“My chosen leadership style is to elevate the voices of those around me and not try to be this single megaphone. I think a voice that is a cacophony of many voices is more powerful than one single person.” - Will Leer

In today’s episode of Out Of The Blocks, Jasmine Todd chats with fellow USATF Athlete Advisory Committee (AAC) officers Will Leer and Kendra Coleman for an insightful conversation. Will reflects on the exciting new chapter ahead for him and Aisha now that she has retired from professional running. He also discusses his role as Chair of the AAC. Kendra opens up about her own retirement plans as well as her role as Director of Athlete Services within the committee. To wrap up the episode, the trio shares their favorite moments from the Olympics.

Time Stamps:

3:30 - Kendra’s retirement plans + what's next for her post-pro running.

4:48 - Will and Aisha’s plans following her retirement from pro running. 

7:19 - Kendra explains her role as Director Of Athlete Services with AAC.

8:17 - Will explains his role as Chair of AAC.

11:07 - Kendra shares about Onrise: Mental Health Care For Athletes. 

16:02 - Will breaks down AAC officer roles. 

19:45 - Kendra shares about the time commitment of her role.

21:55 - Will explains more details about AAC roles.

26:38 - Kendra’s favorite event from the Olympics.

27:08 - Will’s favorite event from the Olympics.

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also be launching the show on YouTube soon.

APPLE PODCASTS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3yj1UmD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SPOTIFY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3u4kigL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: Jasmine Todd | @msgoogleme on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guests: Will Leer | @williamleer on Instagram + Kendra Coleman | @ms_kchambers on Instagram 

“I’ve never had a meet where I’ve just been so excited and happy to be there, happy to jump… When I went (to the NACAC Championships), I really wasn’t expecting to jump 13.55m… I heard that and was like, ‘Wow.’ No matter what I jump, I'm always like, ‘It could have been better.’ But I executed that perfectly.” 

U18 triple jump Canadian record holder and University of Florida commit Asia Phillips joins Jasmine Todd in this episode of Out of the Blocks. Philips shares about her record-setting 13.55m jump that led her to the 2023 NACAC triple jump title, her excitement for joining the Florida Gators this fall, her dream NIL deals, and why she chose to go all-in on triple jump.

Time Stamps:

1:34 - How she got into triple jump.

2:27 - Who she looks up to in the sport

3:09 - Other events she tried before choosing triple jump.

7:23 - What her recruiting process was like.

9:21 - What she's looking forward to most about Florida.

11:56 - Dream NIL deals.

14:14 - Pre-competition rituals 

17:50 - Breaking down her 13.55m triple jump PB.

26:27 - What she's most excited about with moving to the U.S. 

28:12 - Advice for younger athletes.

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also be launching the show on YouTube soon.

APPLE PODCASTS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3yj1UmD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SPOTIFY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3u4kigL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: Jasmine Todd | msgoogleme on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Asia Phillips | asia__phillips on Instagram

“It would seem like they’d put a camera on you because you made the team, but I had no idea. It felt like I was out there for ten minutes, just waiting around for them to put up the team. It was probably only like 30 seconds to a minute. But I had no idea when I crossed the line that I’d made the team or that I had ran 12.3. I really didn’t know what to expect when I crossed the finish line. I was hoping for the result that I got, but I had no idea at that moment.”
It took a 12.31s PB in the final to come up clutch and make her first U.S. Olympic team but it happened to cap an incredible comeback for Grace Stark.
In this episode of Out of The Blocks, she talks to with Jasmine Todd on the process to get there, win the NCAA Championships and time her breakout perfectly. She also just officially signed a pro deal with adidas running.
Next up: Paris 2024 🇫🇷

Time Stamps:

1:13 - Details on her injury, surgery, and her return to training.
9:19 - How she approached setting goals after her injury.
11:27 - The support of her team while going through her injury.
13:46 - How she was able to rise to the top of the NCAA post-injury.
17:08 - Unpacking her 2024 outdoor season.
21:59 - When she found out that she became an Olympian.
25:18 - How she approaches racing the 100m hurdles.
26:23 - Details on her training environment.
27:40 - The process of turning pro.
30:22 - How she got started in track + her background in gymnastics.
34:44 - Her favorite cross training methods.
35:33 - Advice she’d give to her younger self.
36:34 - What she’s most excited for heading into Paris.
38:38 - Her message to the Gator community + Coach Holloway.

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also soon be launching the show on YouTube.

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▶ Follow Katelyn Hutchison: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

"Remember who you are. You are the Hulk. And that's what you've prided yourself on. It's your resilience and your ability to constantly push and fight through any and every single obstacle that's thrown your way. This year is probably the most challenging year that I've had. I don't know what it was, but it's just been a complete whirlwind of a series of events that's been testing my drive, my want for it, and testing my patience. But I'm still here. I'm still standing. I'm still pushing. I'm still fighting. And at the end of the day, we’re gonna make it through one way or another.”

In their first sit-down podcast since returning from a whereabouts suspension that lasted from March 2023 to February 2024, Olympic silver medalist Raven Saunders talks about the road back with Jasmine Todd.

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also soon be launching the show on YouTube.

APPLE PODCASTS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3yj1UmD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SPOTIFY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3u4kigL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶ Follow Jasmine Todd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶ Follow Katelyn Hutchison: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

Ronnie Baker came close to an Olympic medal with a fifth place finish at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics 100m final. He ran his personal best of 9.83  in the semifinals. In recent years. he's struggled a bit with injuries but is on the comeback trail trying to crack into the United States' 100m picture again to make his second Olympic team.

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also soon be launching the show on YouTube.

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▶ Follow Katelyn Hutchison: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

“It would be nice to get more recognition. Sometimes I go back and watch the races on YouTube and they’ll talk about everybody else in the field and they didn’t even mention my name…Damn, I’m here too…I’ve been in these races. I’ve been on these relays. I’ve been in the mix. Why is it that I’m always overlooked like that? It’s very weird. Do I enjoy it? I’ve accepted it. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing. I can’t do much about that. I just have to keep improving for myself.”

U.S. 400m champion Bryce Deadmon joins Out of The Blocks to reflect on the success of the past few years, which includes gold medals in the 4x400m at the 2021 Olympics and the 2022 World Championships.
Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also soon be launching the show on YouTube.

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▶ Follow Katelyn Hutchison: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

“I’ve kind of taken on this role as an unofficial ambassador for Dominica. I feel like I’m one of the few people representing us on this international athletic stage. When I step out and when I compete and when I talk to people, I want them to really get a taste of the kindness, love and power and amazingness of my home country. I hope that’s how people feel.”

Thea LaFond-Gadson made history at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow by becoming the first world champion in history for Dominica – the Caribbean island that boasts an estimated population of 72,000+ people. This was her first global championship medal after a few close calls, which included fifth place finishes at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.

She joined Jasmine Todd on Out of The Blocks to recap her brilliant indoor season, and what it’s like being coached by her husband Aaron Gadson. She shares the story of how she surpassed 15m for the first time and what her hopes are for the 2024 outdoor campaign and the Paris Olympics. This will be the third Olympic Games for the former Maryland Terp.

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also soon be launching the show on YouTube.

APPLE PODCASTS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3yj1UmD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SPOTIFY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3u4kigL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶ Follow Jasmine Todd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶ Follow Katelyn Hutchison: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

Jasmine Todd and Katelyn Hutchison catch up to discuss:

– How ridiculous is it that Christopher Morales-Williams' 400m world record was not ratified?

– How long jumpers are even more up in arms about the World Athletics' proposal to change the long jump take-off zone?

– Is "short track" still a thing?

– A good change is coming: Starting in 2025, the track and field season will end at the World Championships.

– Life updates including Katelyn writing for Forbes, doing a brand deal with Lululemon and reuniting at New Balance Nationals. Jasmine has been training, meeting with World Athletics, hosting track camps and more.

+ more reactions to results from the 2024 World Indoor Championships

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also soon be launching the show on YouTube.

APPLE PODCASTS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3yj1UmD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SPOTIFY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3u4kigL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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▶ Follow Katelyn Hutchison: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

“Truthfully, this training season, I have been grinding like I’ve never grind before. I think getting second in Budapest was a blessing in disguise. Last year, I was working hard but wasn’t doing the last rep of abs or finishing the last rep of 150s as hard as possible. I was going through the motions. This year, I am taking every rep and making it like my first rep…This year, I am just giving myself a chance. It’s almost insane to watch myself do this because I’ve never been that die-hard of a track athlete. This year, I’m honing in on that. I think that also comes with my maturity in the sport. I’m turning 25 this year. I feel like I’m getting older and figuring out the way of life a little bit.”

Tara Davis-Woodhall joins the show just days after winning the U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships. She went 7.18m for the world lead, the second longest mark in U.S. women’s history and moved her to No. 6 on the all-time world list.

Last year, she earned her first global championship medal with a silver at the World Championships in Budapest. She is the U.S. long jump favorite for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, where she’ll try to make her second Olympic team. She was sixth at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Among the topics discussed in this episode:

– Why she decided to give the 60m hurdles a try and how it benefits her long jump

– Her reaction to jumping 7.18m

– What are her goals for the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow

– What is her training group like under coach Travis Geopfert

– Sandi Morris’ influence on her in the weight room

– How has her mindset changed from how she approached the Tokyo Olympics and future championships

– Her reaction to World Athletics’ proposal to change the long jump

– What event is she looking forward to the most as a fan at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also soon be launching the show on YouTube.

APPLE PODCASTS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3yj1UmD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

SPOTIFY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3u4kigL⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶ Follow Jasmine Todd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶ Follow Katelyn Hutchison: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

"I'm always going to talk my talk but I never mean it in a crazy way to anybody. This is why I'm excited but terrified of what I could do this season because I did all of that last year off getting on a flight, flying down here and not doing any serious workouts for the (indoor) season. This is all off the couch, natural, God-given ability. Don't get me wrong. You need that in the sport to be great...I didn't have fall training. I didn't do any of that and all this has happened?" 

In a span of eight months, Cordell Tinch went from selling cellphones and watches in Green Bay, Wisconsin to competing at the World Championships in Budapest in the 110m hurdles. Within that time period, he enrolled at Pittsburgh State and went on to dominate in the NCAA Division II level in the hurdles, high jump and long jump before running a world-leading time of 12.96s in the outdoor season. The world took notice. He signed a professional contract and is now representing Nike.

What does the Olympic year have in store for Tinch now that he's able to train full-time and explore his talent?

Katelyn Hutchison caught up with him during the indoor track season.

Make sure you subscribe, download and listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss out on the latest episode. We will also soon be launching the show on YouTube.

APPLE PODCASTS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3yj1UmD⁠⁠⁠⁠

SPOTIFY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/3u4kigL⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶ Follow Jasmine Todd: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

▶ Follow Katelyn Hutchison: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram