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Sheila Hudson, a 1985 California State Champ in the Triple Jump from Rio Linda HS with a best of 40-11, went on the University of California at Berkeley, where she long-jumped 22-1 and set an American Record in the Triple Jump at 46-0.75 while winning the NCAA Championship. She continued on after College, and was 10th in the 1996 Olympics in the TJ. She has the American Record in the TJ at 47-03.5. She has landed locally in Southern California at Cal State LA, where she is an assistant Track Coach, working with the jumpers. The lady has some credentials!!! Below are the answers to some questions we posed to her, with her athletes obviously having the privilege of a very, very special mentor!!

Best of Luck Sheila - Doug Speck - DyeStatCal

USATF photo

1) How did you end up at Cal State LA - I seemed to notice you involved with journalism for a time after your collegiate career?

1) I've suddenly landed in Los Angeles because of Freddie Roach. We fell in love and about a year ago became engaged. It made more sense for me to relocate, and when the assistant track coach position at Cal State L.A. opened up, I jumped at the opportunity. Track and field and writing are two of my greatest passions. I'll continue to pursue both, in one form or another, for the rest of my life.

2) Briefly describe your track and field successes through your own jumping career?

2) I'm lucky to be able to look back and savor some great moments in my track career. I think even more than the championships and records, I treasure being part of a small piece of history. As you know, during the first half of my career, the women's triple jump wasn't on the Olympic schedule. For years, I and many jumpers struggled to scrape up enough money to remain in the sport and were frustrated by the fact that we were not recognized on the international scene. After persevering through all of that, I will always remember the moment the first class of women triple jumpers walked through that long tunnel and entered Atlanta's Olympic Stadium. And I will always be grateful for having been among them.

3) What motivated you to move into coaching?

3) During my 15 years of jumping, I've learned an awful lot from great coaches I've worked with, fellow jumpers and my own experience. I wanted to do something useful with all this knowledge I've accumulated. And let's face it, there just aren't a lot of people away from the track who are interested in learning how best to hurl their bodies into a sandbox.

4) What are the extent of your duties at Cal State LA?

4) As assistant track coach, I'm responsible for coaching the men's and women's jumps (triple, long and high). I'm also responsible for recruiting and assist with administrative duties, fund raising and whatever else needs to be done to make sure the program runs smoothly and efficiently.

5) How has been coaching so far - what is it like to work with folks who may jump 10 feet less than yourself?

5) I really enjoy coaching. A lot of this has to do with the student-athletes I work with. They are receptive and willing to work hard. But I have to admit that coaching is 10 times more difficult than performing the jump myself. It's taken a long time for my coaches and I to figure out which techniques and cues work best for me. Now, I face the daily challenge of figuring out how to best unravel and communicate these things to eight unique individuals. Seeing them improve, however, makes the challenge more than worthwhile.

6) Some of the goals for yourself and your team this year and in the future?

6) As a very small and young team, we'd like to finish among the top three in the CCAA Conference this year. We'd also like to see some of our individual standouts do well at nationals. We're looking forward to recruiting some athletes who will help us be even more successful in the future.

As far as my personal goals as a coach, I just want to help each of my athletes to realize their potential. I'll be happy if I can accomplish that.

7) Any simple advice to a beginning Triple Jumper as they take up the event early in their high school careers?

7) I have two pieces of advice for a beginning triple jumper:

First, become a student of the event. The triple jump is so complex that you can jump for 15 years and still not master all aspects of it.

Second, and most importantly, have fun!

Doug, I hope this answers your questions. Let me know if I can help you with any further information.

Sheila

USATF Bio of Sheila - huge accomplishments in our sport!!!

Cal State LA Release on her hiring as Assistant Coach

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Editors: Doug Speck and Rich Gonzalez
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