Illinois State track and field/cross country head coach Elvis Forde has stayed active as a runner during his coaching career and this week is no exception.
Forde signed on to compete in the USA National Masters Track and Field Championships to be held on Thursday, August 7 and Friday, August 8 in Eugene, Ore. Forde will take part in the 400-meter dash in the 40-44 age group.
A native of St. Andrew, Barbados, Forde joined the ISU staff in July of 2002 after a 13-year coaching career at Austin Peay State. He earned a number of accolades as a collegiate athlete at Murray State and Southern Illinois-Carbondale. He was a four-time NCAA all-American as well as a two-time National Amateur Champion. Forde also competed on the 1984 and 1988 Barbados Olympic teams.
Forde sees a number of benefits to staying active and competing in these particular meets.
I use it as a health benefit, Forde said. Im still able to compete on a high level and I have a lot of
camaraderie with the other runners. My competitiveness comes out in these events and it helps me to stay sharp.
Running in these meets is also a recruiting benefit according to Forde.
Its good public relations for me, Forde said. A lot of the guys I run with are coaches at the high school level. This gives me the chance to stay in contact with them for recruiting purposes.
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