Elite Team Member Profile ** Matt Byers

Happy 2016!

It’s an OLYMPIC YEAR!!! We at Shocker Track Club always get excited every four years – especially for our Elite Team Athletes! Each month we will be spotlighting some of our Olympic hopefuls to show what it is like to train like an elite athlete.

If you are reading this for insight into your New Year’s Resolution, keep reading! Sometimes when you really want to achieve your goal, you just have to buckle down and train like an athlete. There will still be a workout and some recipes posted under the respective sections. Hopefully you will find some inspiration following these athletes.

January showcases Matt Byers.

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He is from Wichita, Kansas, and throws the Javelin. He attended Wichita East High School where he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. He was a 2x City league champion in javelin and also the City league record. He attended the University of Iowa where he was a 2x All-American and 3x Big Ten Champion. He held the Big Ten record for two and half years and currently holds the University of Iowa Javelin school record. His highest finish at USA Championships was 2013 where he finished in 7th place.

Training schedule: Matt’s training schedule is pretty set in stone. Training and working a part time job can become quite the balancing act. All of his training is organized around his work schedule. Work is usually from 6:00am-12:00pm. Once work is over, he heads home to eat a good lunch and then heads to East High. His daily routine of training is Monday- Friday. At East, he completes lifting (strength training) and med ball throws. He follows that up with plyometrics (jump/power training) and sprints. Javelin is a very explosive, intense movement, so you have to train as such. His lifting consists of mostly Olympic lifts such as cleans, snatches, split snatches, squats, and bench. After the Olympic lifts are complete, he has auxiliary lifts that work the muscles specifically needed for javelin. The same theory applies when it comes to med ball throws – very javelin specific. Plyometrics and sprinting focus on intensity and aggressive speed. The combination of all of these is centered towards activating fast twitch muscles. Speed and strength will create the velocity needed to propel the javelin. Finally, he usually takes it easy on Saturday and Sunday. Matt also picks a day to do a light jog and shake out on the weekend. Along with actual strength and speed training, he has to do technical throw work. Currently he is throwing once a week. He usually picks a day where the weather in Kansas cooperates.

Diet: There isn’t necessarily a specific diet that he follows. It is more about staying away from junk food such as pop, sugar, fried food, etc. He tries to eat meat such as steak, chicken, and other lean protein sources such as fish. He makes a point to do most of the cooking at home to save money and calories. He believes for that keeping fruits and veggies in his diet plays a big role in keeping in good shape. He usually has a protein shake every morning that consists of kale, blueberries, raspberries, and protein powder. For lunch, it is pretty routine. He has a ham and turkey sandwich on wheat bread with yogurt and another fruit such as a banana. To keep hydrated, Matt sticks to mostly drink water and Gatorade.

Please follow and support Matt on his journey to Eugene, Oregon for the Olympic Trials, July 1-10, 2016.

Twitter: @mbyersjavthrow

Do you have a question about health, fitness or nutrition? Send it to Ask Laura, at futurist@shockertrackclub.com

Laura Markuly, MSE, ACSM HFS, NASM CES/PES/GFS, is an Exercise Physiologist and the owner of Bodyology Sports Performance, LLC. She also serves as the Futurist and Director of Volunteers for Shocker Track Club.

 

First Gear Running Company Sponsors Youth Team

Shocker Track Club is pleased to announce a sponsorship partnership with First Gear Running Company for the 2015-2016 indoor season!

Darren Muci, Shocker Track Club President, stated, “We are honored that First Gear Running Company (FGRC) is able to sponsor our youth track team. FGRC is locally owned, and has a strong history of sponsoring fitness and running organizations with a “kid specific” focus, and we are pleased that they are supporting our youth track team.”  Visit First Gear Running Company in Old Town at 111 North Mosley for all your running and fitness equipment needs! More information about First Gear Running Company is available on their website – www.firstgearrunningcompany.com.

 

2015 2016 Board Members Elected

The Shocker Track Club elected the following individuals to Board Member seats for the 2015-2016 year (new members in bold) – Darren Muci (President), Chris Ellis (Vice President), Ryan Patton (Treasurer), Larry Staton (Secretary and Director, Masters Team), Steve Rainbolt, John Wise (Head Coach, Elite Team), Chandra Andrews (Assistant Treasurer), Cole Davis (Director, Youth Team), Vic Everett, Bill Faflick, Denis Fraizer, Dylan Hartnett (Director, Elite Team), Joan Hearne, Curtis Hernandez (Head Coach, Youth Team), Amber McGown Hetzendorf, Mike Holladay, Patric Jackson, Emily Green Maier, Laura Markuly (Futurist), J Means, Shamoya Pruitt (Assistant Director, Youth Team), Mark Schwarm, Damian Smithhisler (Shared Seat), and Darius Draudvila (Ex Officio).  Nicholas J. Means, Attorney, was appointed as Of Counsel.

Hiland Dairy Sponsors Youth Team

The Shocker Track Club is pleased to announce a sponsorship partnership with Hiland Dairy for the 2015-2016 season!

Darren Muci, Shocker Track Club President, stated, “We are honored that Hiland Dairy is able to sponsor our youth track team and track meets. Hiland Dairy has a history of providing high qualify dairy products and sponsoring local organizations, and we are pleased that they are supporting our Youth track team.”

Jerald Grey, General Manager for Hiland Dairy’s corporate office in Wichita noted, “Hiland Dairy is excited to partner with the Shocker Track Club and looks forward to helping the participants rehydrate and refuel with nutritious, protein rich, Hiland Dairy products during the meets.”

Hiland Dairy’s production facility at 700 E. Central has provided quality dairy and healthy beverage products to the greater Wichita area since 1900.  Visit their website at www.hilanddairy.com for more information.

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River Vault Pole Vault Competition!

The 2015 River Vault, Pole Vault, Competition will be held on Saturday, June 6th in the Century II Parking Lot just east of the  Bob Brown Expo Hall!  This competition will be sanctioned through USA Track & Field and is open to competitors of all ages!  Registration is $40 and includes a River Festival button and event t-shirt.

Registration Form >> River Vault 2015 Registration

Sponsorship Guide >> River Vault 2015 Sponsor Guide

Elite Team Fundraiser – 300m Run!

Want to help our STC Elite Team, Olympic hopefuls, fulfill their dreams and help Elite Team Head Coach John Wise celebrate his 40th birthday??  We have a deal for you!

Coach John Wise plans to run a 300m sprint in under 40 seconds (his goal is 39.99 seconds) to benefit the Shocker Track Club Elite Team. The sprint takes place on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at Wichita State’s Historic Cessna Stadium Track at 10:00 a.m.  Coach Wise needs your help to meet his goal of breaking 40 seconds, and helping the Shocker Track Club Elite Team.

Click here for details >> Coach Wise 40 Fundraiser 2014