Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason University

Join us for two days of expert track & field instruction at a state-of-the-art facility.

July 13-14 | Fairfax, Virginia

20+

1:12

Olympians coached by clinic staff

Staff to athlete ratio at clinics

10+

400+

NCAA All-Americans produced by clinic coaches

Colleges represented

Featured coaches

Clinic staff come from 10+ top college programs to instruct coaches and athletes of all levels.

ANDREW GERARD

Clinic Director

Director of Track & Field/XC

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

  • In his 19th season at George Mason University since taking over in 2005, Andrew Gerard oversees the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs with over 32 years of collegiate coaching experience. Since joining the Atlantic 10 in 2013-14, Gerard has led the Patriots to incredible success, claiming 12 A-10 titles across various disciplines and earning 13 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors.

    Under his guidance, George Mason's relay teams and individual athletes shattered records and earned numerous All-American honors, showcasing the team's prowess and exceptional talent. Gerard's remarkable coaching career spans numerous successful seasons, conference titles, NCAA appearances, and record-breaking performances, earning accolades and recognition for his coaching excellence.

    Gerard's coaching journey extends beyond George Mason, having previously coached Stanford Cardinal to the lowest score in the modern era when the won the NCAA Cross Country Championship in 2003, and William and Mary in the 1990’s, where he took the program to national prominence as the team finished in the top 16 every year under his tenure.

    A graduate of Colgate University, Gerard holds a degree in biology with a focus on human physiology and was a standout athlete himself, ranking in the top 50 in the United States in the steeplechase. With an illustrious career and a commitment to education, Gerard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as the Clinic Director of the Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason University.

BOO SCHEXNAYDER

Featured Speaker

SAC SPEED

  • With over 40 years of experience in coaching and consulting, Boo Shexnayder is regarded as one of the world’s premier field event coaches. He was the mastermind behind 26 NCAA Champions during his collegiate coaching career and is regarded as one of the greatest field event coaches in NCAA history. He has been a part of 13 NCAA Championship teams and a pair of Juco National titles, as well as developing a host of conference champions and All-Americans.

    Schexnayder has also been a prominent figure on the international scene. He has coached 18 Olympians and 7 Olympic/World Championship medalists. He has served on coaching staffs for Team USA to the 2003 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo, the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, and was the Jumps Coach for Team USA at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

    Schexnayder has been just as successful off the track. He is certified at Level I, II and III, and owns the prestigious Master Coach Designation from USA Track and Field. He is also certified by the NSCA as a Strength and Conditioning coach.

    Schexnayder has been heavily involved in Coaching Education. He formerly served as national chair of USATF’s Coaching Education Committee, Jumps Subcommittee chair, and chair of the Biomechanics subcommittee. Schexnayder was the founder of the Track and Field Academy, the educational branch of the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. He served as program director from its inception in 2009 through 2017, and still serves as an instructor in biomechanics, training design, and event-specific courses.

JASON SARETSKY

Director of Track & Field/XC

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

  • Jason Saretsky is in his 18th year at the helm of the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs at Harvard.

    As just the 10th person to serve as head coach of the track and field program since Harvard began formal competition in 1874, Saretsky has mentored 64 NCAA qualifiers, 181 NCAA regional qualifiers, coached nine individual ECAC/IC4A title winners, 164 Heptagonal champions, 5 NCAA Champions, 2 Olympians, and guided athletes to countless school records, with more than 275 marks added to the program’s top-10 list.

    Saretsky has been named USTFCCCA Northeast Regional Coach of the Year 13 times, and assistant coaches have won USTFCCCA Northeast Assistant Coach of the Year 16 times during his tenure at Harvard. Saretsky most recently coached the Crimson men's and women's teams to their first-ever combined titles at the Ivy League Outdoor Track and Field Championship, and their teams had respective finishes of 9th (women) and 11th (men) at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The women's team also completed the triple crown, winning Ivy League (Heps) cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field titles. The Harvard teams produced a program record three NCAA Champions and 16 All-Americans throughout the 2022-23 season.

TRAIN WITH COACHES FROM THESE PROGRAMS AND MORE…

  • Amherst

  • Penn

  • Virginia Tech

  • UMass-Lowell

  • Davidson

  • URI

  • George Mason

  • Harvard

What to expect

Spend 2 days learning from some of the best minds in the sport.

TRAIN WITH WORLD-CLASS COACHES IN EVERY EVENT

With experience coaching high school, college, and professional track & field, clinic staff have found success at every level. Collectively they’ve coached over 400 NCAA All-Americans and 20 Olympians. Through 12 total hours of training instruction, you’ll learn the skills you need to take your performance to the next level – no matter your event.

LEARN THE CONCEPTS BEHIND ELITE PERFORMANCE

In addition to training, you’ll learn the building blocks of elite performance. From periodization to acceleration mechanics, we’ll break down concepts that will help you improve even after you leave the Ascent Track and Field Clinic. Not only that, but we’ll send you home with a link to download training programs that you learned at the clinic.

EXPAND YOUR NETWORK AND STAY CONNECTED

Ascent Track Clinics are open to any and all entrants – athletes and coaches of all skill levels, and even passionate fans of the sport.

Come meet your peers and college coaches from all over the country, and forge relationships in the track & field community that can last a lifetime.

TRAIN AT A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY

George Mason’s track and field facilities boast records set by some of the fastest athletes in the history of the sport. Follow in the footsteps of Michael Johnson, whose 400m time of 45.23 still stands as the indoor facility record; or Jackie Joyner-Kersee, whose 7.81 in the 60m hurdles has yet to be topped. Find out why elite athletes travel from around the world to compete at George Mason alongside some of the most incredible talent in the sport.

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN PROVEN CURRICULUM

Coaching attendees get access to “coaches only” classroom sessions led by renowned coaches like Boo Schexnayder, Kebba Tolbert, and Dan Ireland.

When you’re not in the classroom, observe real-life applications of proven training strategies as staff critique and empower athletes throughout the clinic.

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Clinic Schedule

9 AM - 4PM Daily

(TENTATIVE)

MORNING SESSION (VARIES BY EVENT)

8:15 - 9 AM - Registration

9:00 - 9:10 AM - Staff Introductions

9:10 - 9:45 AM - Active Isolated Stretching/Dynamic Warm-Ups

9:45 - 10:15 AM - Acceleration Mechanics

10:15- 11 AM - Acceleration Session

11:00 - 11:30 AM - Breaking Down the Drive Phase

11:10 - 12 PM - Max Velocity Mechanics

12:00 - 1 PM - Lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION (VARIES BY EVENT)

1-1:45 PM - All-Clinic Lecture: Approaching Track & Field from a Mental Health Perspective

1:45-2:15 PM - Strength & Conditioning: Event Specific Periodization and Proper Form

2:15 PM-3 PM - Dynamic Warm-Up #2

3:00-3:25 PM - General Strength Circuit Session

3:25- 3:45 PM - Medicine Ball Routines

3:45- 4 PM - Q & A, Recap of Day

4 PM - Depart Clinic

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Our Sponsor

A big “thank you” to this year’s sponsor!

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frequently asked questions

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Already signed up? Visit the info hub for an extensive FAQ and announcements for attendees.

  • No. Athletes of all skill levels are encouraged to attend.

  • Though we have access to the indoor track, the 2024 Ascent Track & Field Clinic will be run outdoors, rain or shine. In the event of thunderstorms, the clinic will be delayed until the weather clears.

  • There are many hotels in the area, but the number of attendees means space may be limited, so we suggest reserving your room as soon you can.

  • All event groups are represented. Sprints (55/60m, 100m, 200m, 300m, 400m), distance (800m, 1600m, 3200m, cross country), throws (javelin, discus, shot put), jumps (high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault), and hurdles (55/60h, 100/110h, 300/400ih).

  • The $25 fee partly covers the additional costs of insurance and rental of specialized gear (landing mats, poles, standards, etc).

  • The Ascent Track & Field Clinic at George Mason is located on the George Mason University campus in Fairfax, Virginia. It’s a track clinic open to any and all athletes –  and highly accessible to attendees from Virginia and surrounding areas like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Washington DC, and many more.