Dan Pfaff
From New Zealand to Scotland – a Q&A with High Jumper Sarah Cowley
As she sat and watched the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, a young girl from New Zealand was mesmerized by Track and Field. 20 years later, Sarah Cowley's Olympic dream was realized in person - as she walked into the stadium at the 2012 London Olympic Games to compete in the Heptathlon. Since competing in the 2012 Games as a Multi...
A chat with GB Javelin sensation – Goldie Sayers
Three-time Olympian, World & European Championship finalist, and UK Champion for the past ten years - Goldie Sayers is a stand out performer in the Javelin, and one of the most experienced competitors in the world. 2012 promised to be a golden year for Sayers. However, minutes after a phenomenal British Record breaking throw of 66.17m at the London Grand...
An interview with Dustin Imdieke
A rising star in the coaching profession - Dustin Imdieke is Assistant Sprint-Hurdles and Jumps coach at Altis, working trackside in assisting lead coaches Dan Pfaff, Stuart McMillan, and Andreas Behm. In addition to coaching at Altis, Dustin has also coached at Paradise Valley Community College since 2008, serving as the Head Coach since 2013. During this time athletes working...
An interview with Thomas & Michael Van der Plaetsen
Following his 2009 & 2011 victories at European U20 & U23 level, Thomas Van der Plaetsen had been noted as a rising star in the Combined Events. Whilst 2012 sidelined the Belgian through injury, 2013 saw a breakthrough year at senior level - and following an extended training camp at Altis in the spring of 2013, Thomas won the 27th...
A Q&A with Apprentice Coach Neil Baroody
Since it's 2013 inception, the Altis Apprentice Coach Program has continued to grow in popularity and acclaim - with next week seeing us welcome our fifth cohort of Apprentice Coaches onsite. In the mean time, we take a look back at the March Program in a Q&A with Apprentice Coach Neil Baroody, in which we discover what it was about...
First Week in Paradise…
Following on from Coach Andy Brittan's reflections on the Welsh Throws Camp at Altis, Coach Matt Elias - Welsh Event Group Lead for Sprints & Hurdles - blogs about his first week onsite at Altis. "Well, first week in Paradise Valley; the home of Altis to be precise. First impressions can often be deceiving, but not here!!! The set up...
Training Camp at Altis – a Coach’s perspective
Whilst the Welsh Athletics Sprints group headed by Coach Matt Elias are currently enjoying the perfect training conditions onsite in Phoenix, Welsh Athletics National Event Group Lead for Throws - Andy Brittan - and the Welsh Throws squad recently returned home following a 3 week training camp at Altis. We asked Coach Brittan to take a look back on the...
Heather Hamilton on life, Pole Vault and Altis
Canadian Pole Vaulter Heather Hamilton has enjoyed many successes in her career so far. Most notably, in 2013, the 26 year old won the Canadian National Championships, the Canadian Track League, and claimed a bronze medal at the Francophone Games. In addition to her success in Track and Field Heather also has a business degree from the Schulich School of...
Reflections on a year at Altis – Dr Nick Porterfield
Altis is renowned for the expertise of its medical staff and therapists: Chiropractor and Manual Therapy specialist Dr Nick Porterfield is no exception. Nick has played an integral role in the preparation of athletes at Altis in the past year. In this article Dr Porterfield reflects on time he has spent at the Center so far, and offers an insightful...
Andreas Behm – 5 tips for aspiring young coaches
Energetic, intelligent, driven - Andreas Behm is the epitome of a professional coach, who has achieved outstanding success in his own career despite his relative youth in the profession. Following an eight year stretch holding a position with the Texas A&M Track & Field Program, Coach Behm joined Altis in 2013 as Recruitment Director & Sprints and Hurdles Coach. Andreas’...