The Track and Field Performance Podcast

Dr. Ken Clark is a professor and coach at West Chester University where he balances teaching, sprint science research and in-person coaching with several collegiate teams including track and field. He is also widely known for his role as a biomechanics consultant for USA Track and Field's high performance sprints and hurdles program. 

Over the past 15 years, Ken has been at the forefront of several key published research papers relating to sprinting performance. This conversation starts by covering the current landscape around sprinting-related research before moving to how the evidence informs his coaching practice on a daily basis.

Timestamped Topics:

• 0:00 – Introduction & Ken's roles at West Chester University, USA Track and Field, and Ken Clark Speed
• 2:09 – The origin story: how Ken's father reading a Peter Weyand paper in 2000 eventually led to Ken doing his PhD under Weyand a decade later
• 9:09 – What we know about sprinting now: vertical ground reaction forces, ground contact times, and what separates elite sprinters from team sport athletes
• 13:10 – The force signature: why the first half of ground contact — not the second — is where elite sprinters differentiate themselves
• 16:14 – Thigh angular velocity and foot velocity at touchdown: extending the research chain from force to kinematics
• 22:36 – Evolving away from a binary technical model: why Ken's thinking on front side mechanics has shifted over the past decade
• 26:32 – Research comparing track athletes and team sport athletes: same speeds, very different movement strategies
• 33:13 – Why technique still matters even when it doesn't predict performance — injury resilience, race sustainability, and long-term development
• 40:07 – How Ken coaches differently across groups: fine-tuning USA Track and Field athletes vs. developing collegiate sprinters vs. team sport athletes
• 43:16 – What Ken actually looks for at top speed: practical KPIs for ground contact, swing thigh position, and pelvic control
• 46:17 – Wicket drills and technical buildups: how constraints-based training works across both track and team sport populations
• 50:14 – Biomechanical facts vs. coaching cues: why it's okay to cue things that aren't technically true if they produce the right intent
• 51:05 – Braking forces in acceleration: why they're inevitable past step three, and when they become a real problem
• 1:03:40 – Short-to-long periodization in practice: how Ken structures fall preseason and why max velocity work comes in early
• 1:07:00 – Capping distance to cap velocity: a simple but underused principle for load management and return to play
• 1:13:00 – Resisted acceleration and sled coaching: hip extension, swing leg recovery, and why Ken prefers a waist harness
• 1:16:56 – The vertical impulse problem: why the online obsession with horizontal force in acceleration ignores an essential piece of the puzzle
• 1:23:44 – Where sprint science is heading: the need for more training studies and the untapped potential of motorized resistance and assisted sprinting technology
• 1:27:41 – Where to find Ken: kenclarkspeed.com and @kenclarkspeed on Instagram

Ken's Website

Ken's Instagram

Recent Publications:

Clark, K. P., Meng, C. R., Walts, C. T., Ryan, L. J., & Stearne, D. J. (2025). Angular kinematics during top speed sprinting in male intercollegiate track and field and team sport athletes. Frontiers in sports and active living, 7, 1535798. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1535798

Clark, K. P., Ryan, L. J., Meng, C. R., & Stearne, D. J. (2023). Horizontal Foot Speed During Submaximal and Maximal Running. Journal of human kinetics, 87, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.5114/jhk/159578

Alt, T., Komnik, I., Ryan, L. J., & Clark, K. P. (2024). Top speed sprinting: Thigh angular motion and eccentric hamstring strength in faster vs. slower sprinters. Human movement science, 98, 103280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2024.103280

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In this episode, we sit down with Ross Jeffs — jumps and combined events lead coach at Aspire Academy in Qatar, and former sprints and hurdles coach with experience across the UK, Netherlands, and now the Middle East. 

Ross brings a deeply curious and evidence-informed approach to coaching, shaped in part by his own experiences as an athlete, working directly with coaches like Jonas Dodoo, and much more. This conversation gets into the weeds on athlete profiling, monitoring, injury prevention, and the technical nuances of the triple jump.

Timestamped Topics

• 0:00 – Introduction & Ross's coaching journey from Jersey to London to Rotterdam to Aspire Academy in Qatar
• 3:30 – Categorizing athletes: concentric, elastic, and metabolic types across sprinting and the jumps
• 7:14 – The metabolic athlete — backside mechanics, rhythm, and why front side cues can backfire for certain athletes
• 12:19 – Can athletes shift along the continuum? The risks of overwriting an athlete's natural movement solution
• 12:49 – Force plate monitoring: why relative peak power output from a shallow CMJ has become Ross's most sensitive tool for fatigue and performance prediction
• 16:09 – How to execute the shallow CMJ correctly and why it sits between a traditional CMJ and a reactive strength test
• 19:16 – Hamstring injury management in triple jumpers: why Ross overhauled his approach after two grade 3 injuries and what he does differently now
• 23:04 – Why Nordics and direct eccentric loading may be adding to the problem rather than solving it in-season
• 27:19 – Triple jump influences: Paul Weston, Keith Hurston, Jeremy Fisher, Randy Huntington, and lessons from Cuban and Eastern European methodology
• 31:03 – The Cuban jump system: 800 contacts in a single GPP session and what modern coaches can learn from it
• 37:40 – Structuring plyometric progressions from sand to grass to track across the training year
• 43:03 – When to individualize: moving from general bounding skills to athlete-specific phase work closer to competition
• 46:03 – Key differences between long jump and triple jump takeoff: why the triple jump is flat until the hop-to-step transition
• 47:45 – The role of the free leg and why displacing well at takeoff without a strong free leg recovery creates a different problem
• 49:41 – Pelvic posture on the runway and its influence on phase mechanics and lower back health
• 53:18 – Solving over-rotation at landing: why blocking is often misunderstood and can make things worse
• 59:54 – Managing fouling athletes: a sensory-based approach to steering, walking takeoff drills, and why it's a skill acquisition problem not a psychological one
• 1:07:47 – Where to find Ross: Coach Ross Jeffs on Instagram

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Jack Green is a two-time Olympian, World and European relay medalist, European U-23 champion in the 400m hurdles, and now the lead coach for Saudi Arabia's long hurdles and sprint relay program.

Jack's athletic career was shaped not only by his successes but also by his promise as an adolescent and the battles he faced thereafter. Now, channeling those difficult lessons combined with the knowledge he has gained from working with coaches like Lauren Seagrave, Jack is in an ideal position to not just develop elite athletes - but also people.

Topics

• 0:00 – Introduction & Jack's current coaching role in Saudi Arabia
• 3:27 – A candid reflection on a stop-start career and the fall at London 2012
• 6:45 – Mental health struggles following the Olympics — depression, anxiety, and 18 months out of the sport
• 7:34 – Rebuilding with Lauren Seagrave and self-coaching through the final years of his career
• 10:37 – Why he retired at 28, still ranked top 10 in the world
• 16:03 – Jack's coaching pillars: human first, seeing the individual, biomechanics, hurdling all year, and athlete independence
• 23:02 – The coach-athlete relationship: moving from director to facilitator
• 26:57 – What good communication actually looks like day to day
• 38:05 – Why less can be more
• 43:03 – Creating psychological safety and a sense of home for athletes
• 46:48 – Meeting the athlete where they are: minimum standards, cultural awareness, and role modelling
• 57:52 – Playing the long game and reframing what success actually means
• 1:05:13 – Identity, fear, and how the mindset that drove early success can become a long-term limitation
• 1:09:47 – Start Line Thinking — Jack's self-published book, available now on Amazon

Jack's Book: Start Line Thinking: Amazon.co.uk: Green OLY, Jack, Pindar, Joe: 9798258845047: Books

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David Kerin is a former collegiate coach, USA Track and Field national team administrator, and performance consultant. David brings a refreshingly unconventional lens to some of the sport's most persistent challenges. 

His articles on '2D, 2.5, 3D Coaching' and 'Fixing the Right Problem' and most recently, developing a provisional patent for an innovative movement analysis system shows that he has never stopped asking the questions others overlook. 

Topics
0:00 – Introduction — David's background as a collegiate coach, USA Track & Field national team development administrator, and current consultant working across multiple sports
5:10 – Why Biomechanics? — What drew David deeper into the science of movement, why track and field's objectivity makes it the perfect laboratory, and the mentors who helped shape his thinking
8:00 – Fixing the Right Problem — Why the flaw you see is never the root cause, and how to work backward through a performance sequence to find the real breakdown point
13:00 – The High Jump Curve Problem — Why athletes drift instead of committing to the curve, the "lean is a byproduct" principle, and how poor curve mechanics have quietly reshaped the event
17:00 – 2D Thinking vs. 3D Reality — Why coaches and scientists analyzing three-dimensional movement through a two-dimensional lens creates critical blind spots, and David's concept of "2.5D" as a practical stepping stone
22:00 – The Third Dimension in Sprinting — Why foot orientation and lateral placement are being overlooked in sprint analysis, even at the elite level
26:10 – US Athlete Development — The structural tensions in NCAA track and field, the cost of prioritizing recruitment over development, and how USA Track & Field's Talent Protection Program tried to bridge the post-collegiate gap
38:25 – Whole, Part, and When to Intervene — When to isolate components vs. train the whole event, why stabilization matters more than early adaptation, and the danger of over-coaching innate movement patterns
47:00 – Start Point Geometry in High Jump — The counterintuitive truth about why a tighter start point along the bar axis makes curve mechanics worse, not better
51:27 – Dick Fosbury and a 50-Year Stagnation — Why Fosbury's 1968 technique still benchmarks elite collegiate high jumping today, and why high jumpers sustain career-ending injuries at a far greater rate than pole vaulters
57:00 – Body Type, Force, and Career Longevity — What Jonathan Edwards, Mutaz Barshim, and Sotomayor reveal about the relationship between mass, force application, and how long a body can sustain elite performance
1:03:12 – How to Reach David — David's open-source approach to mentorship and how coaches and athletes can get in touch

Contact David: [email protected]

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Angus Ross is the Strength and Conditioning and Power Physiology Lead with High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), working with elite track & field athletes and multiple Olympic sports across lead coaching, s&c, and sport science. He is also a three-time Winter Olympian in bobsleigh and the full-time coach of New Zealand 60 m record holder Tiaan Whelpton.

His PhD focused on sprint performance and tapering, complemented by many peer-reviewed publications on topics including eccentric strength training and acceleration biomechanics.

In this episode, we dive into athlete profiling, training elastic vs muscular qualities, eccentric loading, and the art of individualising strength work for sprinters and jumpers.

Topics / Timestamps:
0:00 Angus’ background (PhD, high performance sport, Olympic experience)
3:05 Athlete profiling: vertical jump, drop jumps, optimal cadence & fiber type links
5:50 Training strengths vs weaknesses — what actually moves the needle
10:30 Case study: developing extreme power in sprinters
16:00 Force expression vs elastic efficiency in acceleration
26:30 Integrating S&C within a technical coaching framework
29:00 Pairing speed & strength — when to combine or separate sessions
34:00 Eccentric training: benefits, risks, and long-latency adaptations
42:50 How to program eccentric work without compromising speed
49:00 “How much strength is enough?” for elite sprinters
57:00 Isometrics, sarcomeres in series & speed development
1:05:20 Communication, trust & the evolving role of the coach

Angus's Research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Angus-Ross

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Dr. Christopher Stanley (CMPC) is a sport and performance psychology professor at the University of Western States, former Lead Sport Psychologist for USA Track & Field across the Tokyo–Paris Olympic cycle, and the Atlanta Track Club Elite.

In this episode, Chris illustrates how coaches can implement mental skills training in track & field without adding extra time—covering practical tools for confidence, focus, and performance under pressure. In addition, the relational aspect of coaching is discussed throughout the conversation; Chris provides practical tips on how to improve communication and trust in coach-athlete dynamics. He is also the author of Right from the Start: Mental Performance Skills for Youth and Adolescent Athletes. 

Topics / Timestamps:
0:00 Chris’ background + USATF/Olympic experience
3:55 Selling sport psych to coaches + creating buy-in
8:20 Event-specific mental skills (sprints vs jumps vs distance)
14:20 The coach effect: demeanor, prompts, and regulation
21:40 Why “focus” and “wake up” cues often fail
30:10 Mental performance at the Olympics & World Champs
39:30 Breathwork, pressure, and physiological regulation
46:10 Self-talk, imagery, and quick redirection strategies
51:10 Rapport, autonomy, and motivation frameworks
57:30 Chris’ book + practical resources for coaches

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This episode brings together three coaches with documented success coaching the 400 meters and 4×400 m relay within the NCAA system.

Ernie Clark, the Head Coach for sprints, hurdles, and jumps at Northern Arizona University, previously coached at San José State and Ashland University. He has guided athletes such as Trevor Bassitt, Myles Pringle, and Jeremiah Walker to 45-second performances, while also producing multiple school and conference record holders in the 400 m. Most recently, Clark led the NAU women’s 4×400 m relay to the NCAA Championships, where they ran a school and conference record of 3:31.28.

Bob Thurnhoffer, the first-ever guest on the podcast, continues to expand an already accomplished résumé. Now an Assistant Coach at the University of Louisville, he coached Synclair Savage to the NCAA Outdoor Championship title in the women’s long jump this past season. During his two seasons at the University of New Mexico, Thurnhoffer coached Rivaldo Leacock and Jovahn Williamson to NCAA final appearances in the 400 m hurdles and 400 m, respectively, while also guiding Jevon O’Bryant and Brodie Young to multiple 45-second performances, culminating in his men’s 4×400 m relay reaching the NCAA final.

Jason Wakenight, Assistant Coach at the University of Iowa and a previous guest (Episode 22), has built one of the strongest reputations in the NCAA for developing elite 400–800 m training groups. During his time at Iowa he has coached two 44-second performers (Jenoah McKiver and Mar'yea Harris), six athletes under 45 seconds (2020 Big Ten athlete of the year, Wayne Lawrence Jr), and four 4×400 m relay teams under 3:01. In 2025, Wakenight led the Iowa men’s and women’s 4×400 m relay teams to 4th- and 6th-place finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. On the women’s side, Iowa broke both the indoor and outdoor school records last season, highlighted by a 3:26.90 outdoor performance in the 4×400 m relay. The Iowa men’s 4×400 m relay has reached the NCAA Outdoor final in five of the last eight championships and won seven of the last ten Big Ten outdoor titles.

Topics:

• What truly defines elite 400 m training for men and women
• Speed vs. special endurance and how to allocate training emphasis
• Training the first 300 m versus the final 100 m of the race
• Race modeling, split targets, and velocity management
• Developing quarter-milers from different athlete profiles
• Building championship-ready 4×400 m relay teams
• Managing volume and intensity across long seasons
• Confidence, belief systems, and execution under fatigue

Apologies for the audio/connection difficulties within this episode. 

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Craig Pickering – former Olympic sprinter, Winter Olympian in bobsleigh, sport scientist, and now Director of Performance Sustainability at Athletics Australia – joins the show to unpack what it takes to build a world-class sprint and relay system. He shares insights on athlete transitions, skill acquisition, and the systems driving Australia’s sprint resurgence.

We explore his journey from elite athlete to high-performance leader, how Australia has built depth and buy-in across its relay program, and why “training in chaos” has become central to his coaching philosophy. Craig also speaks on data-driven decision making, performance support, and the innovation shaping the next era of Australian athletics.

Topics:

• 0:02 – Craig’s journey from elite athlete to high-performance leader
• 5:25 – Injury setbacks, transitions, and entering the sport science world
• 9:27 – Moving to Australia & shaping Athletics Australia’s performance pathway
• 10:39 – Why Australian men’s sprinting is rising
• 13:51 – Building relay culture, buy-in, and structuring effective camps
• 24:10 – Relay coaching philosophy & the value of training under chaos
• 35:17 – Skill acquisition, decision-making & performance under pressure
• 40:50 – The evolving role of the modern coach and performance support
• 51:28 – Pathways Transition Program & developing future athletes
• 52:52 – Research, innovation & the next frontier for Australian athletics

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Marco Airale has been one of the fastest-rising elite sprint coaches of the past five years — and one of the youngest — guiding athletes like Reece Prescod, Andre De Grasse, Daryll Neita, Amy Hunt and others to fast times and global medals. With a background in physiotherapy and osteopathy, Marco blends therapy and coaching to maximise performance and keep athletes healthy. 

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Balancing step length and step frequency for each athlete
• Using intensive tempo to build fitness and resilience
• Managing training load and recovery across the season
• The role of warm-ups in preparing sprinters for peak performance
• Coaching sprinters, hurdlers, and relay athletes at the elite level
• Building and leading an international training group in Italy
• Preparing athletes for multiple rounds at major championships

Follow Marco on Instagram: coach_air_

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From being a 6 meter pole vaulter back in 2005 to coaching the 2024 Olympic gold medallist Nina Kennedy and 2023 World Championships bronze medallist Kurtis Marschall, Paul Burgess has transitioned from elite athlete to coach with huge success, particularly over the past 5 years.

That journey, however, hasn’t been totally straightforward. In this episode, you’ll hear real humility from someone who has clearly stayed curious and driven to help his athletes perform at their best. 

We spoke the technical and physical training behind pole vault, specifically as it relates to Kurtis and Nina --- including the key changes that helped them take their performance to the next level. 

Paul outlined his strong belief in a 'less is more' and 'being specific' approach to training. Additionally, he expressed the importance of being adaptable in competition and how he fosters this mentality when it comes to pole selection, run up distances and more. 

If you’d like to get in touch with Paul regarding his coaching services --- such as mentoring, video analyses, programming, and more --- you can find him on Instagram @polevaulthub

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