SunDragons ATC Learn By Doing

The SunDragons Athletic Track Club is a USATF member club. All athletes, ages 5-99+ are welcome. We compete in Outdoor Track and Field, Cross Country, Indoor Track, and road race events throughout the year for Youth, Open and Masters level athletes

Main Mission:

To provide a youth Cross Country /Track & Field program that teaches the love of the sport, excellence on and off the competitive field, that builds strong values and character.

Secondary Mission:

Provide lifelong benefits of training, participating and competing in sports thru community activities and national level competitions.

Scott Fister- SunDragons ATC Head Performance Coach, collegiate coach at 3 universities, USATF Level II certified in Throws, Jumps, Sprints/Hurdles/Relays, and Multi-events. A former collegiate and High School coach with 31 years of experience with athletes of all levels from youth thru worlds masters. He has coached athletes to High School State championships in 3 states, NCAA, Junior Olympics, Olympic Trails and Master National/ World meets. Recently, he coached the 2014 NMACT 6A Track and Field High Point award winner. Plus one of his former athletes just won the 2018 World Masters 40-44 Discus. In 2016 a current athlete won the World Master 20lbs weight toss title and was named 2016 National Master Athlete of the year for the Age Group 40-49.

Jeff Gallero- Jeff comes to our clinic with a ton of coaching and personal experience. Currently Head Coach for the Sierra Foothills Track club & Western Sierra Collegiate Academy in California, He holds Coaching certification from both USATFCC, as a Master Sprint and Combine event Coach, and from USATF as a USATF Level II certified coach of Throws, Jumps, sprints/Hurdles/Relays, Multi-events, Distance as well as a USATF lead instructor. He has coached collegiately as an Asst Coach at University of Nevada- Reno. With his Over 40+ years of experience, he has coached over 125+ National Junior Olympic qualifiers w/ 30+ medalists, 9 Michigan State High School champions in sprints, hurdles, relays, mile and two mile, 12 NJCAA All-Americans, 3 Olympic Trials qualifiers for the 1984 Los Angeles games, 2 years as coach for sprinter on Belize National Team along with 2008 World Senior Games Champion and World Record Holder in the Men’s 65-69 High Jump. He, Himself, is an accomplished athlete having competed for Eastern Michigan University in the Sprints. As a Master athlete he placed 3^rd in triple jump - National Masters Indoor Championship in 1995, then placed 4^th in the pentathlon - Western Regional Masters Outdoor Championship in 1996.

Steven Gallero- Coach Steven Gallero is in his 33rd year of coaching. Most of that time has been spent at the High School Level in Michigan where he is the current Head Coach at North Farmington. Over the years he has lead his teams to 3 Div. 2 MI State Team Championships, and numerous Multi-All American, State Champions, All-State, All-Regional, All-County, All-League, and All-Conference individual titles. He has been a member of USA Development Team, .

An accomplished athlete himself, his career spans from high school, through college and now as a master class athlete which is littered with honors at all levels. Though attending two high Schools (Pontiac Northern, Holly Senior) he was able to qualify for 4 State Cross-country meets, 4 Track finals, was multiple Regional Champion, Oakland County Champion, along with League Champion, and Conference Champion. As a collegiate athlete at Southwestern Michigan College, he continued to rack up the honors as he earned All Conference, All Regional honors while becoming a 4 time NJCAA All American and qualifying for the NJCAA National Championships. He even was an Olympic Trial qualifier in 1988.

James Dennis- Coach Dennis is a highly successful athlete who most recently won the World Masters' Discus Championship (M40-45). A graduate of University of Louisville and Bedford Hs in Cleveland Ohio, he has a long list of accomplishments: Personal best in Discus (2kilo 208’6) & Shot Put (16lbs. 56’6), 11-time US Nationals Track & Field Qualifier, 3-time Olympic trials qualifier, (2000, 2004, 2008), 2-time NCAA All-American, (1997, 1999) - , Conference USA Discus Champ, (1998) , 4-year UofL Letterman football & track (1995-1999), High School All-American (94') in the Discus Throw

Eddie & Lisa Pardon- SunDragons’ Asst coach: Youth Development coaches

Adreana Almanza- SunDragons’ Asst: USATF Level 1 Certified Sprint/Hurdles/Jumps/Relay

John Parr- SunDragons’ Asst coach: Sprint / Hurdle / Jumps /Relays

8:00am Registration

8:15 Introductions

8:30 General Warm up

8:45- Running Form and blocks

9:45- Shot Put

10:45- Long Jump

11:35-Noon – Lunch Break on own

Noon- Relays

1:00- Discus

2:00- High Jump

3:00- * Hurdles or Hammer

4:00- *Javelin or Triple Jump

*Other events not offer in middle school but are thru USATF Clubs like SunDragons

• Training shoes
• Small Lunch / Snacks
• Water bottle
• Notebook and pen
• Dress in training clothes and sweats
• Implements if you have any

Seasons are typically 12 weeks long leading up to the Association Championship, with up to 4 bonus weeks after the Association Championships thru Nationals

We provide year around opportunities to train and compete in various disciplines

Indoor Track and Field: is a new season for us, but a program we are also developing. (Training is December thru February) competitions normally in Albuquerque.

Outdoor Track & Field: our athletes participate in Olympic-type track & field events, which include sprints, hurdles, mid-distance, distance, relays, jumps, throws, and multi-events

Cross Country: Just like Track and Field, Athletes compete in age divisions.

• Distances for youth age groups are:
• Sub-bantam: 2000m
• Bantam,Midget: 3000m
• Youth: 4000m
• Intermediate and Young M/W: 5000m

Road races, Trail runs, ½ Marathon and Marathon training programs are available for interested members.

Parents / participants should expect a 90min practice on most days, some events and age groups might last longer as needed. Parents should make the necessary arrangements to have their athletes dropped off and picked up promptly. Parents are always welcome to stay.

The workout schedule is designed to put the athlete in a position to be successful in the meets. All athletes are encouraged to attend all practices per week to get the proper conditioning necessary to be competitive in the meets and to participate on the relay teams. Daily practice is never mandatory, but highly recommended

Restroom facilities and water are not always available for the athletes at practice. All athletes should be properly dressed and be prepared for any changes in the weather. Water and sunscreen is a must for all practices and meets. All athletes should wear good running shoes. Track spike shoes are an optional item and depend on the events and competitiveness of the athlete. The cost of these shoes can vary from around $35 to $100 depending on the brand of shoe and the store.

Summer Practices: will be held Las Cruces High School, Practice start on 1st Monday Following LCPS Spring Break and start at 6:00pm every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with some Fridays thru end of in July.

*High school athletes will be able start practice once their HS season is finished.

Cross Country Practices start 1st Monday of LCPS Fall semester , 6:00pm at the Las Cruces Damn (north side). Practices are held every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with some Fridays. Start times will become earlier as season progresses due to sunset times

*High school athletes will be able start practice once their HS season is finished. HS athletes will be able to skip association meet and pass to regional with proper paper work.

Indoor Practices will be held outdoors at local high school if all possible .Yep we train outdoors for indoor meet. Practice starts on Monday after thanksgiving and are at 4:00pm every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday with some Fridays and/ or Saturday (to adjust for daylight) thru end of UNM indoor season near or around 2nd weekend of February.

Road races, Trail runs, ½ Marathon and Marathon Practices: for those interested in training for these activities, please contact Coach Fister directly to schedule a free consultation to determine your training needs.

High School Off Season development: We do offer off season / preseason conditioning and event skill development for High schoolers. Please contact for more info

Youth Athletes athlete’s ages 5 to 18 compete in age divisions generally divided in two-year age brackets for the youth: sub-bantam, bantam, midget, youth, intermediate and young men/ women.

The age groups for competition are divided by gender and are as follows:

Open Athletes compete in events with no adjustment made for age. Generally post high school and up thru masters. Though girls as young as 14 and boys 16 years of age may compete in this division.

Masters Athletes 30+, compete in age division generally divided in 5-year age brackets (40-44, 45-49, ect). Adjustments are made for age

SunDragon ATC feels that track & field, cross-country, running, walking and exercise in general should be a life style for the whole family. Parents are encouraged to join the club (family discounts are available). We feel that your presence at practice will serve to encourage your athletes to train hard and keep them at their best behavior. However, we do request that the parents let the coaches coach and train the athletes, both at practice and the meets.

The success of SunDragons' ATC depends greatly on the shoulders of volunteers either as a coach or meet personnel.

All of our coaches are volunteers who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some proudly serve, or have served in our military while others are teachers, business leaders, law enforcement, or public servants. No matter the background, they volunteer because of the love of the sport and the joy found in the success of our young athletes.

If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know so we can get paper work started asap.

*In accordance with USATF rules for member clubs, our coaches receive background checks for the protection of the athletes and the program*

**All board members and coaches must be USATF members, clear the background check, and complete the SafeSport certification as well as the SD Coaching code of Conduct form before working with any youth athlete. Attaining a USATF LEVEL 1 Coaching Certificate is highly encouraged asap.