The Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex is pleased to announce that we will be hosting four, free track & field clinics through the month of November for youth and High School athletes (ages 12-18) living in the greater metropolitan area. The track & field clinics have been set for November 8th, 15th, 20th and 29th at 5:30 p.m. The clinics will give the student-athletes knowledge of in all aspects of their event areas such as proper warm-up and cool down and event specific training techniques from college and professional coaches. The preseason clinics are designed to specifically allow the student-athletes to start their seasons focusing on technique that will create a solid foundation as they progress into championship season.
Registration and Cost
There is no cost associated with participation in the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Clinics.
Registration requires membership to the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex Membership for participants under 18 years of age is Free of Charge.
Please note however that there is a minimum age of 12 in order to participate in these clinics.
Description
Daily Schedule of Events
3:30 pm - Dynamic Warm Up / Drills
4:00 pm - Event Specific Clinic
5:00 pm - Cool Down / Stretch
5:30 pm - Departure
November 8th - Long Jump: Getting Most of your jump, Shot Put Drills and Plyometric Training
November 15th - Weight Training for Distance Runners, Shot Put: Mastering the Spin and Hurdle Technique
November 20th - Learning the Steeple, Sprint Starts & Drills, New to Distance, Running and the 400 Meter
November 29th - Weight Throw Fundamentals, Hurdles: Putting it all together and Triple Jump: Each Phase Counts and Relay Team 101
Coaching Staff
The coaching staff at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex brings a wealth of experience, on and off the track, in multiple disciplines. Our coaching staff has competed and coached at the highest levels of competition including the US Olympic Trials,NCAA Track & Cross Country Championships and NY State Championships. At Ocean Breeze our coaching staff will be able to provide the athletes with the most enhanced experience and education. We will start with the basic fundamentals of track and field and gradually work up to technically advanced skills and training techniques. Our goal is that you learn to love the sport of track and field and continue to participate in competition.
Norm Tate – Head Men's Coach for Team USA Pan American Junior & Rowan University
Tate was selected to be the Head Men's Coach for Team USA at the 2017 Pan American Junior Track & Field Championships in Lima, Peru. He was on the staff for the 2015 Pan American Games, 2014 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Junior Track and Field Championships, 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships and 2010 Five Nations Match. Tate's international experience extends to his time as an athlete. He was a member of the 1968 United States Olympic Team in the triple jump. Tate captured the United States National Championship in the long jump in 1966, 1969 and 1970. He was the U.S. Champion in the triple jump in 1969, 1970 and 1971. Tate oversees Rowan University sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers and named the Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. (Nov 15th & 29th )
Dan Mecca – Head Coach at Manhattan College
Now in his 24th season as head coach of the track & field program (31st season overall) at Manhattan College, Dan Mecca is the longest tenured head coach at Manhattan and only the sixth head coach in the track & field program's 100-year history. Over the course of his illustrious career, Mecca has continued Manhattan's tradition of excellence. During his career, Mecca has led the Jaspers to 61 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships, 39 Metropolitan Championships and two IC4A Championships. (Nov 8th & 15th)
Joseph Stassi – Head Coach at Wagner College
Joe Stasi embarks on his 22nd year as head coach of the Wagner cross country and track & field programs. During Stasi's illustrious tenure on Grymes Hill, he has guided the program to a total of 45 indoor records and 43 outdoor records while overseeing a two-time NCAA qualifier (Josh Russell, Shot Put [twice])), seven NCAA regional qualifiers. Additionally, he has mentored a track academic All-American (Zachary Spector). (Nov 8th 15th 29th)
Aliann Pompey – Sprints & Hurdles Coach at St. John's University
Four-time Olympian and former NCAA 400-meter champion has helped guide the Red Storm sprinters to new heights since her arrival to Queens. In 2016, Pompey helped coach Claire Mooney to a 15th-place finish at the NCAA National Championships in the 500-meter, earning USTFCCCA Second-Team All-American status along the way. Pompey has also guided the Johnnies to dominating performances at the BIG EAST Indoor and Outdoor Championships. St. John's won 11 individual and relay BIG EAST titles in sprints and hurdles over the last two seasons including four-straight 400-meter dash titles by Pariis Garcia. (Nov. 29th )
John McCree – Throws Coach at St. Johns University
Since his arrival in Queens, McCree has helped elevate the Red Storm throwing program to new heights. This past season, during the 2015-16 campaign, the Red Storm throwers completed a podium-sweep in the 2016 BIG EAST Indoor Championships and claimed the top-two spots at the 2016 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships. McCree, a Newark, N.J., native, brings more than 38 years of coaching experience from both the collegiate and high school levels, including stints at Manhattan College, Queens College, New York Institute of Technology, St. Francis Prep and St. Anthony's High School. He holds the rare coaching distinction of having worked with throwers that achieved All-America status in NCAA Division I, II and III as well as in high school, all in the hammer throw. (Nov. 29th )
Ryan Budd – Combined Events & Hurdles at Wagner College
Ryan joins the 2017-18 Track & Field staff at Wagner College after serving as a graduate assistant coach for Central Arkansas University. He spent the last two years coaching combined events and pole vault. Prior to his tenure at Central Arkansas, Budd spent one year as the hurdles coach at Pomperaug High School in Connecticut where he performed a host of administrative duties, including the implementation of coaching strategies and creating practice schedules. No stranger to the Northeast Conference (NEC), Budd is a 2015 graduate of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) where he earned a B.S. degree in physical education. As a four-year member of the Blue Devils' track & field team, Budd competed in the 500m and 400m hurdles, and helped set the school record in the 4x400m, in addition to contributing to three NEC team championships.
Eric Banks – Professional Sprints Coach from Long Island, NY
Eric has worked primarily with SUNY Cortland's sprinters, hurdlers and relay teams from 2013-2016. Banks earned All-America honors twice at Cortland as a member of the 4 x 400 relay teams at the 2010 NCAA Div. III Outdoor Championships and 2012 NCAA Div. III Indoor Championships. He also was a member of two winning 4 x 400 relays at the ECAC Div. III Championships and four victorious 4 x 400 relays at the SUNYAC Championships. Banks was a 2-time SUNYAC champion in the indoor 400-meter dash at the championship meet, and he is a member of the school-record setting indoor and outdoor 4 x 400 relay teams. Banks is also a USA Track and Field (USATF) Level I certified coach. (Nov 20th )
Kristen Hayes – Assistant Coach at Wagner College
Kristen Hayes is in her second year with the Seahawks' track and field program after a successful academic and athletic career at Bryant University. In her first season as assistant coach, Hayes was vital in helping the coaching staff earn the 2017 Northeast Conference (NEC) Indoor Track & Field Coaching Staff of the Year award. A total of six different men's school record were shattered during the indoor season while having a total of six NEC Rookie of the Week awards being handed out during the indoor campaign. Before arriving at Wagner, Hayes was a standout for fellow NEC-member, Bryant University. There, Hayes was a seven-time ECAC qualifier, a 14-time NEICAAA qualifier, two-time NEC champion in the 400m hurdles and holds school records in nine different events. Hayes also served as a team captain for two years.
Cody Amengual – Professional Distance Runner/Steeplechase from Long Island, NY
BIG10 All-Conference 3,000-meter steeplechase, SUNYAC champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, SUNY Cortland school record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:57), SUNYAC record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, All-American (sixth-place in 3,000-meter steeplechase, 2013), Fifth-place at the Penn Relays Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (2013), Fifth-place at Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships, 2013 (Team Title), NCAA DIII Championships: cross country 2011-13, outdoor track & field 2012-13 (Nov. 20th)
Melique Garcia – Professional Sprinter representing Honduras
Melique is a 10-Time All-American at SUNY Cortland who currently represents Honduras heading into the 2017-18 Indoor World Championship. Melique earned All-America honors for the indoor 2014-15 season in the 200 meters (21.86) and 60 meters (6.88). All-America honors for the outdoor 2015 season in the 100 meters (10.32) and 200 meters (21.70). All-America honors for the indoor 2013-14 season in the 200 meters (21.71) and 60 meters (6.85). All-America honors for the outdoor 2014 season in the 100 meters (10.73) and 200 meters (21.70). All-America honors for the outdoor 2013 season in the 100 meters (10.78) and 200 meters (21.81). (Nov 20th)
Lauren Primerano – Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex Park Administrator
Lauren is certified as a Level I USATF Coach and is a member of the USATF and the United States Women's Track Coaches Association. As an athlete Lauren was a four time All-East performer, competed in a myriad of events, including throws, jumps, and sprints, scoring conference points in every area of track and field. She was honored as the MAAC Conference MVP in both Indoor and Outdoors in 2002. As an athlete, she has helped Manhattan win eight MAAC Championships titles in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. She was also named the team MVP in 2002 and 2003. Her senior year Primerano was named captain and lead the team to their seventh consecutive MAAC Championship title. She has qualified for and competed at the 2002 and 2003 USA Track & Field Championships as well as the 2004 USA Olympic Trials. Currently she holds the Manhattan College school record in Javelin and sits third all time in the Hammer.
Pat Fannon – Track & Field Coordinator at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex
While at Kentucky and UMass, assisted with coaching the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Runner Up Women's Team, 2014 NCAA Outdoor Bronze medalist in the 800m, five NCAA All-Americans in the 800, 1500 & Mile, sixteen individual school record holders, seven relay school-records, fourteen All-SEC runners, ten first-team America-East athletes, two sub-four minute milers, and two Penn Relays 5000 meter champions.
JaRon McBride – Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex WaveRunner Coach
A former high school student-athlete standout, JaRon competed out of East New Transit Tech High School in Brooklyn. In his time at Transit Tech he specialized in mid distance events ranging from the 400m to the 1600m. After succeeding in high school JaRon then went on to compete on the collegiate level competing for NEC powerhouse Long Island University. It was during those four years where his passion for track and field flourished. Since 2002, JaRon has participated in over 100 Track & Field events each year having various roles from volunteering, officiating and also coordinating and managing meets. JaRon is a certified High School Track & Field Official through the National Federation of High School Track & Field (NFHS). He also holds his Track & Field Official certification through the United States of America Track & Field Association (USATF).
Stephen McLean – Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex WaveRunner Coach
Prior to joining the NYC Parks, Stephen attended East New Transit Tech High School In Brooklyn where he excelled in track and field and won two national titles at the National Scholastic Indoor championship a part of the 4x200 and 4x400 relay team as junior. He continued to climb the ranks and as senior he went on to capture the New York City Indoor championships in the 55 hurdles. Outdoor season was no different as he continued to become one of the best in the state finishing in first at the New York City outdoor championships in the 400 hurdles and the 110 hurdles. He went on to win the New York State championship in the 400 hurdles and placed seventh at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in the 400 hurdles. Stephen received the PSAL Heisman Award for track and field accomplishments. After high school he went on to compete for Kent State University from 2010-2012.
Vincent Gangemi – Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex WaveRunner Coach
In his first year at the high school he brought his team to its first ever Cross Country title and in doing so was named conference Coach of the year. A lifelong Staten Island resident, Vinny went to high school at St. Peters Boys H.S. There he was a nationally ranked runner in the middle distance events. He competed in the Millrose Games 4x800 three times, Penn Relays Championship of America 4x800 in 2006 and was one of the top runners in the city in 800m run. Was a Staten Island Advance All-Star in 2007 and was an All-City runner in Cross Country in 2006. He continued his success as a collegiate runner at Long Island University in Downtown Brooklyn. At LIU, was a first team All Northeast Conference in back-to-back years (2010, 2011) in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays. During his collegiate career he was also on the conference Academic Honor Roll six times. Vinny also helped his 4x800 relays to both indoor and outdoor school records during his tenure.
Vincent Stasi – Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex WaveRunner Coach
Vincent earned his personal training certification from the American Council on Exercise, and his CPR/AED certification from the American Heart Association. Currently, he is studying physical education/global wellness at Kean University. He was two-time NJCAA Division 3 Cross Country National Champion (2005, 2006), and NJCAA Region 3 Outdoor Track and Field Champion in the 10,000 meter run (2007). He was selected First Team All-Region Outdoor Track and Field.
Jerrell Wisdom – Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex WaveRunner Coach
Jerrell is USA Track and field Certified Official as well as USA Track and Field Certified Level 1 coach, has been a volunteer coach at Long Island University (Brooklyn, NY) since 2011 under the tutelage of Head Coach Simon Hodnett. While at LIU I have gained the knowledge of the NCAA rulebook and student athlete code of conduct as well and recruiting procedures, guidelines and other academic support services. Jerrell has gained some accolades as well as former High School All American as well as a NCAA DII National Qualifier.
