Coaching in Track and Field

The relationship between coach and athlete is very unique. Many elite athletes spend more time with their coach on a daily basis than any other person, including close friends and family. Successful coach and athlete relationships create success in athletics. I have had many coaches throughout my life and each one has helped, in one way or another, get me to where I am today. It is as important to believe in your coach as it is for your coach to believe in you. I know this for fact as I have had the honor of participating in this positive and fruitful dynamic first hand. When I transfered to the University of Oregon from Washington State University, I finally found a coach who could provide that for me. I received what I consider to be my first positive and rewarding coaching in Track and Field from Lance Deal (far left in the photo) for three years while I competed for the Ducks at the University of Oregon. Coach Deal not only mentored his athletes on the track but off the track as well. I had many successes in my sport, as did other athletes, while training with Coach Deal. Post collegiately, I am now being trained by Lance Deal's coach, Stewart Togher (standing center in the photo) and am honored to have the opportunity to train with a coach that has had so much success in the sport of Hammer Throwing. Stewart Togher coached Lance Deal to a silver medal in the 1996 Olympics and helped coach Koji Mourofushi (far right in the photo) from Japan to win a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. I currently train with one of the top American male throwers in the nation and 2004 Olympian, James Parker. I am overwhelmed on a daily basis with the knowledge Stewart has to offer in the Hammer Throw. I currently am coaching at a local High School for the first time and have found the world of coaching to be very rewarding. I am very excited to see my athletes excel in Track and Field and in life just as the coaches in my life have done for me.

~Brittany Hinchcliffe