News

Catching up with old friends In July Dan Barber (VoAAC Exec/Social Media Officer) caught up with past VoAAC athlete Karl Goodman.

FORMER VALE ATHLETE TURNED COACH KARL GOODMAN MAKING WAVES ACROSS THE POND! Karl Goodman was an athlete with VoAAC from 2007-2014 before heading off to the USA to the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina, then finishing his competitive track career at the University of Texas in Arlington. Having dipped under 23seconds and 50seconds for the 200m and 400m respectively whilst with the VoAAC, he went on to lower his PB’s to 21.76secs and 47.40secs in 2018 with the latter set in Bedford at the South of England Championships on his way to a 2nd place finish. Karl spent the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons at the University of Texas in Arlington working as a graduate assistant coach directly under associate head coach Jordan Durham and former GB sprinter turned assistant coach Tyrone Edgar. Karl moved to Coastal Carolina University in 2019 where he became an assistant coach on their track and field program. Karl currently has two US national champions as Melissa Jefferson won the 60m NCAA title indoors and most recently the 100m at the US National Championships in a scintillating 10.69secs (+2.9) and Mekenze Kelley became the US U20 400m champion in 52.10secs. Jefferson will now go on to represent the USA at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon later this month. In the latest development in Karl’s career, he has recently been named associate head coach at Coastal Carolina! Congratulations to Karl and his charges and we’ll be following his career progression with interest! Dan Barber caught up with Karl recently to find out how he is feeling during this whirlwind of a season... Hear their conversation at

https://www.voaac.org.uk/former-vale-athleteturned-coach-karl-goodman-making-wavesacross-the-pond/

Other news Unfortunately news of other friends wasn't so good this year.

PETER HOARE Sadly Peter passed away in November after a year long battle with deteriorating health. Peter was a long time member of VoAAC and friend and colleague to everyone within the club and beyond. A passionate athlete himself for the club in his younger years, coach, track timekeeping official for both club and county and beyond, VoAAC executive committee member and current President, as well as being on numerous other committees over the years for athletics locally. As well as our maintenance man when required. His loss to the club and beyond is enormous and he will be very much missed by us all. Following Peter's funeral the club made a donation to Thames Valley Air Ambulance in Peter's memory. Together with past VoAAC chairman, athlete, coach and Boxing Day race organiser, Graham Gorman, who also sadly passed away in September 2021, the club has lost almost a 100 combined years of athletics knowledge and experience! Both Graham and Peter are very sadly missed! BEN GREGORY Great Britain and Wales decathlete 'in coma' after bike crash.

Ben Gregory has represented Great Britain, is a multiple Welsh champion and competed at three Commonwealth Games.

In August Ben, a former VoAAC athlete, was left in a critical condition after being involved in a serious bike crash. His partner, Naomi Heffernan, said on social media: "Ben... has a fractured skull, neck and multiple haemorrhages to his brain. He's in a coma and on life support." Ben survived, but has been left with life changing injuries, although recent social media posts from Naomi show promising improvements with Ben up and learning to walk again. A JustGiving fundraising page has be set up and VoAAC have donated towards helping support Ben's recovery. If you would also like to donate:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ bengregzrecoveryfund

PASSING OF THE QUEEN In September VoAAC acknowledged the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty visited the Stoke Mandeville Stadium on 2nd August 1969 to see the work of WheelPower and to officially open the facilities at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, birthplace of the Paralympic Movement and home to VoAAC.