Wednesday, July 2, 2003
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Wednesday, July 2, 2003 |
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CCSU forms track club
Clayton College & State University and the University of Florida will soon have more in common than their blue and orange colors. Possibly the most famous post-collegiate running club in the southeastern United States, the Florida Track Club was founded 30-some years ago as an offshoot of the Gators' cross country and track and field programs. Now, Clayton State Head Track and Cross Country Coach Mike Mead is forming the Clayton State Track Club for the University's faculty, staff, students, alumni and community with the goal of promoting running in the Southern Crescent. A wide variety of potential activities for the CSTC - including providing a post-collegiate team for former members of the Lakers' outstanding men's and women's track/cross country teams - will be discussed at the group's organizational meeting Thursday, July 10, at 5:30 p.m. in the University's Athletics & Fitness Center. All interested runners from throughout the Southern Crescent are invited to attend. In addition to providing post-graduate racing opportunities for Clayton State alumni like former school record holder Manny Juarez and 2002 NCAA Division II All-America Joni Guffey, the CSTC will be a platform for hosting programs like running clinics (drawing from such talent as Mead, Assistant Coach Hugh Toro and SmartBodies staffers Janet Hamilton and Lydia Vanderford), group training runs, service projects, monthly meetings, awards, a monthly electronic newsletter, a low-key race series, and an informational Web site. Membership in the CSTC will be $20 a year for individuals, with family members costing an additional $10 each. All charter members will receive a special CSTC T-Shirt with a logo designed by Lauren Baker of the Clayton State Office of University Relations. Applications for the CSTC are available through the Clayton State Track and Field Office or the Clayton State Office of University Relations. For more information call John Shiffert, director of University Relations, at 770-960-2109. A fixture at Clayton State since November 1990, Mead was a standout runner at the University of West Georgia. In eight cross country seasons at Clayton State, Mead has had 21 all-conference, 12 all-region and eight all-state selections. After leading the 1996 women's team to the NAIA national meet, Mead guided the 1997 Lady Lakers to a number 23 NCAA Division II national ranking in the program's first season at the NCAA level. In his first three seasons, Mead was tabbed Coach of the Year in the NAIA Southeast Region, NAIA Southeast Independent Region, and three times in the Peach Belt Conference. In addition, he helped guide Guffey to become Clayton State's first track All-America in 2002 in the 1500 meters. While at West Georgia, Mead helped the cross country team to consecutive appearances at the NCAA Division II Championship. He was a two-time all-conference and one-time Georgia Collegiate all-state runner. In track and field, Mead represented West Georgia at three NCAA Division II Championships in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. He held four track records including the steeplechase (9:08.7), indoor mile (4:18) and indoor two-mile (9:14). Following college, Mead has run for the Atlanta Track Club and Athletics South competitive teams. He has helped direct numerous road races and holds personal bests on the road of 30:54 for the 10K, 24:47 for 8K, and 14:35 for 5K. Like Mead, Toro is a graduate of West Georgia. Toro competed in cross country while at West Georgia, earning all-conference and team MVP honors in 1976. Toro has continued to be an avid runner after college, winning numerous road races and running in every Peachtree Road Race since 1973.
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