Team USA and Long Beach State University coach passes away
LONG BEACH, California – USA Track & Field mourns the loss of revered coach and women’s athletics advocate Dave Rodda, who suffered a heart attack and passed away on Friday, April 3.
Rodda coached the sport at the regional, national and international levels, leading Team USA through two Olympic cycles as combined events coach in 1980 and 1988 before taking on head coaching duties at the 1991 IAAF World Championships and the 1995 Pan American Games.
In 1996 he earned the distinction of USATF Master Coach, the organization’s highest recognition in coaching education. His resume of 12 Olympians includes high jump bronze medalist Joni Huntley, sprinter Martha Watson and heptathlete Sharon Hansen.
After retiring in 2002 from his post as director of recreation and community services in Lakewood, California, Rodda returned to his Alma Mater of LBSU, where he spent the next 14 years serving as an assistant and coaching 11 Big West champions, 43 All-Big West performers and eight All-Americans. he also led the 49ers to four Big West Championships.
In 2006 he was inducted into the LBSU Athletics Hall of Fame, and upon his retirement in 2014, head coach Andy Sythe said, “There isn't a finer coach out there than Dave Rodda. His level of expertise is unmatched in this profession and he will be truly missed. It's not only his working knowledge that made him the outstanding coach he is, but it's also his ability to work with and motivate student-athletes that makes him truly special."
Pan Am Walk Cup Trials set for Sunday
WHITING, New Jersey -- The field is set for Sunday’s Pan Am Walk Cup trials, as the open 20 km and junior 10 km are set to start at 9:30 a.m. ET. Team USA will be selected to compete at the Pan American Race Walk Cup on May 9-10 in Arica, Chile.
The top four open finishers and top three junior finishers will qualify for Team USA, provided the open men cross under 1:36:00 and 1:48:00 for the open women. On the junior side, the top men must finish under 50:00 and the women have to finish under 54:30 to be eligible to compete in Chile.
The 50 km team has already been selected based on their finish at the USATF 50 km Race Walk Championships in December. John Nunn, Nick Christie, Patrick Stroupe, Michael Mannozzi and Ian Whatley are all eligible to compete in the 50 km. For full qualifying procedures, please visit usatf.org.
Athletes to Watch:
20km Open Men – Nick Christie, Patrick Stroupe, Alex Chavez, Emmanuel Corvera, John Cody Risch, Michael Mannozzi, Ian Whatley
20km Open Women – Maria Michta, Miranda Melville, Katie Burnett, Susan Randall, Jill Cobb, Erin Taylor-Talcott, Robyn Stevens, Molly Josephs
10km Junior Men – Anthony Peters, Cameron Haught, Alex Peters
10km Junior Women – Katharine Newhoff, Meaghan Podlaski, Katie Michta, Amberly Melendez, Jennifer Lopez
Record breakers shine on final day of Pepsi Florida Relays
GAINESVILLE, Florida -- It was a record-breaking day on the final day of the Pepsi Florida Relays, as the Team USA men’s 4x100-meter relay set a new stadium and meet record of 38.18. Charles Silmon, Mike Rodgers, Isiah Young and Justin Gatlin comprised the quartet that broke the previous record, set by Gainesville Elite in 2013. Rodgers was a member of that relay as well.
In her first race of the season, Chanelle Price set a new track and meet record in the women’s 800 meters in a world-leading 2:00.62, besting Nekita Beasley’s Pepsi Florida Relays record of 2:02.30 and Joetta Clark’s track record of 2:01.35. Also taking titles at the Pepsi Florida Relays in world-leading times were Aleec Harris (13.23 - 110H) and Tori Bowie (22.61 - 200m).