Outdoor Track and Field on Flotrack 2013

Kicks of the Week with Frosh Jimmy Clark and Greg Jennings-esque Josh Goerdt

May 20, 2013 by Mitch Kastoff

Over the last two weeks, we’ve had some more than qualified candidates for Kick of the Week. Everyone is sharp during championship season, which is great for us because it makes for dramatic ends to races and no one can say they “haven’t done speedwork yet” in post-race interviews.

While we were talking to Kentucky’s Hakon DeVries about the SEC women’s 10k, we remembered that something sort of unbelievable happened in the men’s race, too.

I asked around a bit and what do you know, University of Florida coach Paul Spangler sent us a submission last week.

@flotrack nomination for kick of the week. SEC champs 10k with a 58 last 400 for champ Jimmy Clarkyoutu.be/ypwZr1lUydw
— Paul Spangler (@GatorXC) May 14, 2013

To be completely frank, I questioned why Sprangler would send us a KotW from the men’s SEC 10,000m. We glanced at the start list beforehand and with guys like Arkansas’ Solomon Haile and Missouri’s Max Storms in the race, we wondered why a coach would send us a video of another school’s athlete throwing down.

Then we watched it.

He’s not the SEC Freshman Runner of the Year for nothing. With a 58 last lap, Clark became the first freshman in UF history to win the SEC 10k.

We don't know too much about Clark other than he qualified for cross country nationals this fall, but blogger Danny Duncan can give you a pretty good rundown.

Get To Know University of Florida’s XC Star

While we’re on the subject of user submitted KotW’s, Christopher Higgens gave us one video that has two things we wish we covered more often: the 4x4 and DIII.

Loras College’s Josh Goerdt put the team on his back (warning: profanity) this weekend at the Iowa Conference Outdoor Championships, where he was a part of three conference titles and was named the meet MVP.

In his first final of the day, Goerdt ran 48.38 to defend his 400m title. Almost an hour later, Goerdt made it two on the day after winning the 200m in 22.18.

We don’t know much about Loras College or the IIAC, so we’re going to let the winning team tell the story through their press release. After all, history is written by the victors.

Stedman Foster, Sean Lewis, and Zach Frey did their parts in positioning Loras for an All-IIAC spot on the podium ahead of the anchor leg by Goerdt. That's when the junior took the baton on the home track and did the rest. Trailing much of the first 200 meters, he hit the final turn and took off for the finish line, passing three runners from three other schools on his way to the finish line.

Hey @flotrack, I got a kick of the week for you. A little late, but needs to be seen - youtube.com/watch?v=wEj-q-… 47.4 4x4 split
— Christopher Higgins (@givinemdachiggs) May 20, 2013