Beyond the Blocks: Track and Field Podcast

We are joined by Ken Harnden, Assistant Head Coach, Men's Sprints and Hurdles at Auburn University. At the 2026 NCAA D1 Indoor National Track and Field Championships Auburn's Ja'Kobe Tharp broke the indoor 60m hurdles collegiate record with his winning time of 7.32, and his teammate, Kanyinsola Ajayi, tied the 60m dash collegiate record with a time of 6.45 seconds. Auburn has also won the last two NCAA titles in the 4x100m relay. Coach Ken Harnden discusses his training philosophy and drops plenty of gems to help you get your athletes faster! We talk training, recruiting, and raising up young men and women to prepare them for life after track and field.

In Episode 8 of Beyond the Blocks Podcast we have a conversation with Westminster University track and field coach Emma Rudolph. Coach Rudolph details her journey from collegiate pole vaulter and Division III National Champion, to high jump and horizontal jumps coach for her alma mater!

Welcome back to Beyond the Blocks with Coach Lonnie Davis, Coach Will Humphries, and Anthony Lewis! In this Episode 7, we're excited to feature Travis Geopfert, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Kansas State University. In this episode Coach Geopfert gives his thoughts on what it takes to build a championship culture. We discuss the differences between working with college athletes, world-class professional athletes, and what the collegiates can learn from the pros!We discuss Kansas State's great success at the recent NCAA Division 1 Indoor National Championships and how they are looking to build on that success. We converse on the college roster limits, the transfer portal, and they affects they have on high school track and field athletes. Coach Geopfert tells us how he knew long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall was going to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.This is great episode!🎧 Tap in and learn what’s really happening beyond the blocks.Drop a comment:👉 What’s one thing you wish you knew earlier in your track journey?Track and field training, sprint training, athlete development, youth track and field, track and field podcast, coaching philosophy, speed training, high school track, college track recruiting, sports parenting, sprint mechanics, track coaching tips#TrackAndField #SprintTraining #AthleteDevelopment #BeyondTheBlocks #Coaching #YouthSports

Most people see the results…but they don’t know the story behind it. In Episode 6 of Beyond the Blocks, we finally take you behind the curtain. This isn’t just another track & field conversation — this is the real foundation of who we are, what we believe, and why we do this. From coaching our own kids to developing athletes at a high level, we’ve lived every side of this sport — the wins, the mistakes, and the lessons nobody talks about. In this episode, we break down: The truth about our coaching journeys, the biggest mistakes athletes, parents, and coaches keep making, what actually matters for long-term development, the mindset required to reach the next level, and why honesty and real experience are missing in today’s track world. This episode is about clarity, purpose, and real game — no shortcuts.If you’re :✔️ An athlete trying to level up✔️ A parent navigating the process✔️ A coach looking for real insightThis is one you need to hear.🎧 Tap in and learn what’s really happening beyond the blocks. Drop a comment: 👉 What’s one thing you wish you knew earlier in your track journey? Track and field training, sprint training, athlete development, youth track and field, track and field podcast, coaching philosophy, speed training, high school track, college track recruiting, sports parenting, sprint mechanics, track coaching tips#TrackAndField #SprintTraining #AthleteDevelopment #BeyondTheBlocks #Coaching #YouthSports

In Episode 5 of the Beyond The Blocks Podcast, we sit down with James Daniels, Head of Sprints & Hurdles – High Performance for the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) and the NIKE ELITE program. James shares valuable insights into the development of elite sprinters and hurdlers and pulls back the curtain on how high-level athletes are built over time. In this episode we discuss:• How elite athletes structure training cycles throughout the year.• Common mistakes coaches, parents, and athletes make in the development process.• Why some youth prep phenoms struggle to keep improving in college.• What separates athletes who continue progressing from those who plateau.• The selection process and philosophy behind the Nike Elite program.Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or parent, this conversation provides practical insight into long-term athlete development and what it truly takes to succeed at the highest levels of track & field.🎙 Episode 5 – James DanielsHead of Sprints & Hurdles – High Performance👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with elite coaches, athletes, and leaders in track & field.#trackandfield #sprint #hurdles #athletics #athleticdevelopment #speed #trackcoach #beyondtheblockspodcast

On episode 4 of Beyond the Blocks we’re breaking down one of the most important pathways in youth track & field:How do athletes get selected for the NSAF Nike Elite Program — and what does it take to become an elite jumper? We cover:⚡ The full NSAF Nike Elite selection process📝 What coaches look for in top jumpers📈 How athletes can stand out nationally🏆 The mindset and habits of true elite performersWe’re joined by Macka Jones, NSAF Jumps Program Manager, who gives athletes and parents a rare inside look at what it really takes to reach the next level. If you’re a jumper — or coach jumpers — this is a must‑listen.👇 Drop a comment: What’s the most important skill for elite jumpers — speed, technique, or power?Follow @BeyondTheBlocksPodcast on Instagram and YouTube for:• NCAA Track & Field• High School Track & Field• Speed development• Recruiting insights#TrackAndField #TrackLife #SpeedTraining #HighSchoolTrack #nin #nike #nikeindoornationals #nikeelite #BeyondTheBlocksPodcast

🚨 Texas vs California: Who Has the Faster High School Track Athletes? 🚨In Episode 3 of the Beyond the Blocks Podcast, we dive into one of the biggest debates in high school track & field: Texas vs California. Which state produces the fastest sprinters, strongest relay teams, and deepest distance talent? And which state truly dominates when the best athletes line up head-to-head? This week we break down the matchup as top California programs travel to Texas to compete at the Bluebonnet Invitational, including standout athletes from Servite High School and Rosary Academy taking on elite Texas programs like Duncanville, Shadow Creek, and more. We discuss:🔥 Sprint talent in Texas vs California🔥 Distance running depth in both states🔥 Which state develops the best overall athletes🔥 Key athletes and teams to watch at the Bluebonnet InvitationalIf you love high school track and field, sprinting, recruiting, and national track rankings, this episode is for you.👇 Let us know in the comments who wins the track battle: TEXAS or CALIFORNIA?🎧 Subscribe for weekly track & field content covering:• NCAA Track & Field• High School Track & Field• Recruiting and athlete development• Sprint training and speed development

In Episode 2 of Beyond the Blocks, we preview the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track & Field Power 4 Conference Championships and break down our predictions for the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, and ACC.Championship season is here, and the team battles are about to take center stage.In this episode, we discuss:🔥 Why we believe Illinois women win the Big Ten🔥 Why Georgia women take the SEC title🔥 Texas Tech sweeping the Big 12 (men & women)🔥 Clemson winning both men’s and women’s titles in the ACCWe analyze scoring depth, sprint dominance, distance firepower, field event impact, and how team strategy plays out in championship settings. If you follow NCAA track and field, college track predictions, or conference championship previews — this episode is for you.We cover:• NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field• Big Ten Indoor Championships• SEC Indoor Championships• Big 12 Indoor Championships• ACC Indoor Championships• Team scoring projections• Sprint, distance & field event matchups• Championship strategySubscribe for weekly NCAA track and field analysis, speed development insights, and recruiting conversations.Drop your predictions in the comments — who wins each conference?#NCAATrackAndField #IndoorTrack #BigTenTrack #SECTrack #Big12Track #ACCTrack #CollegeTrack #TrackAndField #NCAAPreview #BeyondTheBlocks

Episode 1 | Should Football Players Run Track? The Truth About Speed Development, 7-on-7 & RecruitingWelcome to the very first episode of Beyond the Blocks — the Track & Field Podcast where we break down speed training, athlete development, recruiting, and what really makes athletes faster. In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest debates in high school sports: Should football players run track in the spring… or focus on 7-on-7 tournaments and weight room training? Across the country, many football coaches and athletic directors are encouraging athletes to skip track & field for spring football, 7-on-7 exposure camps, and year-round lifting programs. But is that actually the best way to improve speed, explosiveness, acceleration, and overall athletic performance? We break down: Why track and field is one of the best ways to develop real speed and top-end velocityThe difference between football conditioning and true sprint mechanics trainingHow sprint training improves acceleration, change of direction, and on-field explosivenessThe pros and cons of 7-on-7 football vs. track seasonWhy multi-sport athletes often outperform single-sport athletesHow high school athletes can use social media for recruiting exposureTips for building a recruiting profile on Twitter/X, Instagram, and HudlWhat college coaches actually look for in speed and athletic developmentIf you’re a high school football player trying to get faster, a track athlete looking to improve explosiveness, a parent navigating recruiting, or a coach building a speed development program — this episode is for you. We’re talking speed training, sprint mechanics, strength and conditioning, recruiting strategy, athlete branding, and long-term development.🚨 Speed kills. Exposure matters. Development wins. Subscribe for weekly content on:Track and field trainingSpeed developmentSprint techniqueExplosive power trainingHigh school recruiting tipsMulti-sport athlete developmentAthlete Development tips for parentsWelcome to Beyond the Blocks!