The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Gill Athletics
  • 4.9 (73)
  • Running
  • Weekly

Unlock the world of track & field coaching with The Gill Connections Podcast! Host Mike Cunningham brings you inspiring stories, real conversations, and coaching insights from leaders at every level. Discover a new coach's interview every Monday. Plus, don’t miss the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts with our NEW Gill1918 Project episodes Tuesday-Sunday — short, powerful lessons from top coaches to help you grow on and off the track. Powered by Gill Athletics — Supporting Coaches Since 1918.

  1. 3d ago

    #250: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Pole Vault Standards Buying Guide"

    Buying pole vault standards involves much more than choosing two uprights to hold a crossbar. In this episode, Mike Cunningham walks through a practical buying guide for coaches and facility planners. Topics include minimum and maximum height range, NFHS and NCAA peg requirements, standard base pad compatibility, ease of movement, durability, maintenance, replacement parts, customization, and planning for future program growth. The right standards should support the athletes using your facility today while giving your program room to grow over the next decade.

    #250: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Pole Vault Standards Buying Guide"

  2. 4d ago

    #249: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "What Should Coaches Look for in Pole Vault Standards?"

    Pole vault standards influence every jump, every practice, and every competition—but they rarely receive the same attention as the landing system. In this episode, Mike Cunningham breaks down the factors coaches should consider before purchasing standards, including accuracy, ease of adjustment, visibility, durability, mobility, maintenance, replacement parts, and long-term value. A set of standards should not simply hold a crossbar. The right set should make practices more efficient, competitions easier to operate, and facility management simpler for years to come. What should coaches look for when buying pole vault standards? In this pod, Mike Cunningham discusses the details that matter most: accurate and readable scales, smooth adjustments, reliable locking systems, durable frames and wheels, maintenance needs, replacement-part availability, and long-term facility planning. The least expensive standards are not always the best long-term value. The best standards are the ones that work accurately and reliably every day—without becoming something coaches have to think about.

    #249: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "What Should Coaches Look for in Pole Vault Standards?"

  3. 5d ago

    #248: Gill1918 Presents 3-Time World Champion Greg Nixon, Jr. “Insights on the Indoor 4x400m Relay” Powered by Coach O

    Along with being a 3-time World Champion in the 4x4, Greg also is a 2-time USATF National Champion in the open 400. He earned gold medals both indoors and outdoors in each of those events. He shares his experience and insights on setting up, practicing for, and successfully competing in the indoor 4x4. Greg is also a coach and entrepreneur making technology and expertise accessible for coaches at every level with AthleteIQ (joinathleteiq.com). Follow Greg on IG (@gregnixonjr) to learn more. If you've got something great to share with our youth T&F coach audience, contact David Mitchell to find out how.

    #248: Gill1918 Presents 3-Time World Champion Greg Nixon, Jr. “Insights on the Indoor 4x400m Relay” Powered by Coach O

  4. 6d ago

    #386: Corey John-Athletic Marking Companies | The Art Behind Every Finish Line

    Every race begins with a line—but have you ever wondered who puts that line there? For the first time on the Gill Connections Podcast, we step behind the scenes with a professional track striper. Corey John of Athletic Marking Companies—better known as @TheTrackStriper on Instagram—reveals the remarkable precision, patience, and craftsmanship required to transform a blank track into a competition-ready facility. Corey entered the profession with absolutely no track and field background. Today, he travels across the country, stripes approximately 80 tracks a year, and has become one of the most recognizable personalities in an incredibly specialized industry. In this episode, Corey pulls back the curtain on a job most coaches and athletes never realize exists. 🎨 Why track striping is equal parts science, craftsmanship, and art 📏 How Corey measures a blank facility and creates an accurate 400-meter track 🔴 Why nearly 70% of the job happens before any paint touches the surface 🏟️ What separates a new track layout from a standard restripe 🌧️ How rain, sprinklers, leaves, surface types, and even birds can disrupt a job 🛴 Why a Segway helped Corey become a more efficient one-person crew 🚐 What life is like when you spend weeks traveling from one track project to another 📱 How @TheTrackStriper made an overlooked profession fascinating on Instagram 🤖 Why Corey welcomes automation and believes technology can make his work even better Corey’s work is an essential part of our sport. Without accurate lane lines, hurdle marks, exchange zones, start lines, and field-event markings, competition simply cannot happen. Press play for a fascinating look at one of track and field’s most important—and least understood—professions. Follow Corey on Instagram: @TheTrackStriper Dive into nearly 400 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more! 🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode: Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs Tuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections Podcast Network. 📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Instagram (@MikeCunninghamTF), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

  5. Oct 22

    #247: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "How Do You Choose Pole Vault Standards?"

    Pole vault standards may not be the largest purchase in a vault facility, but they influence every practice, every competition, and every bar adjustment. In this episode, Mike Cunningham discusses how coaches can choose standards that support their athletes and facility for years to come. Topics include: Rule compliance and adjustment ranges Accurate, readable height and depth markings Ease of movement and adjustment Durability, wheel systems, and maintenance Indoor versus outdoor considerations Replacement parts and long-term support Planning for future program growth The best standards are not simply the least expensive option. They are the ones that help coaches operate efficiently and give athletes reliable, consistent equipment every day.

    #247: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "How Do You Choose Pole Vault Standards?"

  6. Oct 21

    #246: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Should I Buy a Used Pole Vault Pit?"

    Buying a used pole vault pit can save a program money—but only if it is still safe, compliant, and serviceable. In this episode, Mike Cunningham breaks down what coaches should inspect before purchasing a used landing system: Current NFHS or NCAA compliance Foam condition, including hard spots, soft spots, and compression Vinyl, hardware, and repair history Storage and weather-exposure history What is actually included in the sale Freight, repairs, weather protection, and other hidden costs A used pit can be a smart value. It can also become an expensive problem quickly. The key is not how old the pit is. The key is what condition it is in today. Listen before you commit to a used-pit purchase.

    #246: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Should I Buy a Used Pole Vault Pit?"

  7. Oct 20

    #245: Gill1918 Presents Jeremy Fischer “Long Jump Takeoff Considerations” Powered by Coach O

    Jeremy Fischer is an elite jumps coach and educator who has coached athletes to 19 Olympic and World Championship medals, plus 20 Para and Para World medals. This is part 2 of 4 in his series across the remainder of 2026 on coaching the horizontal jumps. Part 2 focuses on how to maximize long jump distance at takeoff. Jeremy is the founder of Maximum Velocity Athletics and will host the live online Horizontal Jumps Masterclass on January 2-3, 2027 along with an incredible team of clinicians. Registration is open now at https://www.maximumvelocityathletics.com/. If you've got something awesome to share with our youth T&F coach audience, contact David Mitchell to find out how.

    #245: Gill1918 Presents Jeremy Fischer “Long Jump Takeoff Considerations” Powered by Coach O

  8. Oct 19

    #385: Roy Session-Nevada State University | A Life Built for the Challenge

    What would make a coach walk away from nearly unmatched success to start again with nothing? After winning 25 state championships at Centennial High School, Roy Session could have comfortably finished his career as one of Nevada’s most accomplished coaches. Instead, the retired fire chief accepted an entirely new challenge: building Nevada State University’s track and field program from the ground up. In this episode, Roy shares his remarkable journey from growing up in West Las Vegas and discovering that track could take him to college, to serving 30 years in the fire department, building a youth club, creating a high school dynasty, and giving Nevada athletes a new opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. 🔥 How the fire service shaped Roy’s leadership philosophy 🏆 What it took to win 25 high school state championships 🤝 Why empowering assistant coaches produces stronger programs 🦂 The challenge of building Nevada State track and field from scratch 💪 Why Roy’s teams live by one standard: “We will not be outworked” ❤️ How coaching allows him to give young people opportunities he never imagined for himself Roy Session doesn’t run from difficult challenges—he finds purpose in them. Press play and meet a coach whose humility, competitiveness, and commitment to serving others have changed countless lives. Dive into nearly 400 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois), Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on Twitch.tv, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more! 🎙️ Create Your Own Podcast Episode: Reach out to Mike Cunningham for instruction on how to create your very own Gill1918 Project episode, which airs Tuesdays through Sundays. Find YOUR voice on the Gill Connections Podcast Network. 📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow on Instagram (@MikeCunninghamTF), email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or text 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

See All (994)

4.9
out of 5
73 Ratings

About

Unlock the world of track & field coaching with The Gill Connections Podcast! Host Mike Cunningham brings you inspiring stories, real conversations, and coaching insights from leaders at every level. Discover a new coach's interview every Monday. Plus, don’t miss the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts with our NEW Gill1918 Project episodes Tuesday-Sunday — short, powerful lessons from top coaches to help you grow on and off the track. Powered by Gill Athletics — Supporting Coaches Since 1918.

Information

You Might Also Like