College Rivals: Track & Field: Recent Episodes
Simon Bowen
College Rivals track and field fastest stars step off the track and recant, open up and reflect, sharing untold stories and revealing insights. Sports business leaders lay out the sports transformational blueprint to becoming a professional league. Simon Bowen alongside his co-hosts Tosha Woodward Sumner and Michael Jasper brings you revealing, feature-length interviews and amazing anecdotes from College Rivals Track & Field’s most impactful names. Expect superstar athletes, coaches, brands, and marketing extraordinaire, sport tech geniuses, and track & field legends.
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Derrick Adkins is a former American track and field athlete who specialized in the 400-meter hurdles. He was an Olympic gold medalist in that event at the 1996 Summer Olympics and World Champion at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics. He was the fastest man in the world in the 1994 and 1996 seasons and holds a personal record of 47.54 seconds. Adkins was a two-time national champion at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
A Georgia Institute of Technology alumnus, he won back-to-back gold medals at the Summer Universiade from 1991 to 1993. He was also a gold medalist at the 1994 Goodwill Games and the 1996 IAAF Grand Prix Final. He represented the United States four times at the World Championships in Athletics, also reaching the final in 1991 and 1993.
Following his competitive retirement, he remained connected with the sport and served as director of The Armory Track and Field Center between 2006 and 2011.
Derrick now is Central Park Track Club's new Coach for - SPRINTS, HURDLES & JUMPS.
In this episode of College Rivals, Simon chats with Central Park Track's Club, Head Coach where we capture his insights about college rivalries and their potential impacts on making the sport better.
Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals Track and Field on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
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My GUEST today is Patricia Melton, a graduate of Yale University, New Haven - Connecticut, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Art at Yale University and an M.A., in Educational Administration & Supervision/Business at Arizona State University. She's currently the President of New Haven Promise that, had overseen the disbursement of more than $25 million in scholarships to more than 2,300 New Haven students. Those students have largely been first-generation, low-income students of color, just as she had been in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. As an outstanding athlete in college, Melton has applied many competitive and leadership lessons to overcome significant challenges in her athletic and professional careers. Resilience and the ability to pivot are baked into her DNA. Patricia, as a student-athlete, had a remarkable career on the track as well while attending Yale University. She was a Field Hockey and Lacrosse recruit, Melton became a track walk-on after a disappointing season and conflict with her college coach. A seven-time Ivy League champion, captain of her team, and NCAA Track All-American, as a sprinter, she moved to the 400-meter hurdles late in her college career. She has been bestowed the highest athletic honor in her Yale class, the Nellie Elliott Award. Melton finished her athletic career at the the1988 U.S. Olympic trials where she was a finalist in the 800 meters. NOW Today, we’re talking about "Rivalries and their potential impacts on making the sport better" We will also look at some of the challenges we face as an athlete and how might we learn something from past athletes - with our special guest from New Haven, Connecticut. Patricia Melton certainly will delight our audience on this topic and more.
For our listeners and viewers, this episode should be very interesting as Patricia, an Ivy Leaguer, brings a different perspective to our community. Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals Track and Field on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
Let's all enjoy!
My GUEST today is Frank Diana - a futurist, thought leader, and frequent speaker. He has served in various C-Level roles throughout his career and has over 35 years of leadership experience. Currently, at Tata Consulting Services (TCS), he is focused on a future, shaped by changes in the societal, geopolitical, and economic landscape, and the associated implications for business. He blends a futurist perspective with a pragmatic, actionable approach gained through years of dealing with the practical realities of business. He scans multiple horizons with a strong ability to connect the dots and identify future scenarios quickly and broadly. NOW Today, we’re talking about "HOW Innovation in sports continues to accelerate at an alarming rate - how will technology impact the sports industry i.e athletics? How can sports and technology co-exist? Will technology take away from the sport or make it more accessible for fans?" For our listeners and viewers, this episode should be a bit geeky, nerdy, and deep into the future of what our sport might look like and how we can maximize the use of current, trending, and upcoming technologies to help us break ground in the transformation of our SPORT. Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals Track and Field on Amazon Music.
Let's all enjoy!
My GUEST today is Rich Kenah, a graduate of Georgetown University, Washington, DC, and team-mate of our very own Co-Host, Michael Jasper, Producer of the College Rivals Podcast. Rich also earned his degree in Business Administration, focusing on International Marketing. Rich Kenah is currently the CEO of Atlanta Track Club. This mission-focused, non-profit organization operates more than 30 events and programs annually including the world’s most extensive 10K, the AJC Peachtree Road Race. With more than 30,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the 2nd largest running organization in the United States. He oversaw the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials – Marathon in Atlanta. In this episode of College Rivals, Simon, Tosha, and Mike chat with Atlanta Track Club, CEO, and former Georgetown University track star to capture his insights about staging Elite Track and Field as a Professional League.
Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals Track and Field on Amazon Music.
Let's all enjoy!
My GUEST today is Rich Kenah, a graduate of Georgetown University, Washington, DC, and team-mate of our very own Co-Host, Michael Jasper, Producer of the College Rivals Podcast. Rich also earned his degree in Business Administration, focusing on International Marketing. Rich Kenah is currently the CEO of Atlanta Track Club. This mission-focused, non-profit organization operates more than 30 events and programs annually including the world’s most extensive 10K, the AJC Peachtree Road Race. With more than 30,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the 2nd largest running organization in the United States. He oversaw the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials – Marathon in Atlanta.
Before taking the Track Club's reign, Rich was Vice President of Events and Marketing for Global Athletics and Marketing, Inc., a Boston-based sports marketing and management firm, an industry leader in managing Olympic athletes and events. He also was Marketing Manager for Falk Associates Management Enterprises, a Washington, DC-based sports-marketing firm specializing in representing NBA athletes including Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.
Rich represented the United States in the 2000 Olympics in Australia. He is a two-time Bronze Medalist in the World Championships, a 1992 NCAA Champion, and a Golden West National High School Champion in 1988. He currently boasts PRs: in the 800m - 1:43.38 and for the 1500m - 3:37.63 all attained in (1997) In this episode of College Rivals, Simon, Tosha, and Mike chat with Atlanta Track Club, CEO and formerly of Georgetown University's star-studded middle-distance team of runners -- during the '90s. We capture his insights about college rivalries and their potential impacts on making the sport better, some of the challenges he faced as an athlete, and how might we learn something from past athletes like Rich Kenah and others.
Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals Track and Field on Amazon Music.
Let's all enjoy!
My GUEST today is Rich Kenah, a graduate of Georgetown University, Washington, DC, and team-mate of our very own Co-Host, Michael Jasper, Producer of the College Rivals Podcast. Rich also earned his degree in Business Administration, focusing on International Marketing. Rich Kenah is currently the CEO of Atlanta Track Club. This mission-focused, non-profit organization operates more than 30 events and programs annually including the world’s most extensive 10K, the AJC Peachtree Road Race. With more than 30,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the 2nd largest running organization in the United States. He oversaw the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials – Marathon in Atlanta.
Before taking the Track Club's reign, Rich was Vice President of Events and Marketing for Global Athletics and Marketing, Inc., a Boston-based sports marketing and management firm, an industry leader in managing Olympic athletes and events. He also was Marketing Manager for Falk Associates Management Enterprises, a Washington, DC-based sports-marketing firm specializing in representing NBA athletes including Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.
Rich represented the United States in the 2000 Olympics in Australia. He is a two-time Bronze Medalist in the World Championships, a 1992 NCAA Champion, and a Golden West National High School Champion in 1988. He currently boasts PRs: in the 800m - 1:43.38 and for the 1500m - 3:37.63 all attained in (1997) In this episode of College Rivals, Simon, Tosha, and Mike chat with Atlanta Track Club, CEO and formerly of Georgetown University's star-studded middle-distance team of runners -- during the '90s. We capture his insights about college rivalries and their potential impacts on making the sport better, some of the challenges he faced as an athlete, and how might we learn something from past athletes like Rich Kenah and others.
Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals Track and Field on Amazon Music.
Let's all enjoy!
1995 Barcelona World Indoor Championships Bronze medallist Erik Nedeau is a fierce competitor. Nedeau grew up in Kennebunk, Maine, and graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts in 1994.
While Erik Nedeau is a disciplined, focused, and highly successful runner, he is also exuberant and lighthearted. If you catch the coach at the Amherst College track, most likely he’ll be wearing his Boston Red Sox cap and whistling “Zippity do da, zippity day.” If you ask him how he’s doing and he’s in running attire, he often answers, “Faaantastic!”
Why does Nedeau love track and field so much? Is it because he is one of the most decorated and versatile runners in Maine history? Is it because of his bronze medal at the world championships or the cross-country national championship team he coached at Amherst College? Beyond his accomplishments and accolades, Nedeau’s love for running comes from two fundamental elements of track and field: the first, you get out what you put in; the second, camaraderie.
Erik explains that he loves running because it is about how hard you’re willing to work. And there is no doubt Erik Nedeau knows how to train. As an athlete at Division I Northeastern University in Boston, Nedeau was a five-time All-American in the 800 and 1500 meters. He competed at the NCAA cross-country championships; was seventh in the 800 at the 1992 U. S. Olympic Trials; a bronze medalist in 1500 at the 1995 World Indoor Championships; and fourth in 1500 at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials.
In this episode of College Rivals, Simon, Tosha, and Mike chat with Maine New England's great Erik Nedeau 'AKA" Ned -- former middle-distance ace for Northeastern and USA top middle-distance runner during the '90s. We capture his insights about rivalries and their potential impacts on making the sport better, some of the challenges he faced as an athlete, and how might we learn something from past athletes like Erik Nedeau and others.
Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals Track and Field on Amazon Music.
Let's all enjoy!
The sport of track and field delivered in its current state is too long and boring. We need to flip the traditional switch on this one and meet the expectation of the fans and how they want to be entertained.
We need a professional system and structure to acquire the best athletes at the elite level, all chosen from around the world with team owners, team managers, major sponsors, media and marketing giants, sport management agents, etc...similar to F1 motorsport with athletes paid a large amount of money to compete and provide a series of competitive and drama filled action for both fans at the venue and live stream viewers.
A key strategy apart from finally having a professional league with a cadre of superstar-like highly paid athletes with big contracts that are equally beneficial to all major stakeholders - sponsors, media interests, and broadcasting rights owners is to develop a smart and strategic marketing plan for the sport, fan engagement interactions, generate innovative events, and a global digital transformation strategy.
In this episode of College Rivals, Simon, Tosha, and Mike chat with Jamaica's Carole Beckford -- former PR manager for the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt. We capture her insights about how a smart and strategic marketing plan can parachute the sport into a successful professional league on par with F1 motorsport, NBA, and the NFL.
Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals Track and Field on Amazon Music.
Let's all enjoy!
Collegiate athletes or college student-athletes? The NCAA route for a student-athlete can be quite daunting, scary, and unpredictable if your eyes are set on becoming a professional athlete. “It’s a thin line to walk”
The NCAA states over 95% of NCAA student-athletes will NOT transition to the Professional or Olympic level. That means the overwhelming majority of college athletes will enter the workforce or go to graduate school.
In this Part 2 episode of the College Rivals Podcast, we continue the conversation with three members of that Villanova world record DMR Penn relays team on transitioning to ‘pro’ the challenges they faced, their take on modern-day athletics, and more...
In sports, competition is the ultimate decider of who triumphs. Many rivalries never end because the competition is between two teams with unpredictable outcomes each time they play or face each other. Spectators move towards competitive and fierce rivalries because they are interesting to watch and nail-biting. These rivalries can be between schools, colleges, conferences, or geographical locations. They are the usual suspect steeped in tradition and history without no explanation.
In track and field, some of the fiercest rivalries are played out each year. Villanova vs Georgetown. Harvard vs Yale. Cal vs Stanford. UCLA vs USC. Arizona vs Arizona State. Army vs Navy. Florida vs Florida State. Georgia vs Georgia Tech. Arkansas vs LSU. Baylor vs TCU. Texas vs Texas A&M…I could go on till eternity all over the country - It never ends! These rivalries are played out in dual confrontations, regional conferences, the NCAA, Texas relays, Drake relays and of course, the Penn relays.
Throughout most of our glorious College Rivals history, it’s unimaginable to not talk about Franklin Field, Philadelphia, and the joy of competing at the Penn relays. Teams like Villanova commands the attention and expectation of performing at the highest level and give one of the biggest relay carnivals in the world - the PENN RELAYS its supremacy.
To be honest, everybody wants to run at Penn - even the loyal annual 45,000-strong fans!
There's no place like ‘Penns’ - It's where rivalries are cultivated and never end. Ask the 1988 Penn relays women’s distance medley relay [DMR] champions Villanova, who had set a world record, American record, and one of the longest still standing collegiate records in history running 10:48.38. This record-breaking team of Kathy Franey, Michelle Bennett, Celeste Halliday, and Vicki Huber set the world record that day. We are super-stoked to have them join us on the College Rivals podcast in a two-part episode to talk about their Penn relays record run, their tales of triumph, untold stories, "Uncle" Marty Stern, College rivalries and its impacts on the sport of track and field. The transitioning to ‘Pro” the challenges they face and more on this fascinating discussion.
In this episode of College Rivals, Simon, Tosha, and Mike who are former athletes themselves recant stories with the Villanova wildcats DMR women’s world record team and gather insights on what makes Villanova a powerhouse in College track and field history.
Track and field programs within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) boast rich histories and some of the most diverse athletes the national organizing body oversees. National championships for track and field have been held since 1921 on the men’s side, and since 1982 on the women’s side when the organization brought women’s sports under its umbrella. The NCAA is a launch pad for most successful collegiate athletes entering the elite level, many of which compete at the highest levels of the sport including the Olympics, World Championships, and professional Grand Prix meets.
What’s the current health status of the NCAA track and field system since Covid-19 struck? Is the current system working in the best interest of the athletes? How does the competition model impact the sport? With the NIL deals, the transfer portal, and the struggle for track & field to grow in popularity, what role does the NCAA play in growing the sport? Have you ever wondered about the transition collegiate athletes experience as they head to the elite level and the challenges they face as individual athletes trying to define their own standards of “How to be a Pro”? How do college rivalries begin, and what makes these worthy memories of college athletics one we all reflect on and cherish?
In this episode of College Rivals, Simon, Tosha, and Mike chat with Texas A&M Head Coach Pat Henry -- one of the most successful collegiate track and field coaches in history. We capture his insights about the status of the NCAA track and field system, its relevance, and its impact on developing a professional league on par with F1 motorsport, NBA, and the NFL.
Subscribe to The College Rivals Track and Field Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts AND Listen to College Rivals: Track and Field on Amazon Music.
Let's all enjoy!
College Rivals is a podcast about revolutionizing the sport of track & field into a professional league on par with F1 motorsport, the NBA, and the NFL. Using track and field rivalries as the epicenter of the professional league would grow the sport, increase fan engagement, and provide a gateway for athletes to finally have a lucrative career. At this very moment, track and field is a semi-professional sport. The sport needs radical change. It requires innovative and creative thinking to parachute the sport we all grew up with, participated in, and love. This is a call for action—for members of the track and field community, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders to focus not on short-term gains but on the well-being of the athletes and the business of the sport for the long term. As innovators, how do we design a professional structure that puts the fans in the middle of the action? How do we shift from a traditional purest mentality to meet the modern digital age? How do you grow the sport to make it a marketable, strong, and viable product for fans to watch and be entertained? And how do we leverage emerging technologies such as social media, artificial intelligence, E-sports, and advanced data analytics to create solutions that address the challenges of the sport of track and field - where Gen Alpha and Gen Z are constantly defining the technological society’s expectations and spending power? The future of track and field should not be a story of survival but one of future-proofing and sustainability. College Rivals is a podcast that discusses these topics and explores opportunities to disrupt the status quo and get us to a place we’ve all dreamt about—for the love of track and field. We will bring you stories from past and current athletes, business leaders, futurists, and technologists that align with our mission, our dream, and our views on a revolutionized approach to make track and field the fans' choice of the ultimate human athletic excellence. In today's episode, Simon, Tosha, and Michael discuss their vision for this podcast and how it aligns with their ambitions.