The Gill Athletics Track and Field Connections Podcast10 Helmi 2025

#297: Mechelle Freeman-2024 Olympic Head Women's Relay Coach

We had the incredible honor of sitting down with Mechelle Freeman, the 2024 Head Women's Relay Coach for Team USA. Mechelle brings a wealth of experience, from her days blazing down the track at South Carolina 🐔🏃‍♀️ to leading the world’s fastest women on the biggest stages.

🔥 In this episode, Mechelle shares:

- How racing boys in her neighborhood sparked her love for track 🏃‍♀️💨

- The twin dynamic – growing up with her equally fast sister 👯‍♀️

- Winning a National Championship at South Carolina and learning from Coach Curtis Frye 🏆

- Her transition from advertising to chasing Olympic dreams and eventually coaching elite athletes

- The science and art behind coaching Team USA’s relays – and the pressure that comes with it! 💪📊

One of the standout moments? Mechelle’s motto: "I observe and I learn." 🧠👀

✨ We also dive deep into her work with TrackGirlz, empowering young women in the sport and breaking down barriers for future generations 🌍👧🏽💪.

🎧 Hit play and get inspired by Mechelle’s journey of resilience, faith, and leadership – this one’s not to be missed!

🌟 Explore Our Library: Dive into nearly 300 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such as Boo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar coaches Petros Kyprianou (Illinois) and Althea Thomas (Vanderbilt) and many more! Find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more for your listening pleasure.

📲 Stay Connected: Want to get in touch with our host, Mike Cunningham? Follow him on Twitter (@MikeCunningham), shoot him an email at mcunningham@gillathletics.com, or send a text to 217-898-3038. We love hearing from you! 🎧👍

#TrackAndField #GilConnections #WomenInSports #RelayCoach

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#362: Kailey Johnson-Central Methodist Univ | From Athlete to Coach

Kailey Johnson didn’t grow up dreaming of being a coach.She grew up in it.From playing in the sand pits as a kid while her dad coached… to competing as a hurdler at Central Methodist… to now standing ...

11 Touko 1h 53min

#158: Gill1918 Presents Marybeth Price-Rekortan (Rekortan Penn Relays Speaker Series)

Grateful to Rekortan for hosting a Coaches Speaker Session at the 2026 Penn Relays. Recorded on Friday during the Coaches Hospitality, Rekortan invited coaches and Rekortan teammates to share their ru...

10 Touko 9min

#157: Gill1918 Presents Isabella Whitaker-ON (Rekortan Penn Relays Speaker Series)

9 Touko 14min

#156: Gill1918 presents Track Tribe LIVE: (Part 3) "Teaching Across Generations" with David Mitchell hosted by Kyle Jones

🌟Explore Our Library: Dive into over 350 episodes featuring insights from coaching legends such asBoo Schexnayder and Dan Pfaff, Diljeet Taylor (BYU) and Beth Alford-Sullivan, as well as superstar co...

8 Touko 21min

#155: Gill1918 presents Track Tribe LIVE: (Part 2) "Teaching Across Generations" with David Mitchell hosted by Kyle Jones

7 Touko 24min

#154: Gill1918 presents Track Tribe LIVE: (Part 1) "Teaching Across Generations" with David Mitchell hosted by Kyle Jones

6 Touko 21min

#153: Gill1918 Presents Katie Follett Conquering Pre-Race Anxiety Powered by Coach O

Katie is a mental skills coach and licensed therapist for Elevated Performance following a 13-year career as a professional runner including winning a US Road Mile Championship and being a World Indoo...

5 Touko 17min

#361: Steven Sanchez-Univ of Delaware | From the Bronx to Building a Coaching Mindset

There’s something powerful about a coach who knew early.Steven Sanchez didn’t just stumble into coaching—he was already studying it, researching it, and chasing it while still in high school in the Br...

4 Touko 1h 57min