BizBuzz: Tia’s Final Meet, a Deep Steeple History, and a Whole Lotta Celebrations

The  icon means you can connect with this athlete on AthleteBiz!

News & Notes

 Tia Brooks-Wannemacher announced her retirement following the upcoming US Championships. In a statement on Instagram, she wrote, ” I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me! First stop… coaching? Thank you all from the bottom of my heart I could not have done it without you all! This sport has given me so much, it’s time for me to find my way to give back!”

I’m not really sure where to start... this sport has given me SO MUCH over these past 12 years. From THE BEST days to the WORSE days, my best friends and the love of my life. To all the coaches I’ve worked with along the way I can’t begin to thank you enough for helping me become the best athlete I can be. My agent Karen Locke- your UNWAVERING support has meant the World to me! My sponsor- @Nike the past 6 years with you have shown me just how much this sport has to offer! Thank you,thank you, thank you! Last but certainly not least MY SUPPORT SYSTEM- you all have been my faith when I thought I lost it, my strength when I didn’t think I had any, and everything an athlete could ask for! The 2018 US Championships, one week from Sunday, at Drake Stadium (MY FAVORITE TRACK) will be my FINAL competition as a track and field athlete.... in 2008 I was told to never throw again, that my back could not handle it and doing this sport would just make it worse. In 2016 8 years later, training to compete at the highest level finally caught back up to me. I can say that this was the hardest decision to make, but I wouldn’t trade ONE PIECE of this journey. A wise man told me “you make the sport, it doesn’t make you”. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me! First stop... coaching?Thank you all from the bottom of my heart I could not have done it without you all! This sport has given me so much, it’s time for me to find my way to give back!

A post shared by Tia Brooks-Wannemacher (@tiabrooksonline) on Jun 15, 2018 at 5:21pm PDT

 With NCAAs in the books, collegiate athletes have begun to decide on their next steps. Athletes who are declaring their pro status include Rai Benjamin, who ran a smoking fast 47.02 400mH in the rain in the NCAA final, Sydney McLaughlin, and three new Brooks Beasts signees: Josh Kerr, Allie Buchalski, and David Ribich. Also of note, with Sydney McLaughlin’s transition to pro status, she will relocate to Austin with a strong group of hurdlers. “[Her] coach Edrick Floréal confirmed that she—along with his full crew of pro hurdlers, including Omar McLeod, Keni Harrison and Kori Carter—will move to Austin as he takes over the head coaching job at the University of Texas after six years at Kentucky.” Keep note of all the declarations at The Floodgates Have Opened: A Running List Of College Athletes Turning Pro on FloTrack

Related: Seventeen Up-and-Coming Distance Runners Selected to Attend RRCA’s 2018 RunPro Camp

 Løpe Magazine did an incredibly detailed piece on the history of the Women’s Steeplechase. “[In] the 1900 Olympics, there were two men’s steeplechases. Women, meanwhile, would have to wait one-hundred-and-eight years for an opportunity at even one. Fortunately, American women had to wait only ninety-one years after Orton’s inaugural gold-medal run for a national championship in the event.” Read the full feature The History of the United States According to the Women’s Steeplechase on Løpe Magazine

Is Løpe Magazine new to you? Read their Welcome Letter here

 Traci Falbo wrote an open and honest update regarding the challenges she has faced since winning the USATF 100 Mile Road Championships. “I have never hated running. It has always been my hobby, my stress relief, my social time with friends, my ability to maintain my weight, my passion, my favorite thing to do when traveling. I was now super depressed and honestly worried whether I would ever love to run again. There was a lot of crying and days of feeling hopeless. Running was currently unfulfilling and stressing me out.” Read her full post Riding a Fine Line Between Happy and Hate at tracifalbo.com

 Joslin Blair, a 17-year-old from Eagle, Colorado, won the World Mountain Running Association International Youth Cup. “Temperatures were in the 60s under sunny skies when the races got underway at 11:00 a.m. with the girls’ race, followed at 11:45 for the boys’ race. After a short section of road through the village, the course quickly climbed a series of steps and it was here that Blair took the lead, which she never relinquished over the two-lap mountain course of 4.3 kilometers. Her time of 23:50 was just 11 seconds ahead of Turkish runner Ezgi Kaya.” Read the full release Joslin Blair strikes gold at WMRA Mountain Running International Youth Cup (U18) on ATRA

ICYMI

 Heather Wilson ran her first 1500m race in nearly two years. “[These] past 2 years of injury and illness simply make me grateful to be healthy and racing again. The most important lesson I’ve learned through it all is to never take for granted and to be grateful for every opportunity you get to do what you love.”

It’s been 707 days since my last 1500. While I wish the result was different, I have no regrets. Sometimes when you put yourself in a position to run fast, it means pushing to a place beyond your current fitness level (and consequently epically blowing up the last 400). But ya know what? If you don’t put yourself outside your comfort zone you never know what could have been. A bad race surely stings, but these past 2 years of injury and illness simply make me grateful to be healthy and racing again. The most important lesson I’ve learned through it all is to never take for granted and to be grateful for every opportunity you get to do what you love. Now onto some solid training before a summer of racing. #downbutnotout #onwardandupward #gratitudeisthebestattitude #crawledthelast400 #atleastifinished #hamstringavulsion #achilles #femoralstressreaction #somehowstillinonepiece #keepcalmandrunon #mondaymotivation (on a Friday)

A post shared by Heather Wilson (@heathawilson) on Jun 14, 2018 at 10:36pm PDT

 Tori Bowie will be featured in this year’s upcoming ESPN Body Issue. See ESPN’s announcement here.

 Sara Hall and Stephanie Bruce shared their mutual motivation for narrow second place finishes

 Maria Dalzot gritted out a tough run to take the top overall spot at the Fragrance Lake Half. “[Because] the Marathon du Mont Blanc is three weeks away, we made the decision to train through the race which meant running on fatigued legs. The race fell at the end of a hard three weeks of training, and my body could tell.” Read her full report Fragrance Lake Half Marathon: Summer Edition on The Journey of a Thousand Miles

 Sean Donnelly harnessed his inner-Swayze and put two things together we didn’t know we’d love so much: Hammer and Unchained Melody

Pro tip: listen to “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers to set practice PB’s • • • #trackandfield #tracknation #athletics #throwers #thethrowerfam #throwernation #discus #shotput #javelin #hammer #hammerthrow #weightthrow #lifting #olympics #olympiclifting #potd #fit #fitness #fitspo #fitfam #fitnessmotivation #fitnessjourney #throw #nike #justdoit #intensity #training

A post shared by Sean Donnelly (@sdthrows) on Jun 14, 2018 at 3:22pm PDT

Another History Lesson

 Courtesy of RunBlogRun

Reasons to Celebrate

 Amy Cole welcomed a new bundle of joy into the world – congratulations Amy and Jesse!

 Alan and Julie Webb announced they are expecting their third child 😮

Get ready for baby Webb number 3! @runteamwebb is pregnant! Due on my birthday Jan 13th #zonedefense #minivansoon pic.twitter.com/2XdLCZuYyc

— Alan Webb (@alan_webb1) June 13, 2018

Happy Birthday!

 Kayla Caldwell‘s birthday is June 19. Follow her to see what it is like to lift so good at gymnastics, pole vault, crossfit, and weightlifting @KaylaCaldwellPV

 Gina Slaby‘s birthday is June 19. Follow her to see what it is like to run so much elevation and serve in the Navy @gina_slaby

 Brad Walker‘s birthday is June 21. Follow him to see what it is like to vault so high and coach so well @SkyWalkerPV

 Mary Saxer‘s birthday is June 21. Follow her what to see it is like to vault so high and keep track of bumpdates @SaxDefyGravity

 Maria Michta-Coffey‘s birthday is June 23. Follow her to see what it is like to walk so fast and be a scientist @MariaMichta

 Devon Yanko‘s birthday is June 23. Follow her to see what it is like to run so far and run an awesome bakery @fastfoodie

 Gabe Grunewald‘s birthday is June 25. Follow her to see what it is like to run so fast and start a philanthropic foundation @gg_runs

That’s all for today! If you liked what you read today, please keep checking back in and we’ll keep supplying the Buzz from the athletes on AthleteBiz and beyond!