Advertise on podcast: Beyond the Blocks: Track and Field Podcast

In episode 30 of Beyond the Blocks we are joined by Michael Ford, Director of Men's and Women's Track & Field at Baylor University. An alumnus and former standout student-athlete for the school, Ford has spent over two decades coaching within the legendary Baylor Track & Field program. Throughout his tenure, Ford has mentored top-tier athletic talent, including Olympic gold medalists Jeremy Wariner and Darold Williamson, two-time NCAA champion Trayvon Bromell, and 17-time All-American Tiffany Townsend. Ford has built a prominent reputation on the global stage. Most notably, he was appointed by USA Track & Field as the Men's Sprints and Hurdles Coach for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

In this installment, we sit down with one of the most successful figures in collegiate track and field to discuss his approach to training and athlete development. Karl Goodman shares his insights on what it takes to lead a top-tier program to back-to-back success, offering a rare look behind the scenes at the strategies that keep USC track and field at the top of the podium.Whether you are an aspiring athlete, a fellow coach, or simply a fan of the sport, this conversation provides a practical look at high-performance sprinting. We break down the philosophy that has defined his tenure and the specific standards required to compete at the highest level.Subscribe for bi-weekly track and field podcast episodes featuring the biggest names in the sport, and let us know in the comments which athlete or coach you want to hear from next.Coach Goodman on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/klgrun/USC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usc_track_field/USC Track & Field:https://usctrojans.com/sports/track-and-field

In episode 28 of Beyond the Blocks Podcsast, we are joined by Dr. Amber Murphy, President and Chief Executive Officer of CompuSport, a sports biomechanics company founded by her father, Dr. Ralph Mann, an Olympic silver medalist and pioneer in sports performance research. With more than 20 years of experience in sports biomechanics and exercise science, Dr. Murphy is a respected expert who has worked extensively with collegiate athletes, elite sprinters, and professional sports organizations to improve movement mechanics, optimize performance, and reduce injury risk. Her expertise and research have contributed to the application of biomechanical principles across track and field and other sports.Dr. Murphy’s academic and professional journey reflects exceptional persistence and dedication to lifelong learning. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and science after becoming a mother of three, followed by a master’s degree in education and a Ph.D. in Exercise Science from Concordia University Chicago. She has also pursued professional certifications and affiliations within the fields of strength and conditioning, exercise science, and biomechanics. Her research has examined sprint performance, kinematic measures, sprint mechanics, and injury prevention, including published work on elite American 100-meter sprinters.Beyond her executive leadership and research, Dr. Murphy is committed to making sports science accessible and practical for coaches and athletes. She is the author of The Science of Speed, a resource focused on sprint mechanics, injury prevention, and talent identification, designed to translate complex biomechanics research into actionable knowledge. She also contributes to the athletic community through her work with USATF, collegiate programs, and coaches and athletes at multiple levels. Dr. Murphy attributes her success to persistence, self-belief, and the determination to pursue her goals regardless of obstacles or timing, principles that continue to guide her leadership and impact in sports biomechanics.CompuSport LLC:https://compusport.orgDr. Amber Murphy on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambermurphy847/

In Episode 27 of Beyond the Blocks, we are joined by Kenny Anderson, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Central Methodist University. Since arriving at Central Methodist, Coach Anderson has established himself as one of the premier coaches in the NAIA. Known throughout the track and field community as Coach #CutTheCheck, Anderson has transformed the Eagles into a perennial conference and national contender. Under his leadership, Central Methodist has captured multiple Heart of America Athletic Conference championships, earned national rankings, produced national champions, and set numerous program records.Central Methodist University Track & Field:https://www.cmueagles.com/sports/wtrack-out/indexInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/cutthecheck_/

In Episode 26 of Beyond the Blocks we chat with Darrell Smith, Sprints and Hurdles Coach at Cal Poly Pomona and discuss his journey into coaching, recruiting, athlete development, and the differences between Division 1 and Division 2.

In Episode 25 of Beyond the Blocks we are joined by one of the most respected coaches in collegiate track and field. Before arriving at San Jose State University, he built championship programs at multiple levels of the NCAA, earned National Coach of the Year honors, coached dozens of All-Americans, conference champions, and NCAA qualifiers, and developed a reputation as one of the top sprint, hurdle, and relay minds in the country.His coaching journey has taken him through Louisiana Tech, Academy of Art University, Alabama State, Cal Berkeley, and now San Jose State, where he serves as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country.Since taking over the Spartans program in 2021, Coach Ryan has helped elevate one of the most historic brands in our sport, producing school records, All-Americans, conference medalists, and national-level performers while carrying forward the legacy of Speed City.Beyond the success on the track, he's become a respected voice within the coaching profession, recently being selected to serve in a leadership role with the USTFCCCA, helping shape the future of collegiate track and field across the country.In this episode we'll be discussing the craft of coaching—training philosophy, athlete development, building a culture, and the future of our sport.Coach Ryan on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/cw_ryan3/San Jose State Track & Field on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sanjosestatetrackandfield/

In Episode 24 of Beyond the Blocks, we are joined by one of the most dynamic athletes to come out of California in recent years. A standout at Serra High School, Roderick Pleasant became the California state record holder in the 100 meters while also earning national recognition as one of the country’s top football recruits. After beginning his collegiate career at Oregon, he’s now back home at UCLA, where he continues to compete at one of the highest levels in college football.Follow Rodrick Pleasant on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/never.pleasant/ UCLA Football: https://uclabruins.com/sports/football UCLA Track & Field: https://uclabruins.com/sports/track-and-field

Welcome to Episode 23 of Beyond the Blocks. Today's guest is one of the most respected figures in track and field. Coach Demetrius Wilson is the founder of Black Lightning Track Club, one of the premier youth programs in the country, and currently serves as the Head Track & Field Coach at Santa Ana College.In addition to those roles, he serves as the Vice President of Youth Athletics for the USATF Southern California Association, giving him a unique perspective on athlete development and the future of youth track.Whether he's coaching young athletes, mentoring families, leading a collegiate program, or helping shape the direction of the sport, Coach Wilson has dedicated his career to developing people both on and off the track.Black Lightning on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/blacklightning.tc/Santa Ana College Track & Field: https://www.sacdons.com/sports/track/index

In Episode 22, we are joined by a guest who is one of the most underrated sprint coaches in the country.Joining us in this episode is Jacob Yowell, the sprint coach at California State University-Northridge aka CSUN. Over the years, Coach Yowell has built a reputation for developing athletes, maximizing talent, and producing high-level sprinters and hurdlers.We dive into his coaching journey, talent identification, sprint development, the realities of coaching in the transfer portal era, and the human side of building successful athletes and programs.Follow Coach Yowell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobyowell/CSUN Track and Field:https://gomatadors.com/sports/mens-track-and-field

Welcome back to Beyond the Blocks. In today's episode we're joined by Jon Smith, the Associate Director of Athletic Performance for Track and Field and Cross Country at the University of Georgia.Jon is part of the athletic performance staff behind one of the premier programs in collegiate track and field. The Georgia Bulldogs are an NCAA championship-winning program and a national powerhouse that continues to produce some of the top athletes in the country.We're excited to learn more about Jon's journey, his philosophy on strength and conditioning, and what coaches and athletes at every level can take away from the work being done at one of the nation's elite track and field programs. Follow Coach Smith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonlsmith_/

We’re back with another episode of Beyond the Blocks, where we bring you conversations with the people who help shape the sport of track and field. Today's guest is someone who has spent decades giving a voice to the sport we all love. He’s been an athlete, a coach, an educator, and one of the most recognizable public address announcers in track and field. From local youth meets to some of the biggest stages in the country, he’s had a front-row seat to countless unforgettable moments. We discuss his journey, the evolution of the sport, and some of the incredible athletes and memories he’s witnessed along the way.

In Episode 19 of Beyond the Blocks we’re joined by San Jose State University, Associate Head Coach Lamont Johnson.Coach Johnson took the junior college route from Long Beach City College to Iowa State, where he competed collegiately before going on to compete professionally, while building a coaching career that has taken him across multiple levels of college track and field. Along the way, he’s coached alongside some of the most respected minds in the sport, including Charles Ryan, Leo Settle, and Olympic gold medalist Harvey Glance just to name a few.In this episode we dive into sprint philosophy, athlete development, recruiting in the NIL and transfer portal era, the current state of track and field, and much more.Thank you for taking a listen and we hope you enjoy the episode.Coach Lamont Johnson on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/coach_lamont_johnson/ https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/track-and-field

In Episode 18 of Beyond the Blocks we’re joined by Coach LaKeidra Hayes from Lancaster High School in Texas. Coach Hayes leads one of the premier programs in the country. Her program recently captured the Texas 6A State Championship, and her athletes are also the national record holders in the girls 4x100-meter relay. Beyond the championships and records, she’s built a culture and a standard that people across the country are paying attention to. To get some insight on her championship mindset please take a listen and we hope you enjoy the episode.Coach Hayes on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/coachkhayestf/Lancaster HS Girls Track & Field on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/webogirlstrack/

In Episode 17 of Beyond the Blocks we’re joined by Coach Rob Jarvis from the University of Arkansas. Coach Jarvis has coached elite-level athletes in the long jump, triple jump, high jump, and combined events athletes at the highest levels of the sport. He has developed conference champions, All-Americans, and athletes competing on some of the biggest stages in track and field.But in this episode we’re not just talking about the results. We’re getting into the details that coaches love — movement patterns, rhythm, speed, elasticity, takeoff mechanics, and what actually separates elite jumpers from everyone else.If you’re a coach, athlete, parent, or somebody that loves learning the sport at a deeper level, this is one of those conversations you’re gonna want to lock in on. Thank you for for taking a listen and we hope you enjoy the episode.Coach Rob Jarvis on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/jarvoisier/University of Arkansas Track and Fieldhttps://www.instagram.com/razorbacktfxc/Email Coach [email protected]

In Episode 16 of Beyond the Blocks we are joined by guest Tom Feuer, who has spent decades around the sport of track and field, but from a perspective most people never get to experience. While athletes are in the blocks and coaches are on the sidelines, Tom Feuer has been behind the cameras, in the production rooms, in the broadcast booths, and around some of the biggest moments in the history of our sport.Tom has worked around Olympic Games, major championships, and some of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen. He’s seen legends before they became legends, witnessed historic moments unfold in real time, and helped tell the stories that millions of fans have watched over the years.In this episode we pull back the curtain to hear what the rest of us never got to see.