TTFCA February Update

TTFCA Update

February 2020

Indoor Track and Field

From College Station to the University of Houston to McNeese to Texas Tech to the Universities of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas, as well as various event-specific competitions like the Belton Expo, Texas high school and college athletes have competed all over the region to work on their craft prior to the Outdoor season.

The collegians are breaking school and meet records at … record pace! … and it seems like everyone’s setting a PR. The blazing fast IAAF-certified track at the University of Houston (in partnership with FasTrak Athletix) has proven among the fastest in the world, while amazing performances from the collegians are taking place on every single track.

An abundance of high schoolers appear primed for an outstanding outdoor campaign. Makes one wonder how much longer before a sanctioned High School Indoor Season becomes a serious consideration.

Athletes of the Week

In an effort to recognize more student-athletes, this year the TTFCA will tweak its Athletes of the Week program. We will break down our recognition in the following manner:

Male and Female Track Athletes of the Week: 1-4A

Male and Female Field Athletes of the Week: 1-4A

Male and Female Track Athletes of the Week: 5-6A

Male and Female Field Athletes of the Week: 5-6A

Male and Female Track Athletes of the Week: Private

Male and Female Field Athletes of the Week: Private

AED: In Partnership with the Damani Gibson Foundation, the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association has begun an initiative to provide portable AEDs to member school’s XC/TF programs. The partnership will strive to give away as many brand new portable AEDs throughout the year as possible.

Applications may be turned in throughout the year, but the first turn-in date for the first AED giveaway is March 1, 2020. For more information on our joint effort to save lives, visit https://www.ttfca.org/just41day

Meet the Board

Executive Director: Stuart Kantor, Dallas Bishop Lynch

President: Ychlindria Spears, San Antonio MacArthur

Vice President: Shelton Ervin, Humble Summer Creek

Board Members: Ray Baca (Canyon), James Barr (Texas Relays), Barbara Crousen (McMurry – retired), Ruqayya Gibson (Damani Gibson Foundation), Tom Hill, Logan Kelly (Lucas Lovejoy), Andy Prior (WoodmenLife, USATF Official), Jessica Richards (McKinney North), Mike Sheaner (Past President), David Thurchak (St. Mary’s Hall), June Villers (DeSoto), Ray White (Barbers Hill), and Greg Williams (Lancaster.)

Important Dates

February 13-15: the first full weekend of Outdoor Track & Field gets under way

February 14-15: USATF Indoor Championships

February 18-19: Sun Belt Indoor Championships

February 20-21: SWAC Indoor Championships

February 21-22: Lone Star Conference Championships

February 22-23: C-USA Indoor Championships

February 24-25: Sun Belt Indoor Conference Championships

February 28-29: AAC / Big 12 / SEC / WAC Indoor Conference Championships

February 29: US Olympic Team Trials – Marathon

March 1-2: Southland Conference Indoor Championships

March 5-7: NAIA Indoor National Championships

March 6-7: NJCAA Indoor National Championships

March 13-14: DI NCAA Indoor National Championships

March 13-14: DII NCAA Indoor National Championships

March13-14: DIII NCAA Indoor National Championships

March 13-15: IAAF World Indoor Championships

March 25-28: Texas Relays

March 31-April 16: UIL District and Area Meets

April 16-18: American Southwest Conference Outdoor Championships

April 18: TAIAO State Championships

April 22-25: Drake Relays

April 23-25: Penn Relays

April 23-25: TAPPS Regionals

April 24-25: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships

April 24-25: UIL Regionals

April 30-2: Lone Star Conference Championships

May 1-2: TAPPS State Championships

May 1-3: SWAC Outdoor Championships

May 8-9: UIL State Championships

May 8-10: Sun Belt Outdoor Conference Championships

May 14-16: SEC / WAC Outdoor Conference Championships

May 14-17: C-USA Outdoor Conference Championships

May 15-16: TTFCA Meet of Champions

May 15-17: American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships

May 15-17: Big 12 Outdoor Conference Championships

May 15-17: Southland Outdoor Conference Championships

May 21-23: DII NCAA Outdoor National Championships

May 21-23: DIII NCAA Outdoor National Championships

May 21-23: NAIA Outdoor National Championships

May 28-30: DI NCAA East Prelims

May 28-30: DI NCAA West Prelims

June 10-13: DI NCAA Outdoor National Championships

18-21: New Balance Outdoor Nationals

19-28: U.S. Olympic Team Trials

July 5-6: Prefontaine Classic

July 7-12: IAAF U20 World Championships

July 24-August 9: 2020 Olympics

July 29-August 8: AAU Junior Olympics

Insurance Update

*$4,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Policy / *Health Services Discount Card / *Child Safe Kit ... All at NO COST to you as a Member ... Sponsored by American Income Life Insurance Company - FAQ regarding benefits … an AIL representative will call if you fill out the brochure sent to you soon. The brochure for additional insurance is sent because you are a TTFCA member.

Moss-Eaddy Scholarship

In an effort to honor two lives lost too soon, the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association has established two scholarships, one in the name of SMU athlete Hannah Moss and the other in the name of Kierstin Eaddy of The Shelton School. We keep their memories alive via two non-performance-based scholarships open to current high school juniors.

Scholarship Requirements & Parameters

1. Athlete must be a current high school junior. Based on the Scholarship Timetable outlined below, the scholarship will be awarded January of the Athlete's senior year in high school.

2. Athlete's Head Coach must be a member in good standing of the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association. Membership information can be found toward the top of the Navigation bar to the left.

3. Athlete's Head Coach must nominate athlete via the process outlined below.

Both $500 scholarships are based on academic, extra-curricular and community service-oriented achievements of the athlete. Track & Field performance is not a prerequisite for either scholarship.

https://www.ttfca.org/moss-eaddy-scholarship

Meet of Champions

Registration for the 5th Annual TTFCA Meet of Champions (presented by WoodmenLife) opened on February 1st. The cost is $25 regardless of the number of events an athlete qualifies for.

An athlete qualifies one of two ways for the Meet of Champions:

1. He or she is a state champion from any conference in Texas; or

2. He or she meets our qualifying standards. Indoor marks from this season count.

Qualifying standards, as well as much more information, can be found at: www.txtfmeetofchampions.org

TTFCA Throws Symposium

The TTFCA’s Inaugural Summer Throws Symposium is June 26-27 at St. Mary’s Hall High School in San Antonio. This is a learn-by-doing symposium for both athletes and coaches.

The symposium features:

Will Blackburn, University of Houston

Bradley Foote, University of Texas-RGV

Brandon Kelso, University of North Texas

All Coaches will receive 8 hours of continuing education

Athletes will have their throws filmed

Shot Put / Discus / Hammer / Javelin

For more information, go to the webpage: https://www.ttfca.org/summer-throws-symposium

Membership

Membership in the TTFCA affords you multiple opportunities to take part in our great sport, from educational opportunities to voting privileges and discounts with many of our partners. There are two levels of discounts, all explained on the Membership webpage: https://www.ttfca.org/membership

Next Year’s Winter Clinic Dates and Location

January 8-9, 2021 at the Great Wolf Lodge.

Planning has already begun to make it bigger and better!

Stay tuned for updates, but mark your calendars. As members, your cost is $90, and that also keeps your TTFCA Membership intact.

Latest TTFCA Partner

Please welcome Balfour to the growing family of partners. Balfour will not only work with our coaches to provide the highest quality rings, etc. at the best pricing, but Balfour will also outfit our Hall of Famers with a commemorative ring to memorialize they’re immortality into the Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame.