Olympic training centers

If you have to ask, you don't meet the standards. Buh-bye!

Stupid, stupid reply. remember in 1995 when buh-bye was old and getting older?

I would wager that most elite guys don't know what the Oly training center standards are. It has been very much under-utilized.

There are different standards, I believe, for different packages. To live there for 90 days you need the Olympic "B" Standard and a national ranking(top 10 maybe). During this past year, that is how fellas like Matt Downin lived out there in San Diego.

To live there for one year, I think you need the Olympic "A" standard. I know of the guys in SD, the only one that was eligible to stay for a full year was Meb.

I have heard, though, that they will work with you if you're border line. For example, letting someone stay 6 months if they are doing well. I think if you qualify for the 3 month deal you can go back more than once.

Underutilized is right on! A friend stayed there for 6 months about 2 years ago and she said it was virtually empty the majority of the time even though the benefits were great.

I'm pretty sure that top 10 will also get you free food at the center. I'm not sure how long the benefits last.

Top-10 was the old criteria; its being tightened up to meet the A & B standards that Mac mentions...not positive myself about the exact length of stay as relates to A & B standards...last I heard, this was still being debated...

i visited the colorado springs center and they said that if you were either in the top 10% of your event at nationals or you "have potential" and get a recommendation from a certified coach that they would consider you.

Would a 2:19 debut be considered potential and an opportunity to train at the OTC.

I see why you are obscure. 2:19 is slow even for a junior high beginning 800 meter runner. This might crack the top ten NAIA, but I believe the standards represent top 10% nationally. Just kidding of course. Truthfully, I think a 2:19 debut would certainly meet the standard of 'showing promise' if you can get a coach to pursue the matter and give you a good recommendation. Good luck!

You are correct on that statement! They went even further to say that I needed to be ranked 1-2 nationally in my event! Which at the time the top two in my event at that time were Johnny Gray and Mark Everett! Not to Mention 2,3,4,5.....were Rich Kenah(1:43.7),Jose Parilla(1:43.9), Brandon Rock(1:44.2)....So you have to BRING IT! just to be considered.

Where can I find this kind of information?

i.e. Olympic A and B standards, US performance list for the marathon and other events, etc.

Also, what does 'top 10% in your event' mean? Do you have to have one the best marks in your event or do you have to place high at the 'national championship' version of your event? The two are loosley correlated. And what qualifies as a national championship? The usatf website has a national championship race every weekend it seems for some distance on the roads.

thanks to everyone who has responded with helpful info.

Hopeful, I believe that 10% could mean either time or place. My friend to which I was referring had the #1 10K time a few years ago, but had an average nationals race and finished only 9th. She had access to the training center for the next 24 months, and as I stated before, it was virtually empty for the majority of her stay. Athletes would come through for a week or two during transition moves to other training sites, but few would access the facilities longer than that. Good luck and get your coach on the horn to those in power.

Try the "Elite Athletes" page of the USATF.org site. I don't see the Oly Standards posted, but the World Champs standards are and they give you an idea where the Oly standards will be.

USA performance lists can be found at either USATF.org or trackandfieldnews.com

Generally, "top ten at a national championship" (which as I mentioned earlier is being replaced by the A&B standards as criteria for admittance to the OTC) refers to track events and the USA outdoor championships. The road championships and xc champs don't figure much into the equation.

Mike

What about job opportunities at a center, or internships? Is there a website with info relating to this? Anyone?

:) jag

(p.s.-- my dream is to work at one of these centers some day)

I'm dying to know the answer to that question too. What better coaching set up is there?

jaguar wrote:

What about job opportunities at a center, or internships? Is there a website with info relating to this? Anyone?

:) jag

(p.s.-- my dream is to work at one of these centers some day)

You might want to check out the USOC's website at: usoc.org

althought there isn't much specific info about the training centers on there. There is a jobs section on the website.

The contact info for the OTC near San Diego is:

ARCO Training Center

2800 Olympic Parkway

Chula Vista, CA 91915

Tel: 619-656-1500

This is where the track & field athletes are. Randy Huntington (LJ world record holder's former coach) is the current coach in residence (there has to be a coach "in residence" for a particular sport in order for athletes from that sport to live and train there); USATF is supposed to be bolstering the track & field coaching staff there and has plans to add 2-3 coaches there over the next months.

The Team USA California distance running program (coached by Joe Vigil and Bob Larson) has gotten lots of press recently for splitting time between the training center and Mammoth Lake.

The training center is pretty cool; I got an tour last month from one of the coaching staff. Just stay on the sidewalks of you don't like to encounter sunbathing rattle snakes...

miscott wrote:

You might want to check out the USOC's website at: usoc.org

althought there isn't much specific info about the training centers on there. There is a jobs section on the website.

.

Thank you so much! I'm a step closer.

:) jag