Sam Roberts has a strong history with short sprinters, especially at 60 meters. Jadon Short ran 6.86 and Matt Moore 6.83 in high school, Matt making the New Balance Indoor Nationals All-American list in 2014. And at TWC, Avery Hubbard was NAIA Indoor National Champion at the 60 this past winter. Coach Roberts has a unique ability to see the little things that make for a successful short sprinter: start and drive mechanics and timing among many little things that create success in such a short event.
In this short interview we discuss the ways in which training for the 60 prepares the athlete for the longer events of the outdoor season, including how to work on explosiveness and drive during the nasty winter months. Coach Roberts goes continually back to Brad DeWeese's admonition to keep sprinters on hills for as long as possible during the winter in order to imprint the best drive mechanics prior to bringing them to the flat track.
We also talk at length about his view of winter strength training. He explains how to use the back squat and trap bar deadlift to improve strength before working on power, as well as his reasons for having sprinters bench press--which comes straight from Loren Seagrave. Finally, he adds a few fun movements to the mix, as well, including the thruster, which surprises me. However, his explanation makes sense to me, and I'll find a way to use that with my sprint group next spring.
I know it's August and that we're focused on cross country, but for us track coaches it's never too early to consider what we're doing and are going to do with our sprinters, and this is a good one. Thanks for listening.
