another 50 percent, you would roughly have the number of people who descended on McRae Meadows and its surrounding property for the Highland Games. From cultural arts like textile weaving and harp-playing, to the bagpipe music and sports competitions, there literally was something going on to appeal to just about everyone.

The triple jump was a popular track and field event.

Saturday, July 8, was the athletic centerpiece of the Games. Caber toss by professionals, women’s weight throw, and a variety of track and field events with dozens of competitors were just some of the feature: high jump, triple jump, pole vault, 440-yard dash, 100-yard dash, the mile, 880-yard dash and more.

The sheep herding demonstration morphed into a goose-herding event, just to show off how good the dogs are in responding to the same vocal calls and whistles.

Forget whatever you might have learned about Scottish heritage in the Braveheart movie. Highland dances actually have their origins as intricate war dances that ancient kings and clan chiefs used to select their best men at arms — allowing them to demonstrate their strength, stamina and agility. Moments in history have had Scottish warriors performing “sword dances” for rival royalty, which was a convenient way to have weapons easily within reach when the dancing was done. All of the dances at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, of course, were performed to the music of accomplished bagpipers.

The midday festivities began with a five-column band of bagpipers and drums — followed by a number of photo opportunities. Here are a few more bonus images:

All photographic images by David Rogers

Watauga eliminated in 15U tourney, Yancey stays unbeaten

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Watauga eliminated in 15U tourney, Yancey stays unbeaten

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — One a slugfest, the other more of a pitcher’s duel.

In the winner’s bracket of the Tar Heel League District 2 15U tournament at Watauga High School on July 7, the Yancey County edged Mitchell County, 3-1, while the loser’s bracket saw Wilkes County thump Watauga, 14-7.

Game 1

Wilkes County batters jumped on Watauga’s pitchers right from the get-go, scoring four runs in the first inning and four more in the second. Wilkes’ Casey Adams, batting third in the order, hit a double in each of the first three innings to help power his team, going 3-for-5 on the day and scoring two runs. Leadoff batter Matthew Broda was 3-4, with a walk, three singles, two stolen bases and three runs scored.

Watauga waited until the third inning to get anything going, offensively. They drew three walks in the first two innings but were unable to capitalize with any hitting behind them. The big hit in the third inning was a triple off the bat of Jonathan Boubolis, after walks to Thomas Dieters and Jack Bridgeman and a single by Eli Lee to open the frame. Altogether, Watauga batters walked nine times through the seven innings of play.

Down 11-5 at the end of five innings, Watauga tried to rally with two runs scored in the sixth, but Wilkes put an end to it and added three more in the bottom of the sixth to account for the final score, 14-7.

Game 2

Arguably the featured game of the night was between the previous day’s winning teams, Yancey County and Mitchell County.

Mitchell’s Maddox Burleson used a walk, a stolen base, a passed ball and an error by the Yancey catcher to score a run in the second inning, which was the only offensive output of note by either team until the seventh inning, when the Cougars of Yancey County tallied three runs in the top half of the frame. After centerfielder Carter Bennett walked and second baseman Forrest Tyner got hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, Malachi Haskins and Aayden Honeycutt each followed up with RBI doubles.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Mitchell got singles from Jacoby Dale and Jaxon Rohr, but left the two runners stranded, unable to mount a comeback.

10U Games on July 7

Three games were played on July 7, with these final scores:

  • Yancey 1 def. Hickory, 28-0
  • Wilkes County def. Yancey 2, 13-8
  • Yancey 2 def. Hickory, 18-6 (Hickory eliminated)

On July 8, the winner’s bracket will pit Yancey County 1 vs. Wilkes County, while the loser’s bracket will have an elimination game between Watauga and Yancey County 2. In the double elimination format, both of the latter two teams have one loss each, so the loser will face elimination.

The championship game(s) will be played on July 9.

The 10-and-under tournament is being played in Burnsville.

 

HOT, HOT, HOT: Highland Games drawing an estimated 30,000

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HOT, HOT, HOT: Highland Games drawing an estimated 30,000

By David Rogers. GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN, N.C. — With colorful clan tents circling a red cinder track, featured larger tents and stages with workshops and cultural arts along with food concessions around the perimeter, and all sorts of automobiles, trucks and RVs filling large meadows everywhere nearby, the July 6-9 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is in the High Country, to be sure. Unofficial estimates are that 30,000 descendants of Scottish clans and a multitude of public “fans” in search of weekend entertainment have invaded the area in and surrounding McRae Meadows.

Given how warm it was on Friday afternoon, July 7, on the slopes of Grandfather Mountain, one can only wonder what the temperatures were like in the lower elevation Piedmont and Coastal Plains. Even with thunderstorm clouds looming in the distance to the south of the event, everyone seemed to be in good spirits and glad they were at the even that has been held continuously since 1956.

You can tell by the bend in this otherwise straight wooden handle the kind of speed and force behind the hammer throw at the Highland Games. Photographic image by David Rogers

“This is the best of the Highland Games hosted in the United States,” one gentleman said in a definitive Scottish brogue, “because being here in the mountains it reminds us of Scotland. And, as a result, it draws absolutely one of the largest crowds — and, being held in July, the cooler mountain temperatures play a large part in that.”

There are a number of athletic competitions throughout the weekend, including the hammer throw, sheaf toss, and the iconic caber toss, as well as dance competitions. One popular spot on July 7 was the Entertainment Stage, all very cool being, as it were, almost completely in the shade while the midday sun burned in the open areas of the track some 50 yards away.

CLICK TO ENLARGE: Ross Alewine hurls the sheaf more than 33 feet high and over the bar on July 7 at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Photographic image by David Rogers

In the amateur division of the sheaf toss held on July 7, Ross Alewine of Clemson, S.C. made a case for potentially moving up after tossing the burlap bag filled with straw  over a horizontal bar 33 feet in the air.  Prior to the competition, Alewine’s personal record was 28 feet. The world record for the #20 sheaf toss is just over 37 feet, set by Spencer Tyler at the Chicago Highland Games on June 15, 2019 (Tyler broke his own record, set in February of 2019, at the Queen Mary Highland Games in Long Beach, Calif.

Alewine said he started throwing the sheaf just 13 months ago when he went with a friend to the Greenville (S.C.) Scottish Games.

“I tried it and was hooked,” he told High Country Sports after winning Friday’s amateur division.

Scotland, of course, is also known for its sheep industry and the dogs bred and trained to help tend to the herds. A sheep dog demonstration amazed, if not thrilled the crowd of spectators looking on, the shepherd issue commands with shouts and different whistles, each one recognized immediately by the dogs.

Sheep herding demonstration at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, July 7. Photographic image by David Rogers

A lot of the featured events of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games are presented and staged on Saturday (July 8), including the professional athletic competitions, track and field events for a number of different age groups, and dance competitions. Things get going about 8 a.m. and last all day.

Photographic image by David Rogers
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Ford, Schaffer No. 15 in Toyota USATF outdoor nationals

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Ford, Schaffer No. 15 in Toyota USATF outdoor nationals

By David Rogers. EUGENE, Ore. — An eyelash more than two seconds on July 6 is all that separated Blowing Rock’s Dan Schaffer from making the 12-man final round in the Men’s 1500m race of the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships, at Hayward Field. Clocking 3:41.62 for the distance, Schaffer placed No. 15, only two seconds behind the No. 12 runner, Nike’s Cooper Teare and six seconds behind the top finisher in the prelims, Yared Nuguse (3:35.37), running for On Athletic Club.

Schaffer’s ZAP Endurance teammate Ryan Ford qualified to compete in two races the USATF outdoor national championships, in the 10,000 meters and 5,000 meters. He finished No. 15 in the 10,000m on Thursday night, running 29:28.13. Ford will be one of 24 athletes competing in the 5,000m race on Sunday, July 9.

“While these No. 15 finishes may not be what Dan and Ryan wanted, for both of them to get here in just their first year after college is pretty remarkable,” said ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea. “These are valuable experiences from which they will grow.”

Yancey 15U drops Watauga, Mitchell outlasts Wilkes

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Yancey 15U drops Watauga, Mitchell outlasts Wilkes

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — By the time Watauga 15-and-under all-stars’ Thomas Dieters ripped a double to the left field fence, stole third and later scored a run, it was too little too late on July 6, in Game 1 of the Tar Heel League 15U district all-stars tournament hosted by Watauga High School. The Yancey 15U All Stars got a strong pitching performance from starting righthander Brayden Deyton to keep the Watauga bats all but silenced until Dieters found his groove.

Meanwhile, six walks around a double, three singles and a couple of stolen bases highlighted good offensive production from the Cougars. The Burnsville nine won in run-rule fashion, 13-1.

Watauga second baseman Holden Watson throws to first in July 6 game 1 vs. Yancey County
Watauga second baseman Holden Watson throws to first base after fielding a ground ball on July 6 in Tar Heel League action vs. Yancey County. Photographic image by David Rogers

Eight consecutive batters scored for Yancey County in the Cougars’ 9-run second inning, highlighted by a 2-RBI double off the bat of rightfielder Cason Jones, as well as RBI singles from centerfielder Carter Bennett, shortstop Kohen Fox and leftfielder Malachi Haskins.

For Watauga, Dieters scored in the top of the 4th inning when third baseman Jack Bridgeman punched a sharp single to left centerfield.

Game 2: Mitchell County outlasts Wilkes County, 12-8

A pitcher’s duel seemed to be developing in Game 2 of the Tar Heel League district all-stars tournament on July 6, focused around hurlers Cash Wilmoth of Wilkes County and Riley Silver of Mitchell County. After the first two innings, Mitchell held a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI-triple by catcher A J Mackey that scored leftfielder and leadoff hitter Noah Vines.

Wilkes’ offense came alive in the top of the third inning, however, scoring three runs in the frame. Second baseman Logan Sharpe led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball, then third baseman Matthew Broda sliced a double to the outfield fence to account for most of the inning’s scoring.

Mitchell knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third, but the Wilkes County hardballers jumped out to a 7-5 lead after four innings. It was a lead that would not hold up, however, as Mitchell County exploded for eight runs in the final two innings  to put the game away.

Third baseman Jaxon Rohr went 2-4 for Mitchell, with two singles and scoring two runs. Shortstop Jacoby Dale rapped out three singles in going 3-5 and scoring a run. Wilkes County pitchers allowed 14 walks on the night and hit two batters to help Mitchell put runners on base.

In other age group action:

  • 10-and-under
    • Yancey 1 defeated Watauga County, 13-0
    • Yancey 2 defeated Ashe County, 14-2
    • LOSER’S BRACKET: Watauga def. Ashe, 29-19

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Jeep RubiTrux raffle set for App State Athletics

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Jeep RubiTrux raffle set for App State Athletics

By Matt Present for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State Athletics and RubiTrux Boone have partnered to raffle off a Mountaineer-branded 2023 Jeep Rubicon, also known as the Jeep RubiTrux Raffle in benefit of student athletes.

Raffle tickets are just $100, and all net proceeds will go to support App State Athletics. A drawing will take place on Nov. 17, and the winner will be presented with this one-of-a-kind Jeep in an on-field ceremony during the Nov. 25 App State football game against Georgia Southern. The raffle will be capped at 4,000 tickets sold.

“We are thrilled to offer our fans the opportunity to win this one-of-a-kind App State-branded Jeep Gladiator. Partnering with Rubitrux and App State alum Jessie Robertson is a fun way to uniquely raise funds for our student-athletes and give Mountaineer fans the chance to win an awesome new vehicle,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director Spencer Bridges.

“We are proud to partner with my alma mater and offer a one-of-a-kind vehicle that’s built with comfort and off-road use in mind,” said RubiTrux President and General Manager, Jesse Robertson. “We have a world class team over here at RubiTrux and everyone is excited to see their craftsmanship at App. State games. I can’t wait to meet the winner and show them around their custom Jeep.”

The Jeep comes complete with top-of-the-line upgrades that include heated front seats and steering wheel, App State “A” stitched headrests, remote start capability, hard-top headliner, and Alpine premium audio system. RubiTrux has equipped this vehicle with premium suspension, fog lights, and wheels and tires designed for rugged off-road and comfortable on road use.

The last day to purchase a raffle ticket for the Jeep RubiTrux Raffle will be Nov. 16. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the Appalachian State University ticket office (111 Rivers St. in Boone).

About App State Athletics
More than 400 student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University, and dedicated fans love to cheer them on. App State’s nationally ranked football team has enjoyed unprecedented success at the highest level of Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision) with six bowl wins in its first six years at the FBS level and four Sun Belt Conference championships. The Mountaineers were a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years before moving up in 2014. App State student-athletes in all sports pursue daily comprehensive excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. All varsity teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for field hockey (MAC) and wrestling (SoCon). For more, visit http://www.appstatesports.com.
About RubiTrux
Based in Boone, North Carolina, RubiTrux is an App State alumni owned business with over 25 years of experience in Jeep conversions. Jeeps are the most customized vehicles in the world and we excel in customizing Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators, now extending our expertise to the latest Jeep off-road models. With 600+ V8 HEMI Conversions since 2013, our quality engine, suspension, and interior modifications set us apart. We offer powerful V8 Hemi and Limited-Edition Richard Petty Hemi engine conversions for Wranglers or Gladiators. Whether you desire a ready-to-ship Hemi conversion or wish to build your dream vehicle from the ground up, we’re your go-to. Our team, with a cumulative 135 years of industry experience, ensures your vehicle meets your expectations and our standards. As a leading custom Jeep facility, we ship Jeeps and Parts worldwide.

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Colley first American runner in AJC-Peachtree 10K

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Colley first American runner in AJC-Peachtree 10K

By David Rogers. ATLANTA, Ga. — Blowing Rock’s Andrew Colley was the first American runner to cross the finish line on July 4, in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Road Race — but not the first place finisher among the reported 60,000 participants.

Starting in Buckhead and ending at Piedmont Park in downtown Atlanta, the historic Peachtree Road Race attracted roughly 50,000 runners for the 2023 edition, headlined by a strong international field of elite athletes.

Colley, 32, may have been the first American, but was the No. 13 finisher, overall, as an even dozen of internationals crossed the line ahead of him. Colley’s time for the popular 10K race was 28:47, an impressive 4:38 mile pace.

AJC Peachtree Road Race course map. Courtesy of Atlanta Track Club

Kenya runner Charles Langat and Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay put on a show in the last few hundred meters of the race, leading a small pack of four other runners led by former NCAA champion Edwin Kurgat, also of Kenya.

With some 500 meters to the finish, Geay accelerated and put a gap of about 10 meters between himself and the others, but in the closing 200 meters Langat reeled him in and outpaced the Tanzania runner to the finish.

Charles Langat recorded a time of 27:42 (4:28 mile pace) and ran a personal best for the distance to pick up the winner’s check of $10,000, with Geay, 26, just one second behind. The top dozen internationals included athletes from Italy, Kenya and Ethiopia, among others.

Even though Colley was the first American runner to cross the finish line, he felt he should have done even better.

“Our plan today was to go out a little slower in the first half of the race,” said Colley, afterwards. “Looking back, while that strategy made for maybe a better second half of the race, I think it may have cost me 30-45 seconds, overall. In retrospect, I would like to have gone out with the leaders because that early separation is hard to overcome in a relative shorter distance like this. Post-race, I feel good. Maybe too good.

“Pointing toward next year’s U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, though, this was a constructive race. It helps in our marathon training to run at a faster pace from time to time,” Colley added.

Van Ord drops back in Women’s Elite

Among the Women’s Elite, Blowing Rock’s Tristin Van Ord, like Colley a member of the ZAP Endurance elite professional running team, finished No. 23 in another strong international field, including Kenyan and Ethiopian top athletes.

The finish of the women’s division brought some unfortunate drama to the race. Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi was leading toward the end but just meters before the finish veered hard, off the course, following one of the motorcycle escorts exiting the course. As people yelled at her to get back on the course, she was overtaken by fellow Ethiopian Fotyen Tesfay (30:44) and Kenya’s Jesca Chelangat (30:46), Teferi was credited with No. 3 (30:47).

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  • Atlanta Journal Constitution – race shuts down early
  • ZAP Endurance
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Meinhold hired as App State Baseball pitching coach

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Meinhold hired as App State Baseball pitching coach

By Matt Present for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. — App State Baseball has hired Ricky Meinhold as the program’s pitching coach, head coach Kermit Smith announced Monday.

Over a 13-year coaching career, Meinhold has worked across nearly every level of baseball, coaching collegiately, in Minor League Baseball, in Major League Baseball, as well as internationally – highlighted by a stint as assistant pitching coach for the New York Mets.

A Good Fit

“After our first conversation, it was clear who our next pitching coach needed to be,” Smith said. “Ricky and I connected on a number of different levels from our belief on family to the development of pitchers. I am as excited about his mentorship of our student-athletes as I am of his ability to develop our pitchers. Hillary, Carter and Charlie will make a great impact in the Boone community. We just hit an absolute home run with Ricky and his family.”

Born in St. Louis, Mo., and raised in Springfield, Mo., and Campbell, Calif., Meinhold most recently served as the pitching coach for the University of Missouri. Prior to a one-year stint with the Tigers, Meinhold served as the Director of Pitching for the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization. Under his leadership, the Giants’ rotation recorded a 3.55 ERA, good for third best in the league, after finishing eighth place or worse in ERA in the previous five seasons.

“What a journey this has been. Since the first conversation with Kermit, I felt a strong connection through our beliefs in not only pitching and baseball, but leadership, family and faith,” Meinhold said. “I am excited to help bring the vision to reality in continuing to build a program that not only competes for Sun Belt Championships consistently, but Omaha as well.

“My family and I are excited to serve these student-athletes, the University and the Boone Community. Thank you to Coach Smith, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin and Deputy Athletics Director Jonathan Reeder for their confidence in me to lead this pitching staff. We can’t wait to get started.”

Diverse Career

Meinhold spent eight seasons working in a variety of capacities for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets organizations. In 2019, Meinhold was hired as the Mets’ pitching coordinator where he was charged with creating and implementing all pitching programs, philosophies and development initiatives across all levels of the organization – blending experiential data with data-driven programs. In 2021, Meinhold was promoted to Assistant Major League Pitching coach, leading the Mets’ staff to post a 3.90 team ERA that ranked ninth in MLB and fifth in the National League.

Previously, in six seasons with the Cardinals, he worked in the organization’s scouting department, where he provided the front office with player evaluation reports to assist in the organization’s player transactions, from domestic and international amateur scouting to domestic and international professional scouting. Also included in his responsibilities were advance scouting projects in the regular season and postseason. He also assisted with pitching development in the Cardinals throughout the entire organization creating systems and processes still used today. Additionally, he served as a mentor for coaches within the Cardinals’ Minor League system. Meinhold previously worked for the Cardinals during the 2014 season as an assistant coach for the High-A affiliate Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League.

Before working in player development, Meinhold served as a pitching coach and pitching evaluator for Team USA’s 17U and 18U programs. He led the most successful 18U pitching staff ever assembled for international play in the 2017 WBSC World Cup, as the staff posted a 0.47 ERA on their way to winning a gold medal. The team included current/former MLB pitchers Ryan Weathers (San Diego Padres, 1st Round) and Matt Liberatore (Tampa Bay Rays, 1st Round, St. Louis Cardinals). Among the nine pitcher-only members, all have been drafted and are currently playing professional baseball.

A 2009 graduate from Drury University (Springfield, Mo.), where he was a baseball and basketball student-athlete, Meinhold went on to play three years of professional baseball as a left-handed pitcher. He began his coaching career at Lindenwood University, where he was part of the program’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II.

In 2011, Meinhold was hired as the pitching coach, recruiting coordinator and assistant athletic director at Division II Coker College, where he also earned his master’s degree in 2013.

Meinhold and his wife, Hillary, have a son, Carter, and a daughter, Charlie.

What they’re saying about Meinhold…

“I have known Ricky several years now through my association with USA Baseball and our professional and college baseball circles. Ricky is very professional, experienced, knowledgeable, hardworking and up on the latest technology and fundamentals to improve App State’s pitching staff. He has a great ability to relate to the players, instill belief and confidence, and is a great competitor. Every player he teaches, develops, improves and competes. App State Baseball got a winner and a truly talented and passionate pitching coach to help them win the Sun Belt Conference and compete with the very best.”

Jack Leggett
Clemson Head Coach 1994-2015
Manager 18U USA National Team 2018-2019
ABCA Hall of Fame 2014

“From the moment we first hired Ricky here at the Cardinals, we knew he had a tremendous ability to combine new-age pitching technologies and data analytics with relatable pitching philosophies. Ricky’s rapport with players and staff alike has always been a high-quality trait for him. Ricky and his wife, Hillary, are tremendous parents and will fit in well within the App State community. Congrats to Coach Smith in hiring a gem in Ricky Meinhold.”

Matt Slater
St. Louis Cardinals, Special Assistant to the General Manager, Player Procurement

“First and foremost, Ricky Meinhold is a man of high character and integrity. With an impressive resumé in both college and pro baseball, Ricky is on the cutting edge of pitching data and analytics metrics. However, Ricky also has the unique ability to teach and communicate effectively. App State Baseball has just become a cut above the rest of the league competition in the Sun Belt Conference.”

Kevin Burrell
Chicago White Sox, Scout

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Flat and fast: Izewski sparkles in Gold Coast Marathon

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Flat and fast: Izewski sparkles in Gold Coast Marathon

By David Rogers. BRISBANE, Australia. — Taking advantage of a “flat and fast” course, Blowing Rock’s Josh Izewski was the top U.S. finisher in the Gold Coast Marathon’s elite field on July 2 “down under” (it was July 1 in the U.S.), crossing the finish line at No. 5 in 2:11:26.

On a flat and fast course for the Gold Coast Marathon, Josh Izewski tied the ZAP Endurance course record with a No. 5 finish.
Josh Izewski profile, courtesy of ZAP Endurance.

Izewski is a member of the ZAP Endurance elite running team based in Blowing Rock and had already qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, but accepted a late, fully funded invitation to compete against the elite Gold Coast field just a few weeks before the race when contacted by a sports agent with the opportunity.

“Josh had already met the qualifying standard for the U.S. Olympic Trials, in the Houston Marathon, which is not as flat,” said ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea, “but we said, ‘What the heck.’ It was an opportunity to lower his personal best and see another part of the world all at the same time, without adversely impacting his training regimen as he points toward next year’s Olympics.”

Izewski finished behind Naoki Koyama of Japan (2:07:40) at No. 1, Ezekiel Kemboi Omullo of Kenya (2:08:26), Liam Adams of Australia (2:08:39), and Wilfred Kimitei, also of Kenya (2:09:47).

In the elite men’s division, the 75 athletes represented Kenya, Australia, Japan, the U.S., New Zealand, French Polynesia, Indonesia, and Great Britain. Given the venue, the vast majority were from Australia.

Koyama defeated a strong field and set a new Gold Coast Marathon course record when he broke away from the pack of about eight runners late in the race to finish 10 seconds ahead of the previous course record set in 2019 by Yuta Shitara of Japan.

FLAT AND FAST

The Gold Coast course has but few deviations from an “up and back” path, along the east coast of the Southern Hemisphere nation, some 1,900 miles south of the equator with temperatures generally ranging from 51 degrees Fahrenheit to about 70 degrees during the winter, according to information cleaned from Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology website.

Izewski’s pace was fairly steady throughout the 42.195 kilometers’ distance, or 26.2188 miles that is advertised as “Australia’s fastest, flattest, and most scenic course in Queensland…”

“This course was flat and fast — and Josh ran an even race,” reported his coach, Rea. “There is always a tendency among runners to go overly fast in the opening stages of a long race, but Josh ran smartly. His opening 5km was his fastest, at 15:23, or a 3:04/k pace or roughly a 4:56 mile pace. But he settled into a steady, 3:06/k pace, or 4:59/mile for a good part of the race, then picked it up to 3:05 (4:57) heading into the finish, with 12 kilometers to go. In part, of course, those times reflect the flat nature of the course, but they also suggest that Josh ran within himself.”

Izewski’s new personal best also tied the ZAP Endurance club record set just this past April 16th by teammate Andrew Colley, in the NN Rotterdam Marathon, in The Netherlands.

“It is somewhat bizarre,” said Rea, “that Josh ran exactly the same marathon time, to the second, as Andrew’s club record set just two months earlier on a different course, in Rotterdam, which is also fairly flat. Well, maybe not bizarre, but a remarkable factoid of ZAP’s 2023 season.”

Especially given the flat and fast nature of the Gold Coast course, ZAP’s Rea was asked how much improvement Izewski might be able to see.

“Josh was a highly recruited high school running star and went to the University of Florida. The college running scene can be a pressure cooker and I think Josh got a little burned out in pure running. So for four years he was a professional triathlete. He had a swimming background, too, so for those four years mixed it up with the three different disciplines (swim, cycle, run), but was not focused purely on running,” said Rea.

“When Josh came to us in 2018,” Rea added, “you might even say he had fresh legs. He is now 33 years old, but I think his legs are those of a man about 28. So he has the potential for peaking at an older, chronological age than many of his peers. These days, both men and women seem to be peaking at older ages largely because as an industry we know a lot more about nutrition and recovery than we did a generation ago, when I was competing.”

Interestingly, Colley’s and Izewski’s 2:11:26 now rank them tied for 15th among the fastest U.S. marathoners qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials scheduled for Feb. 3, in Orlando, Fla. The top qualifier is Connor Mantz’s 2:08:16, established in the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 9, 2022.

UPCOMING ZAP ENDURANCE PERFORMANCES

On a not so flat course, Tristin Van Ord and Andrew Colley are entered in the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta on July 4. They will be among the roughly 50 elite athletes in each gender starting at the front of the field, which historically has drawn over 50,000 runners for the 10K event.

Meanwhile, ZAP Endurance teammates Ryan Ford and Dan Schaffer have qualified and will compete in the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships, July 6-9, in Eeugene, Ore. Schaffer will compete in the 1500 meters while Ford will “double,” competing in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.

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