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Primetime 585 Shining Star: Rhoan Kaulder

Primetime 585 Shining Star: Rhoan Kaulder

Yahoo12-03-2025
ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) – Our Wednesday Primetime 585 Shining Star puts the spotlight on Rhoan Kaulder, a junior at McQuaid Jesuit High School!
This young track star was thrown into the limelight at a young age, and his talent truly speaks for itself. He started his track career at age 6.
Rhoan Kaulder (center) pictured on the podium in first place at various track meets. Provided: Primetime 585
By 7 years old, Kaulder was competing in USATF Jr. Olympics where he was All-American, coming in 7th in the 100-meter dash.
He set records in this event, and at this same age, he found himself doing quite well in the long jump and began competing in his first field event.
Through his discovery, he eventually began expanding his talents, running indoors at the Ocean Breeze under the same circuit, USATF.
Throughout his track career, he managed to maintain his All-American status and has gotten onto the podium in 1st-8th places for his sprints and long jump, including just last summer during the Jr. Olympic meet. He was All-American in both the 100-meter and long jump events.
In 8th grade, he became the first ever in the history of Section V and New York State to win a State Championship at his age, winning the long jump in 2022 with a leap of 22'10, setting an 8th grade state record.
He has been in All State competitions from eighth grade forward, and has made All Greater Rochester first team for every year in track and field from eighth grade on.
He always makes it to the national meets for both indoor and outdoor track at New Balance, and has been invited to many high-profile track and field meets, including the Virginia Showcase, Penn Relays, The Loucks Games, and more.
This past weekend he won States for the 55m with a time of 6.35s, tying his season best.
From all of us here at Primetime 585 and WROC News 8, congratulations, Rhoan, and good luck in all your future endeavors!
Primetime 585 Shining Star: Rhoan Kaulder
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Wallace Spearmon Talks About His New Role With USATF, And Shaping The Future Of U.S. Relays
Wallace Spearmon Talks About His New Role With USATF, And Shaping The Future Of U.S. Relays

Forbes

time7 hours ago

  • Forbes

Wallace Spearmon Talks About His New Role With USATF, And Shaping The Future Of U.S. Relays

US' Courtney Lindsey reacts after competing in the men's 4x100m relay heat of the athletics event at ... More the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP) (Photo by MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images) Wallace Spearmon has always been interested in the science behind performance. In 2011, less than a year removed from one of his best efforts on the track when he ran 200 meters in 19.79 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League, he was called upon by the television show MythBusters to determine whether a human could walk on water. 'Wallace, how far do you think you're going to get?' the show's host, Jamie Hyneman, said. 'I'm hoping for three steps,' Spearmon replied. The Chicago native sped down the sloped dirt path and proceeded to land directly in the water, ending that experiment's hopes. But 14 years later, maybe Spearmon has some tricks up his sleeve. As the General Manager of International Teams, Athletes, and Coaches Services for USA Track and Field (USATF), he's earned an opportunity to shape the direction of the U.S.'s hopes in the relays and says he intends to lean on data science to help promote future success at the national level. His appointment in February was part of a major restructuring of USATF's High Performance Department, which also saw Robert Chapman become its Chief of High Performance Operations and Tyler Noble as its Lead Sports Science & Data Analyst. In total, the USATF made a swift culture change – while at the same time laying off high-ranking employees, according to a report by LetsRun. In the aftermath of that organizational change, the USATF also moved on from relay coaches Mechelle Freeman, who coached the women's 4x100 team to Olympic gold in 2024 and World Championship wins in 2022 and 2023, and Mike Marsh, who were operating on contracts which ended after the 2024 year. Marsh's men won gold in 2023 at the World Championships, but were disqualified at the Paris Olympics following a head-scratching hand-off in the zone. Daryl Woodson, an assistant during the Paris Olympics, was hired in March to take over as head coach of the division. The American men haven't run faster than 37.40 in the 4x100 since 1992, while the U.S. women hold the world record of 40.82, though that time was last broken in 2012. Spearmon, 40, revealed to me that there's a grand vision in place. 'I'm actually really excited about this,' he said. 'Tyler Noble, he has some programs that can motion-capture stride length, stride frequency, gait – they can almost project injuries. And he's at every relay practice.' An Important Time For Change With USATF EUGENE, OREGON - JULY 06: Athletes compete in the Women's 10,000m Final during the 2023 USATF ... More Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field on July 06, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by) This moment is particularly important for Spearmon, who became a world champion in 2007 as a member of the U.S. men's 4x100 team and reached both the Beijing and London Olympics in the mid aughts. His most gut-wrenching setback, however, came when he was not selected to be a part of the men's 4x100 lineup in 2008. And in fact, failure in the relays has been an ongoing sore subject for Team USA. The American men's 4x100 team has not won gold since 2000, enduring a drought of six straight Olympic cycles. This bothers Spearmon, because the U.S. men have won three Olympic golds at the men's 100 meters since 2000 and won the last four golds at the World Championships. It's not an issue of talent. 'I believe we have the best athletes in the world,' Spearmon said. The most important piece to the puzzle, Spearmon contends, is an overarching, consistent vision of the team's objectives and its strategy. He confirmed to me that flaws in communication were an issue in previous cycles. Prior to Spearmon's appointment, the USATF pivoted from a model of hiring relay coaches who were, more or less, volunteers or contractors, to a more precise and long-term outlook decided upon by USATF. Woodson's hire reflects that vision, he said. What also elevated that strategy was a directive by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which issued a $6.2 million dollar grant to the governing body and advised for a more centralized model of hiring. Florida track coach Mike Holloway, who is on the executive committee of the USATF High Performance Division, told LetsRun that he felt that Freeman and Marsh, who do not coach college or professional athletes, were more akin to 'relay coordinators' than coaches of the program. Spearmon said shoring up communication issues within the relay pool is one of his main priorities. 'As an athlete, if you're given at the beginning of the year a certain direction, you can train for that. You can make sure you're ready for it,' he said. 'But when you don't receive any information until you make the team, that's too late. So we've addressed that by hiring a relay coach who applies consistent concepts from the youth level all the way up to our senior teams.' But this also applies for athletes who aren't ultimately selected for teams. Notably, U.S. 400 meter runner Kendall Ellis expressed frustration in Paris when she was not selected to run in the Olympic final. 'If we win and people are feeling negative about the experience, then that's something I would like to address,' Spearmon said. 'I feel like it's our job to provide you with information. It is not our job to ensure you like that (information), but it is our job to make sure you have it.' Hiring Woodson was the first step, Spearmon said. Next were key hires like Jeremy Wariner, the Olympic 400 meter champion in 2004 and a three-time gold medalist; Kyra Jefferson, a 3-time NCAA champion; and Taylor Washington, an Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400 in Rio in 2016. 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What's Next For Wallace Spearmon's Vision On The Track With USATF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 26: Noah Lyles of Team United States reacts after winning the Men's ... More 4x100m Relay Final during day eight of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 26, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by) Spearmon will get answers for all of his questions soon enough. And he says his experience will have prepared him for it. From his time as the USATF Athlete Commission's Chair, to his tenure as an Associate Director of Athlete Services, which saw him work through governance and advocacy for athletes, his influence has grown and shaped around the changing dynamics of the sport itself. Spearmon has even coached at the international level, from the under-20 ranks all the way up to the senior team. From 2017-2019, he was an assistant relay coach and in 2021 became the team's lead when Orin Richburg could not attend the Tokyo Olympics, per LetsRun. Identifying objectives and meeting core expectations will be a subject shared between Spearmon and the staff that reports up to him. 'What I felt like as an athlete was completely different then what I felt as a coach,' Spearmon said. 'So in this administration role, I believe it's going to be different then either one of those previous experiences. 'It's my job to make sure that our relay coach operates within a certain scope and does the best job he can do,' he continued.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone enters flat 400m at USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone enters flat 400m at USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships

NBC Sports

timea day ago

  • NBC Sports

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone enters flat 400m at USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is entered in the flat 400m and not the 400m hurdles (her Olympic gold medal and world record event) for the Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships from July 31-Aug. 3. The entry deadline was Wednesday at 2:59 a.m. ET. For McLaughlin-Levrone, and others who didn't enter events before the deadline, there is an opportunity for a late registration appeal, but that is very rare, according to USATF. Notables not entered in any events include three-time Olympic shot put gold medalist Ryan Crouser, who has been sidelined from recent competition due to a reported elbow injury. Crouser has a bye into September's World Championships in Tokyo as a defending world champ from 2023, so he does not need to compete at nationals to make the world team. Nick Zaccardi, Olympic 400m gold medalist Quincy Hall, who has also missed recent competition due to injury, also did not enter nationals. Hall is not a reigning world champion, so he is in line to miss worlds. McLaughlin-Levrone said in the spring that she expected to choose one of the flat 400m or 400m hurdles for nationals, but not both. The flat 400m and 400m hurdles overlap at nationals with the flat final and the hurdles semifinals separated by about 15 minutes. The top three in most events at USATF Outdoors make the world team. In the 100m and 400m, several more typically make the team for relay purposes. McLaughlin-Levrone could still qualify for worlds in the 400m hurdles if she enters Diamond League races between nationals and worlds, qualifies for the Diamond League Final and then wins at the Diamond League Final from Aug. 27-28 in Zurich. The World Championships schedule has the 400m and 400m hurdles overlapping, though none of the rounds for the two races are on the same day. McLaughlin-Levrone is the two-time reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 400m hurdles, plus has broken the world record six times. She didn't race at the last World Championships in 2023 due to injury. Before the injury, she planned on racing the flat 400m and not the 400m hurdles at the 2023 Worlds. She has never raced the flat 400m at a global championship. McLaughlin-Levrone is the second-fastest American woman in history in the flat 400m (48.74 from 2023) and the world's sixth-fastest woman for 2025 (49.43). Three Americans have run faster in 2025: Aaliyah Butler (49.09), Olympic 200m gold medalist Gabby Thomas (49.14, not entered in the 400m at nationals) and Bella Whittaker (49.24). In the 400m hurdles this year, McLaughlin-Levrone owns the world's second-best time (52.07), trailing only 2023 World champion Femke Bol of the Netherlands (51.95). At the Paris Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone lowered her 400m hurdles world record to 50.37. She hasn't lost a 400m hurdles race since 2019.

Game changer: Girls flag football to join OHSAA varsity lineup in 2026
Game changer: Girls flag football to join OHSAA varsity lineup in 2026

Yahoo

timea day ago

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Game changer: Girls flag football to join OHSAA varsity lineup in 2026

COLUMBUS — The high school gridiron is getting bigger in Ohio, and no longer a sport reserved just for the boys beginning in the spring of 2026. High school girls across the state will soon have their own path to win a state football championship on the field after the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced last Thursday, July 17th that it will sanction a state championship event in girls flag football. Dates for competition and the 2026 state tournament will be determined in the near future. A pair of area athletic directors in Cambridge High's Jeff Wheeler and Craig Taylor of Buckeye Trail each gave the decision by the OHSSA a big thumbs up for the move that opens up a new chapter for Ohio high school sports More: Gridiron Boot Camp: Buckeye Trail football builds brotherhood with 'Military Games' "It's a great opportunity for young ladies to play a sport and be involved in teamwork, discipline, dedication, leadership, skills, and competitiveness," Taylor said. "I'm a big believer in the benefits of competition and all the good habits that come from it." "We recently added a trap shooting team and used to offer boys volleyball," Taylor added. "So we have a record of providing non-traditional opportunities for our students. So we would not be opposed to adding girls flag football if it looks like good fit." Taylor explained that discussions among the administrators and board of education for the East Guernsey School District would be the first step in deciding if this is an opportunity they want to provide for Buckeye Trail students. Wheeler, who served on the OHSAA Board of Directors 3 years ago when girls wrestling became a sanctioned varsity sports by the OHSAA was also in support of girls flag football being added. "I think it is awesome," Wheeler offered. "Anytime you can create more opportunities for kids inside and outside of the classroom, it is a great thing. If there is enough interest from our female athletes, I would do everything I could to make it happen." NFL support helps make decision to pull the trigger easier The announcement was made at a press conference in Canton alongside representatives from the National Football League, the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the NFL FLAG Championships presented by Toyota. OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute and OHSAA staff have been meeting with Ohio flag football leaders for several years. The growth of girls flag football began in 2021 with the creation of the first Girls High School Flag Football division in Northeast Ohio, led by the Cleveland Browns. Three years ago, there were 20 schools in Ohio that had a team. There are currently 80 high schools in Ohio that have a team and that number is expected to continue to grow. 'We are pleased that the OHSAA Board of Directors has approved the sanctioning of girls flag football as an OHSAA sponsored championship event,' said Ute. 'Flag football is growing rapidly and we look forward to working closer with teams, coaches and schools to help that growth. The Browns, Bengals and NFL have already put in so much work to promote the game and bring us to this moment to welcome girls flag football to the OHSAA.' Flag football has been added by 100 college club and varsity programs and now 17 high school state associations have sanctioned the sport with a state tournament. It will be included as a new sport in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Numbers could be problem area for local schools Spring sports is already a crowded sports season, and especially at some smaller school districts the amount of eligible female student-athletes might be an issue. Girls who currently participate in track, softball or other spring sports might be forced to choose between their current sport and flag football, potentially thinning out rosters in the more traditional sports such as softball and track. "Us being a small school my only concern would be taking student-athletes away from track and softball." Taylor said. "I think our question will be is if we have enough students to support the three sports in the spring if we did offer flag football." More: Cambridge YMCA Gymnastics team excels at Nationals Meadowbrook athletic director Johnny Jones feels a possible solution could be the various sports sharing student-athletes that often already happens within smaller school districts. "Our annual powder puff football game amongst female high school athletes always draws a large turnout each year," Jones said. "So I think with the right leadership and drive, Meadowbrook is a prime candidate to add flag football." "The obvious barrier for us and other schools is how to make the numbers work," Jones continued. "Last year we had 70 girls involved with track and 22 in softball. We would probably need to work on cooperation between sports and share the girls." Other potential issues could come with resource allocation, budget concerns, ample facilities, equipment and uniforms, transportation, scheduling conflicts to name a few. But despite the potential issues, sanctioning girls flag football is a forward-thinking move by the OHSAA that will provide valuable opportunities for young female student-athletes in Ohio. "Adding girls flag football is something we will take a hard look at," Ridgewood athletic director Jesse Smolder said. "We are always interested in providing positive opportunities for our students. I feel we do a good job of doing that, and its something we want to continue to do. So we will take a hard look at adding girls flag football." KSutton1@ X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: A new era: Girls flag football set for varsity debut in Ohio for 2026 season

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