Lori Shepard To Direct American Squad at Competition This Weekend in Canada

Lori Shepard To Direct American Squad at Competition This Weekend in Canada

7/28/2004

Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada – Vanderbilt coach Lori Shepard will guide a strong American track and field squad participating this weekend in a Canadian competition expected to draw athletes from 23 countries.

Shepard, who just completed her fourth year at the helm of Commodore track and field, will lead the U.S. women’s team at the Third NACAC Under-23 Championships.  The meet, limited to athletes ages 20-22, starts Friday at the University of Sherbrooke, located about 90 minutes from Montreal and continues through Sunday.

This marks Shepard’s second appearance as an American coach in international competition.  In 1998, she coached Team USA to victory in a heptathon competition against a Canadian squad.

“I’m extremely pleased to have the chance to lead a team of athletes competing for our country.  Words can’t express how appreciative and how excited I am. This is a very special opportunity for me,” Shepard said.

Shepard was selected as the women’s head coach last year by a special USA Track and Field (USATF) committee.  Another Southeastern Conference coach, Mike Holloway of Florida, will guide the American men’s delegation, according to USATF team leader Duffy Mahoney.

“The NACAC Championships is an important meet to the USATF and truly an important step up the ladder for coaches working their way toward the World Championships and Olympic Games,” Mahoney said.

The NACAC Under-23 Championships are staged every two years. The NACAC consists of 32 member nations from North America, Central American and the Caribbean Athletic Association, one of six regional athletics associations affiliated with the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).  Previous NACAC Championships have been staged in Monterrey, Mexico in 2000 and San Antonio, Texas in 2002.

The meet features 44 competitions – 22 for men and 22 for women – at the Sherbrooke University Stadium, site of the 2003 IAAF World Youth Championships.

The United States is expected to be represented by a full delegation, featuring 69 athletes and 15 staff members.  The U.S. women’s team features two prospective Olympians – DeeDee Trotter in the 400 meters and 4×400-meter relay and Monique Henderson in the 4×400-meter relay.  Trotter, a rising senior at the University of Tennessee, has made the U.S. Olympic 400-meter team.  Henderson, a student at UCLA, could be named to the American 4×400-meter foursome.