Geoff Hollister, Nike Track Legend, Is Dead

Runnerspace is reporting that he died today following a long battle with cancer.

Geoff Hollister–the running community legend and original Nike men who led the shoe-maker to sponsor races and set up running clubs such as Athletics West, the current Nike-sponsored Oregon Project and the two Oregon Track Club Elite groups is dead.

At this time, the exact cause of death is not know.

He admitted several years ago that he was fighting cancer. On Saturday athletes led by Galen Rupp, Matthew Centrowitz, Mo Farah and Ciaran O’Lionaird donned a special tribute singlet at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in honor of the former Nike executive.

Hollister got into early at Nike. He was a small-town Oregon farm boy who went on to the now-legendary University of Oregon to run for coach Bill Bowerman, the man behind Nike.

The former University of Oregon track athlete became a driving influence in leading Nike as a worldwide leader in sports equipment and apparel.

USATF rolls out Project 30; expands sports science and athlete-assistance programs

DES MOINES, Iowa - USA Track & Field on Wednesday introduced the first athlete recipients of Project 30 funds, designed to help athletes with high medal potential cover their training costs and living expenses.

Thirty-one athletes will receive a total of $800,000 in Project 30 funds in 2010, with $4 million to be spent over the four-year term of the program. The Class of 2010, listed below, ranges from established medal winners like Stephanie Brown Trafton, Hyleas Fountain and Chelsea Johnson to young up-and-comers like shot putter Cory Martin, hurdler Dexter Faulk and middle-distance runner Evan Jager. Additional athletes may be added in coming months.

Project 30 athletes sign a contract with USATF and Nike, which sponsors the program, providing them with between $10,000-$50,000 per year. Project 30 athletes will receive Nike shoes and equipment and will compete annually at the USA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, Nike Prefontaine Classic and Penn Relays, and at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Track & Field. They will be asked to participate in press conferences, public appearances and marketing opportunities.

Officials from USATF and Nike selected the athletes in an exhaustive process that took into consideration a host of factors. Athletes who were “medal-ready” and “finals-ready” for major international championships were given first consideration, with athlete need also strongly factoring in. Athletes from all 43 events were evaluated.

“We looked at all 43 events and first picked athletes who had the greatest potential through 2013,” USATF Chief of Sport Performance Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley said. “Our final group is a great mix of veteran athletes and future stars, but they all have one thing in common, and that is their potential to land on the medal podium at the World Championships and Olympic Games. Many athletes were either losing their shoe contracts or seeing them substantially reduced, and we are very pleased to be able to step in and assist athletes perform at their best.”

Athletes without a pre-existing contract with a shoe company and those with Nike were considered for the program. Athletes under contract with other shoe companies are prevented by their contracts from signing with a competing company and therefore were not eligible for Project 30 funds.

Sport Science at center stage

The signature program of USATF’s High Performance Department, Project 30 is one of several new or expanded projects USATF has undertaken in 2010 to increase athlete support.

Beginning with the first event for sprints and hurdles held June 3-4 in Dallas, USATF has instituted a series of Sport Performance Workshops, where leading sport scientists work one-on-one with top athletes and their personal coaches. With upwards of 25 being held each year across all event disciplines, the Workshops are provided to athletes who have been designated as having viable medal potential in the upcoming World Championships and Olympic Games.

Organized by and managed by USATF’s new Associate Director of Sports Medicine & Science Robert Chapman, all Workshops are centered around the comprehensive on-track biomechanical analysis of the athlete, and are supported by the areas of nutrition, psychology, medicine, physiology, and strength & conditioning. Results of all of these areas will be documented to track the status, goals, and improvement of the athlete.

Athletes selected for the program participate in three sessions per year, along with frequent interaction with their coach and the USATF sport science and medicine professionals. Athletes and coaches can consult with a team of experts in nutrition, psychology, medicine and physiology.

“In order to have fact-based decision making, we polled athletes and coaches to ask what they needed,” Fitzgerald Mosley said. “Their #1 need is medical support and #2 is sport science. They wanted more of both, and that’s what we are giving them.”

Also beginning in 2010, USATF has expanded its existing medical reimbursement program to athletes and is providing more nutritional and dietary services. USATF is doubling the amount of medical reimbursement available to athletes ranked in the top 10 in the world to $3,000 per year, and for the first time will reimburse athletes ranked in the top 11-20 in the world for up to $1,500/year in medical costs.

Coaching stipends also will be available to the world top 11-20 for the first time, $1,000/year. World Top 10 receive $2,000 in coaching stipends annually. USATF is contracting to provide dietary support, including blood-test evaluations, with a nutritionist. In sport science, Functional Movement Screenings are being performed at the Sport Science Workshops to aid athlete performance and prevent injury. On the medical side, USATF last year partnered with St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis to provide up to $100,000/year in direct medical services to athletes.

Geena Gall To Run Adidas Grand Prix

Eugene, Oregon.- Geena Gall will make an appearance on the Diamond League Series when she runs the 800 meters at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York.

The former two-time NCAA Champion at 800 meters and 2009 World Championship semi-finalist in Berlin joins a world-class lineup including Hazel Clark, Sarah Bowman, Heidi Dahl, Sarah Bowman at the Icahn Stadiun in New York on Saturday June 12 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Oregon Track Club Elite’s Geena Gall will be in New York City this weekend to compete at the Adidas Grand Prix. The IAAF Diamond League event will take place at Icahn Stadium in New York on Saturday June 12 from 3:00pm – 6:00pm.

The  a two-time NCAA Champion at 800 meters and 2009 World Championship semi-finalist in Berlin is coming off her season debut at 800 meters three weeks ago at the Oxy High Performance meet where Gall ran 2:02.16.

Kicks: Nike’s Luna Mariah

Reminiscent of last year’s black Luna racer, Nike Sportswear is set to release the Lunar Mariah on April 25th at 21 Mercer in New York.

The original Air Mariah, which was made up of the upper of the Nike Eagle combined with full-length Air. These kicks were developed in the 1980s as a lightweight racing shoe and was a part of their line throughout the ’90s.

PRECLASSIC.COM GOES INTERACTIVE

Eugene, Oregon—One of track & field’s first websites—preclassic.com,
created in 1997–is continuing its groundbreaking role by providing fans
of the sport with an unprecedented level of meet-related information and
interactivity through its revamped presentation. The Pre Classic site
now includes features that showcase the rich history and current content
of the Western Hemisphere’s best outdoor meet.

Want to see:
        
     *       a replay of the 2008 NBC telecast of the meet?

     *       photos of Brad Walker’s American Record in the pole vault?

     *       meet information for 2009?

     *       fans with their own websites who plan on attending?

     *       video highlights of each Pre Classic going back to 1986
(released weekly)?

All this and more can be found on the expanded site. Visitors will also
have the opportunity to interact and share with other Pre Classic fans,
including posting their own comments, memories, videos, photos, and
website links, thanks to software developed by RunnerSpace.com.
                                                #   #  #

  The 35th Prefontaine Classic is a part of the IAAF’s World Athletics
Tour and USA Track & Field’s Visa Championships Series. The 2009 edition
of the meet will be held on Sunday, June 7, at Hayward Field in Eugene,
featuring scores of the world’s greatest athletes.  It will be broadcast
live by NBC beginning at 11 a.m. Pacific Time.

RunnerSpace.com is a social networking website for all runners to
connect and share with other runners and fans through its
industry-leading team and event website creation software.

Christian Smith to leave Oregon Track Club

Oregon Track Club has announced the departure of team member Christian Smith. In order to complete his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University; Smith will return to the Manhattan, Kansas campus. Smith spoke highly of his time in Eugene.

“Leaving Eugene after only a year and a half has been a very difficult decision to make. The town and team made the experience everything I hoped it would be. Being a part of Eugene’s 800m sweep at the trials will always mean so much to me. I am moving back to Kansas to finish my degree that I put on hold to come to Eugene before the Olympic year. I have had a great fall of training, I feel like my fitness has improved drastically from last year. I will continue to have good relationships with everyone at the Oregon Track Club” said Smith.

Christian Smith joined the Oregon Track Club in 2007.  The 800 meter runner qualified for the Beijing Games in a dramatic third place finish in front of his home crowd at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Smith vaulted himself at the finish line in front of 2004 Olympian Khadevis Robinson in grabbing the final roster spot for the Beijing Olympics in posting a time of 1:45.47.

Kicks: Windrunner TR2

Nike has released two new Windrunner TR 2’s in nice colorways. The classic running shoe comes in a white/black/grey colorway with two-color laces. The sneaker also dropped in a white/grey/red colorway. Both came out really clean, without looking boring at all, and are now available at

Kicks: Playstation AFI Inspired, Nike Shoe Monster

To add to the collection of upcoming Playstation-inspired sneakers. Nike will release these Shox Monster sneakers. The upper features black metallic patent leather with mesh and a gradient that goes from white to blue to purple.

There are also a pair of purple shoelaces included to finish up the use of the Playstation colors. Limited numbers of the Nike Shox Monster inspired by the Playstation Air Force One will be released early November at select FootLocker retailers. Via [Sneaker Obsession]

Kicks: Nike Sportswear iD - Air Max 90 Current

The wait is over. Nike’s Air Max 90 Current is now available for customization at the Nike Sportwear iD studio.

The shoe is made of micro-suede, synthetic leather and reflective overlay are the three different options for the composition of the upper, however its the several choices in color which really gives consumers the option to make the Air Max 90 Current their own.

If you want your own pair, you better be prepared to pony up a few dollars. The Air Max 90 Current iD will cost you $150. [Sneakerflies.]

Kicks: Jordan Blasé - Holiday 2008 Collection

So you want a pair of kicks that are sophisticated enough to wear out to an evening affair?

Jordan Brand has a new off court dress shoe coming out this Fall/Holiday season that should be sleek enough to get you pass the doorman, its called the Jordan Blasé. This line manufactures lifestyle sneakers to cater to users who want to wear stylish shoes with their casual dress attire. This new release of Jordan Blasé comes in two new colorways. [SneakerNews.]

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