Neely Spence Joins Hansons-Brooks
By David Monti
April 20, 2012
(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
(20-Apr) -- For the first time in her life, Neely Spence will be changing coaches.
The 22 year-old NCAA D-II star for Shippensburg University will leave
the care of her father Steve, the 1991 IAAF World Championships Marathon
bronze medalist and Shippensburg coach, and move to Michigan to be
coached by Keith and Kevin Hanson of the Hansons-Brooks Original
Distance Project in Rochester Hills.
The move, announced yesterday, is a big step for Spence, who only
recently signed a professional management contract with Flynn Sports
Management of Grey, Tenn. (Ray Flynn negotiated the deal with
Hansons-Brooks for Spence). The 15:27.72 5000m runner, who won eight
NCAA D-II individual titles, will be training amongst mostly marathon
runners, including Desi Davila, Melissa White and Dot McMahan. By any
measure, she is the most accomplished runner ever to enter the Hansons
program whose founders operate a chain of running stores which bear
their name.
"I have spent the last few months visiting training groups and talking
to both coaches and athletes, looking for the right professional
environment that can help take my performances to the next level," said
Spence through a statement. "The dynamic of the team and coaches, the
incredible amount of support, the common goal of a long and successful
career, and enthusiasm for bringing me on board are all reasons why I am
so excited about joining the Hansons-Brooks ODP."
Race Results Weekly had learned this news several days ago in Boston,
but respected the news embargo until yesterday's official announcement.
Coaches of other training groups told us privately in Boston that they
were surprised by Spence's decision since the Hansons program lacks a
track pedigree, but uniformly praised the dedication and discipline the
Hansons brought to their jobs, pointing out that they had placed coached
both Brian Sell and Davila to Olympic team berths in 2004 and 2008.
Clearly, the Hansons are pleased to have Spence in their group.
"We are extremely excited to bring an athlete the caliber of Neely
Spence into the Hansons-Brooks family," said Kevin Hanson through a news
release. "We feel that she has the ability to race with the best
females in the U.S. and will make an excellent teammate and training
partner for our other female athletes."
Spence, who has already changed her Facebook page to include the
Hansons-Brooks logo, has been spending considerable time planning her
upcoming wedding. She is got engaged to Dillon Gracey on Christmas in
2011.
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