Legend brings Coast girl up to speed
Nikita Lee | 15th October 2009
sunshine-coast-daily
Internationally acclaimed coach Tom Tellez who trained Carl Lewis was helping Monique Hastie and other students at the Sunshine Coast University fine tune their jumping technique.
John McCutcheonTHE Boyd household has been abuzz with constant talk of athletics this week — but with good reason.
It is not every day you have the coach who mentored Olympic athlete Carl Lewis to nine gold medals ready and willing to dish out his tips to success.
Denise Boyd met legendary coach Tom Tellez a year ago when her athletic daughter, Jacinta, competed in his hometown of Houston.
She invited him to spend a week holidaying at their Sunshine Coast home after a congress in Melbourne.
It was merely an added bonus when the “retired” coach offered to give 25 young athletes in her regular training group some practical tips on improving their skills.
Mr Tellez yesterday described the aspiring Coast athletes as “very cooperative and very quick to learn”.
“It’s been a wonderful experience for me working every day with the kids and being able to walk on the beach every morning,” he said.
“I haven’t seen many places like this in my life.
“I’m from Houston but I grew up in California which is a lot more commercialised, but the Sunshine Coast is still like you’re in California in the ‘50s.”
Mr Tellez has spent most afternoons this week coaching athletes as young as 12 right up to 25, using the University of the Sunshine Coast’s track and field complex.
The high profile former University of Houston head coach has run clinics for budding athletes since Carl Lewis persuaded him out of retirement before the Beijing Olympic Games.
“Carl asked me to do it because he wanted to create a better situation for them, so I trained post collegiate athletes who made it to Beijing,” he said.
For Denise and Ray Boyd and their three athletic children, squeezing as many tips from the seasoned coach has been invaluable.
“He is such a wonderful coach and has so much knowledge,” Mrs Boyd said.