Home Podcasts The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast
The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast

Gill Athletics 928 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast, hosted by Mike Cunningham, explores the world of track and field coaching through inspiring stories and real conversations with leaders at every level. New coach interviews are released every Monday, while the Gill1918 Project episodes offer short, powerful lessons from top coaches Tuesday through Sunday. The podcast is powered by Gill Athletics, a company supporting coaches since 1918.

Episodes

#243: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Common Pole Vault Pit Storage Mistakes"
#243: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Common Pole Vault Pit Storage Mistakes" Oct 14, 2026 00:13:26 Most pole vault pit storage damage does not happen during practice or competition.It happens when the season ends.In this episode of the Gill1918 Project Podcast, Mike Cunningham walks through the common off-season storage mistakes that can shorten the life of a landing system—and the practical habits that can help avoid them.You’ll learn why coaches should pay attention to:Moisture trapped before
#242: Gill1918 Presents Tizzo, Khamani, & Zoey Johnson: “Life as a Thrower from the Athlete's Perspective” Powered by Coach O
#242: Gill1918 Presents Tizzo, Khamani, & Zoey Johnson: “Life as a Thrower from the Athlete's Perspective” Powered by Coach O Oct 13, 2026 00:19:52 Coach Tizzo Johnson led a discussion with his own kids, Khamani, a collegiate thrower for NC Central where he is the MEAC silver medalist in the Hammer, and Zoey, a youth thrower who was the 13-year-old Discus Champion at Club Nationals. In this episode, the young throwers talk about their experiences, motivations, and advice for other throwers, offering many useful insights for coaches. Tizzo is
#384: Chris Sullivan-Florida International University | From Football Player to Track/Field Coach
#384: Chris Sullivan-Florida International University | From Football Player to Track/Field Coach Oct 12, 2026 01:44:01 Chris Sullivan never planned to become a track coach.Growing up in Cocoa Beach, Florida, he was a football player first, a basketball player second, and a high jumper who mostly showed up for meets. He didn't even realize track and field was a college sport until he arrived at Florida International University.Fast forward a few years and Chris went from football walk-on to Division I decathlet
#241: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "How to Store a PV Pit During the Off-Season"
#241: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "How to Store a PV Pit During the Off-Season" Oct 8, 2026 00:11:32 What happens to your pole vault pit when the season ends?In this Gill1918 Project episode, Mike Cunningham shares the practical steps coaches can take to protect a landing system during the off-season—and avoid expensive surprises when athletes return.You’ll learn how to:Inspect and repair the pit before storageClean and dry it properlyReduce moisture, UV, and rodent riskStore and stack sections w
#240: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "PV Pit Garage vs Weather Cover; Which is Better?"
#240: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "PV Pit Garage vs Weather Cover; Which is Better?" Oct 7, 2026 00:11:36 Should your program invest in a weather cover, a pit garage, or both?In this Gill1918 Project episode, Mike Cunningham breaks down the practical difference between the two—and why, for most outdoor facilities, a weather cover should be the first priority.You’ll learn:What a weather cover protects againstWhat a pit garage adds beyond a coverWhen a pit garage makes financial senseWhy neither option
#239: Gill1918 Presents Keinan Briggs “Stop Moving the Mark!” Powered by Coach O
#239: Gill1918 Presents Keinan Briggs “Stop Moving the Mark!” Powered by Coach O Oct 6, 2026 00:24:57 If you're coaching long or triple jumpers who struggle with inconsistent approaches, missed boards, or fouling their biggest jumps, Coach Keinan Briggs' 1-Day Approach System breaks down the approach principles he uses to help jumpers develop a more consistent, repeatable runway. In this episode, Keinan shares a portion of his system to help coaches avoid a common coaching error. To get th
#383: Shahira Ehiemua-Ft Bend (TX) Marshall HS | From Marshall Athlete to 4-Time State Champion Coach
#383: Shahira Ehiemua-Ft Bend (TX) Marshall HS | From Marshall Athlete to 4-Time State Champion Coach Oct 5, 2026 01:39:13 Fort Bend Marshall girls head coach Shahira Ehiemua joins the Gill Connections Podcast to share her remarkable journey from running for Track Houston as a fourth grader to leading her alma mater to four UIL State Championships (so far!).Mike first met Shahira while hosting the Texas High School Coaches Association Clinic, where her presentation on culture became one of the most talked-about sessio
#238: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Do You Need a Weather Cover for Your Pole Vault Pit?"
#238: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "Do You Need a Weather Cover for Your Pole Vault Pit?" Oct 2, 2026 00:12:03 Do you really need a weather cover for your pole vault pit?If the pit lives outdoors, the better question may be: what are you willing to let happen to that investment without one?In this episode, Mike Cunningham explains why weather covers should be viewed as part of a pole vault pit’s maintenance plan—not simply as an optional accessory.🌧️ How rain and standing water can create larger problems o
BONUS: Track Tribe with host Marc Jones-Building Distance Runners with Coach Shawn Siemers
BONUS: Track Tribe with host Marc Jones-Building Distance Runners with Coach Shawn Siemers Oct 1, 2026 01:07:37 How do you build a championship distance program starting from scratch?In this live session of The Track Tribe, we’re joined by Coach Shawn Siemers (2024–2025 High School Girls Sport Coach of the Year) to break down the exact process of developing elite endurance athletes from the ground up.Whether you’re taking over a fresh program, trying to get kids off the couch and onto the track, or looking
#237: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "7 Pole Vault Inspection Mistakes That Increase Liability"
#237: Gill1918 Presents Mike Cunningham "7 Pole Vault Inspection Mistakes That Increase Liability" Sep 30, 2026 00:12:54 Most pole vault safety problems do not begin with one dramatic failure.They begin with a small tear that gets ignored. A vault box collar that is never inspected. A concern that is noticed but never documented—or corrected.In this episode, Mike Cunningham breaks down seven inspection mistakes that can create unnecessary risk for coaches, schools, and athletes.🏃 Why a casual “it looks okay” is not
#236: Gill1918 Presents Jeremy Fischer “Long Jump Approach Considerations” Powered by Coach O
#236: Gill1918 Presents Jeremy Fischer “Long Jump Approach Considerations” Powered by Coach O Sep 29, 2026 00:14:33 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 1 of 4 in his series across the remainder of 2026 on coaching the horizontal jumps. Part 1 focuses on an overview of developing an effective LJ approach. Jeremy is the founder of Maximum Velocity Athletics and will host the live
#382: Brett Halvaks-Cal Lutheran University | From Walk-On to Head Coach
#382: Brett Halvaks-Cal Lutheran University | From Walk-On to Head Coach Sep 28, 2026 01:52:12 🎙️ On this episode of the Gill Connections Podcast, Mike Cunningham sits down with Brett Halvaks, Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Cal Lutheran University.🏃 Brett's story isn't the typical track and field success story. He didn't grow up in youth running programs. He started cross country as a freshman in high school after getting cut from basketball. He even took a ye

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