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Colorado's Arapahoe Basin hosts extreme skiing competition, event could be in next Winter Olympics

Some of the best extreme skiers in the world recently gathered at a Colorado mountain for an event that might end up in the Winter Olympics someday. Arapahoe Basin hosted the International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association’s Challenger Series for three days last week. It took place on the ski area’s steep and difficult East Wall. […]

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Colorado's Arapahoe Basin hosts extreme skiing competition, event could be in next Winter Olympics

Some of the best extreme skiers in the world recently gathered at a Colorado mountain for an event that might end up in the Winter Olympics someday.

Arapahoe Basin hosted the International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association’s Challenger Series for three days last week. It took place on the ski area’s steep and difficult East Wall.

Among the dozens of competitors was Reid Litwiller, who lives in Blue River, Colorado.

“There are some, like, nerves going through your veins,” the 18-year-old said.

He described freeride skiing as “basically anything rocky, anything with snow on it, like way up high that looks really gnarly and sketchy? We’ll go and ski that.”

Not every competitor made it through the chutes and jumped over the rocks without crashing. A fair share of skiers and riders struggled on the technical slope. It’s a calculated risk each time down that balances pushing athletes to extremes while not pressuring them to get into trouble.

“You are not being given points to accept more risk or to have close calls. In fact, you actually get penalized and you’re not going to do well in the competitions,” said IFSA Sport Advisor Brennan Metzler.

It’s judged more like gymnastics or diving: how hard is the run and the tricks you did, and how well did you do it?

And things are heating up in the sport.

“Now we’re seeing a lot more tricks, meaning 360s, 720s, back flips. And yes, yesterday we saw a double back flip landed, and that’s what it takes,” Metzler said.

The winner of the competition gets crowned the best in the Americas and goes on to the World Championships, which could lead to another global stage.

“The big Olympic word is being dropped. So the sport is growing. It’s going to get a lot of attention. And so it’s really fun for us here in Summit County to be able to host one of the championship events,” Metzler said.

The event is a showcase for what makes some mountain-dweller Coloradans so special: their skills, their bravery and their guts.

“We started with that old mining culture in the past, and I feel like without these resorts, we would have turned into a ghost town,” Litwiller said.

Event organizers said they are hoping to bring the competition back to A Basin in future years.

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Assistant M/W Track and Field Coach in Charleston, IL for Eastern Illinois University

Details Posted: 23-Jun-25 Location: Charleston, Illinois Type: Full-time Salary: Range: $35,000 – $37,112 Categories: Coaching Coaching – Track & Field Sector: Collegiate Sports Salary Details: This is a 12-month position eligible for the following benefits: Comprehensive Medical Coverage: Competitive employee insurance premiums with flexible plan options. Vision coverage is included with medical at no cost. […]

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June 23, 2025

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Details

Posted: 23-Jun-25

Location: Charleston, Illinois

Type: Full-time

Salary: Range: $35,000 – $37,112

Categories:

Coaching

Coaching – Track & Field

Sector:

Collegiate Sports

Salary Details:

This is a 12-month position eligible for the following benefits:
Comprehensive Medical Coverage: Competitive employee insurance premiums with flexible plan options.
Vision coverage is included with medical at no cost.
Dental plans available to meet your needs.
Participation in the State University Retirement System, which includes medical insurance benefits upon retirement.
Opportunities to pursue educational goals through tuition waivers for employees and dependent children.
Up to 12 paid holidays annually, plus earned vacation and sick time.
For more information on our employee benefit programs, please visit EIU Employee Benefits webpage.

Required Education:

4 Year Degree

The Assistant M/W Track & Field Coach reports to the Head Coach. This position is responsible for assisting the Head Coach in the successful management and administration of all phases of Varsity Intercollegiate M/W Track and Field Programs, within the guidelines, rules and regulations of Eastern Illinois University, the Ohio Valley Conference and the NCAA.


Secondary duties include strategic and operational management of an intercollegiate athletics programs by assisting in the planning and execution of team logistics, practices, competitions, and overall program coordination. It also involves contributing to budget development and financial oversight, optimizing resource allocation and ensuring compliance with university and NCAA policies.


The M/W Track and Field Assistant Coach plays an integral role in supporting the mission and core values of the Athletics Department. This position requires a blend of advanced theoretical knowledge and practical experience in areas such as coaching, compliance, budget management, and operational strategic planning to advance the overall success and integrity of the Track and Field programs.


The Assistant Coach supports the Head Coach in the following:

  • Support the Mission and Core Values of the Department
  • Recruit individuals who have exhibited high potential to perform according to Department, Conference and NCAA standards
  • Reinforce academic achievement and graduation as our top priority
  • Responsible for full compliance with University, Department and NCAA regulations
  • Diligent in their preparation to compete aggressively to win championships
  • Collaborate on development of a responsible budget for their sport
  • Responsible for the efficient use of all Department resources
  • Collaborate with Athletic and University support units to ensure Student-Athlete health, safety and well-being

A complete application will include a letter of application, resume and contact information of three references. For questions regarding the search, please contact James Nave, Screening Committee Chair, at jmnave@eiu.edu.

Bachelor’s degree required/Master’s preferred. Possess (2) or more years of coaching or competition experience or equivalent. Must have extensive knowledge of the sport of Track and Field with an emphasis on sprints and hurdles. Ability to recruit, develop and retain quality Track and Field student-athletes. Excellent organization, interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated commitment to the academic success of the student-athlete. Ability and willingness to work effectively in a team atmosphere in the athletic department. Strong commitment to the University, OVC and NCAA rules and regulations. Demonstrated commitment to diversity and experience with promoting inclusivity are required

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About Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University is a Division I – FCS program that competes in Ohio Valley Conference for all sports except for Men’s Soccer and Swimming that compete in the Summit League


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T&F’s Ezekiel Named USTFCCCA Outdoor Men’s National Track Athlete of the Year

NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with Baylor’s Nathaniel Ezekiel being named the Men’s National Track Athlete of the Year.   The Bowerman watchlist […]

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June 23, 2025

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NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with Baylor’s Nathaniel Ezekiel being named the Men’s National Track Athlete of the Year.
 
The Bowerman watchlist recipient is the first Baylor athlete to win the USTFCCCA award since 2004 in Jeremy Wariner. The award comes after Ezekiel was named South Central Regional Track Athlete of the Year on Friday.  
 
Ezekiel made history at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, running his final lap in a Baylor uniform with a personal-best of 47.49 and the No. 3 all-time mark in collegiate history to win the 400-meter hurdles title. The Nigerian senior is the first national champion for Baylor in the 400mH since Bayano Kamani in 2001 and only the third Bear to win the event.
 
Ezekiel ended his Baylor career with multitudes of honors, including 2025 Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Athlete of the Year, a nine-time All-American in the indoor and outdoor seasons and the BU program record holder in the 400mH, the indoor 400m and a member in the indoor 4×400 relay. Most notably, Ezekiel concluded his collegiate career as the only athlete in NCAA history to have multiple all-time top ten marks in the 400mH, owning four.
 

Member coaches voted on these honors following the conclusion of 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, but considered performances throughout the season when voting on these honors.
 
Ezekiel will begin his professional career on July 31-August 3 in the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, vying for a spot in the World Championships in Tokyo.
 
2025 NCAA DI OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD NATIONAL AWARDS
Hana Moll, Washington – National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
Ralford Mullings, Oklahoma – National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
Savannah Sutherland, Michigan – National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor – National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
Karim Abdel Wahab, Georgia – National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
Kenneth “Ken” Harnden, Auburn – National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
Caryl Smith Gilbert, Georgia – National Women’s Coach of the Year
Quincy Watts, Southern California – National Men’s Coach of the Year



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College Sports: Team 1 finishes No. 1 at MCC’s Wild West volleyball (6/23/25)

McCook alum Ashlyn Randel (above) and Cambridge grad Erin Johnson helped power Team 1 Barnett to two wins at the Wild West All-Star volleyball matches in McCook on Sunday. Former MCC player and Southwest High great Caylin Barnett coached the champion Team 1 in this round-robin featuring three squads filled with top 2025 high school […]

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June 23, 2025

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McCook alum Ashlyn Randel (above) and Cambridge grad Erin Johnson helped power Team 1 Barnett to two wins at the Wild West All-Star volleyball matches in McCook on Sunday. Former MCC player and Southwest High great Caylin Barnett coached the champion Team 1 in this round-robin featuring three squads filled with top 2025 high school volleyball grads. More will appear on Tuesday’s Gazette sports pages.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette



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Newport Harbor quartet helps U.S. Junior National water polo team earn silver

No United States men’s water polo national team had ever finished this high at a World Championships event at any age group. But a quartet of players from Newport Harbor, past and present, helped the Team USA Junior National team earn a hard-fought silver medal at the World Aquatics Under-20 World Championships in Croatia. Team […]

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June 23, 2025

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No United States men’s water polo national team had ever finished this high at a World Championships event at any age group.

But a quartet of players from Newport Harbor, past and present, helped the Team USA Junior National team earn a hard-fought silver medal at the World Aquatics Under-20 World Championships in Croatia.

Team USA fell to Spain, 14-11, in the gold medal match on Saturday.

Contributors for the U.S. included 2023 Sailors graduate Ben Liechty and 2024 alumnus Peter Castillo, both now at UCLA. Gavin Appeldorn, a 2024 graduate now at Princeton, and incoming Sailors senior Connor Ohl also contributed for Team USA. Ohl recently committed to Stanford.

Costa Mesa native Landon Akerstrom, a Mater Dei graduate who now plays for UC San Diego, also helped the cause.

Ryan Ohl, Connor’s older brother who also plays for Stanford, led the American side with three goals against Spain. Liechty had a pair of goals and Castillo also scored for Team USA, which led 8-5 early in the third quarter before Spain rallied for the win.

Team USA had beaten Serbia 19-18 in a shootout in the quarterfinals, with former Huntington Beach and JSerra standout Ryder Dodd scoring a team-best seven goals and Akerstrom netting the game-winner in the shootout.

The Americans also beat Hungary 18-16 in the semifinals on Friday, avenging an earlier group play loss. Dodd led with six goals; Castillo and Akerstrom netted three goals each.



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Penn State, LaVar Arrington Join Forces on New Digital Content Service

Penn State is launching a kind of in-house streaming sports service in partnership with LaVar Arrington that the athletic department calls “groundbreaking.” The site, known as ROAR+, will launch in July and deliver Penn State sports content to fans. Membership levels start at $15 a month, with a $250 monthly subscription offering perks such as […]

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June 23, 2025

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Penn State is launching a kind of in-house streaming sports service in partnership with LaVar Arrington that the athletic department calls “groundbreaking.” The site, known as ROAR+, will launch in July and deliver Penn State sports content to fans. Membership levels start at $15 a month, with a $250 monthly subscription offering perks such as chats with Penn State players and coaches and invitations to Arrington’s “ST1X C1ty” tailgates during home football games.

“ROAR+ is about creating a deeper connection between our fans and student-athletes while providing meaningful NIL opportunities,” Penn State Athletic Director Pat Kraft said in a statement. “This is a bold step forward in delivering innovative experiences to our supporters and empowering our student-athletes to tell their stories like never before.”

ROAR+ is part of Penn State’s rebranded NIL initiative called ROAR Solutions. Penn State consolidated several fundraising and donor platforms under this new umbrella, which includes its official collective Happy Valley United. The platform also features DisruptU-PSU, Arrington’s content creation company, and The Brand Academy, Penn State’s NIL marketing and strategy arm run by former Nittany Lions football player Omar Easy.

ROAR+ will serve as a content subscription service for Penn State sports fans. According to a news release, the site will provide exclusive content featuring Nittany Lions athletes, including interviews, player-driven podcasts and game archives.

Arrington, the former Penn State linebacker recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, will host a “lifestyle driven” show on the service as well as weekly show with Penn State football coach James Franklin called “Quite Franklin.” In addition, Penn State broadcaster Brian Tripp will host a daily show highlighting Penn State athletes and news.

Playfly Max, the NIL marketing division of sports media company Playfly Sports, will operate the ROAR+ site. Playfly Sports holds Penn State’s multimedia rights. Playfly Max is part of the ROAR Solutions platform and helps Penn State athletes sign NIL deals with local and national businesses. According to the ROAR+ website, all proceeds from the subscription service will benefit Penn State athletes.

“As part of the Roar Solutions portfolio, we’re constantly innovating to enhance the student-athlete experience in this evolving era of college athletics,” Morgyn Seigfried, Playfly Max’s general manager of NIL, said in a statement. “ROAR+ will forge a direct connection with our most passionate supporters, providing student-athletes a bold and authentic platform to share their stories, their way.”

Penn State fans can register now for the service and won’t be billed until July 24. Subscription levels are $15, $25, $100 and $250 monthly and include a range of benefits. The top level includes invitations to online and in-person events as well as Arrington’s tailgates.

Kraft recently discussed how Penn State is approaching the new era of NIL. Beginning July 1, the athletic department will participate in revenue sharing, which will allow Penn State to pay its athletes a total of $20.5 million annually from the athletics budget. Penn State athletes can earn additional money through NIL initiatives, which Kraft called marketing opportunities.

“So how about we change the narrative of NIL,” Kraft said. “It’s marketing now, it’s marketing dollars. …

I think what people think of the traditional NIL piece is we’re where we need to be. You have to keep looking and you’ve got to continue to do what you got to do.

‘But in this new system, you’re going to have to show fair market value. And this is where the power of Penn State is a huge asset, because fair market value for the starting quarterback at Penn State, it’s pretty good. We’ve got to lean into that and with our business partners. And so that’s kind of the new world of Name, Image and Likeness.”

Arrington has discussed bringing NIL opportunities to more Penn State athletes through content creation. Arrington is helping athletes create content and sign marketing deals through his media company. He believes this is the future of NIL.

“I plan on trying to monetize all of our athletes, and I don’t want to limit it to football,” Arrington said. “I also don’t want to beg our community for money. I just want our community to support the content that’s being created by our student-athletes, so you don’t have to complain about going into your pocket and spending money to help [fund] NIL.

“Just support the athletes on social media, give them a follow and follow the ad campaigns. That will prove the concept and show advertisers there is truly impact in creating content with Penn State student-athletes.”

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OU T&F Earns Numerous USTFCCCA Awards

NORMAN – Oklahoma track and field throws athlete Ralford Mullings was named the USTFCCCA Division I National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year and head coach James Thomas and associate head coach Jerel Langley, along with heptathlete Pippi Lotta Enok, picked up USTFCCCA Midwest Regional awards. The coaches association announced Thomas was awarded Men’s Coach […]

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June 23, 2025

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NORMAN – Oklahoma track and field throws athlete Ralford Mullings was named the USTFCCCA Division I National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year and head coach James Thomas and associate head coach Jerel Langley, along with heptathlete Pippi Lotta Enok, picked up USTFCCCA Midwest Regional awards. The coaches association announced Thomas was awarded Men’s Coach of the Year, Langley Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year and Enok and Mullings Field Athletes of the Year.

Mullings, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, claimed the NCAA Outdoor Championships discus throw title on June 14. He tossed the implement for a PR of 69.31m (227’3.00″) to shatter a 33-year-old meet record and beat world record holder Mykolas Alekna of California. Mullings’ improvement cements his status as the No. 2 performer in collegiate history as the 69.31m (227’3.00″) mark sits ninth on the all-time collegiate chart. He was also the SEC Outdoor Championships discus throw title winner. Mullings is the first NCAA discus champion to win the national award since Ryan Whiting in 2010 and becomes the first Sooner in program history to be named national athlete of the year.

This marks Thomas’ second regional coach of the year accolade in as many seasons at the helm of OU T&F. During his time at Georgia (2021-23) and Texas Tech (2013-21) he earned 11 Regional Assistant Coach of the Year honors. Langley, in his ninth year at OU, collects his third regional assistant coach of the year award and second of the 2025 season, as he also earned the indoor nod. Enok and Mullings claim the first regional accolades of their career.

Thomas directed the Sooner men to a sixth-place finish (30.5 points) at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the team’s best outdoor placement since 1997 and second highest in program history. He guided two men to national titles, BJ Green (triple jump) and Ralford Mullings (discus throw) and two more athletes to top-six finishes to total four NCAA First Team All-America honors.

Langley coached Enok to the second heptathlon national title of her career, with her performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships setting a program record of 6,285 points, breaking the Estonian record and moving to No. 10 all-time collegiately. He also assisted Olivia Lueking to her fifth conference title, winning the gold medal at the SEC Outdoor Championships in the pole vault.

Enok’s exceptional performance in the combined events on the national stage earned her the regional award. The Jõhvi, Estonia, native marked the end of her collegiate career with the No. 7 all-time heptathlon score in NCAA Outdoor Championships meet history.

CONNECT WITH THE SOONERS

For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.

 





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