About the Coaches

Coach Shaw- Head Coach- Sprints

“Hello!

My name is Coach Shaw and I was a NCAA Division 1 student-athlete, at the University of Colorado.  I have been coaching competitive Track athletes for 7+ years and have helped many athletes, of all sports, with speed and strength training.  Although I have a full-time profession in law enforcement, my passion is working with the youth and watching them grow as athletes and leaders within their community.  I look to build a relationship with my athletes and reinforce the connection between integrity and the value of sports.

Sports may be the foundation for my athletes, but it will not be what defines them.  These sessions will mold them to attack life’s challenges the same way they will attack workouts.

My focus is on High school athletes that are looking to compete at the collegiate level.  I grew up realizing that I had a lot of talent, but I was missing a lot of key information, maturity, and direction that could have helped me get recruited.  I help make sure that my athletes are staying focused and teach them how to gain the attention of coaches at the next level.  I try to individualize all workouts to keep my athletes healthy and ready to compete.  I also work on the ultra competitor mindset with athletes so they understand how much work (and grind) is required to gain what they want.  Again, I am looking to help my athletes in a lot of different elements of athletics.  I encourage athletes that will be dedicated to making themselves better to join the family.”

 

University of Colorado Honors:

• 5 varsity letters earned
• Pac 12 honors in track and field in the 60m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m
• 6^th fastest 60m runner in school history (6.74)
• 30^th fastest runner in NCAA 200m western region finals (21.01)
• CU Male lifter of the year 2015
• (Selected)Leadership academy 2013-2015

Chatfield Senior High Honors:

• All-State track and field 2009
• 1^st team All-Conference football 2009
• Conference Champion 100, 200, 4x100m, and 4x200m 2008
• 2^nd team All-Conference football 2008

Coaching Credit

• 30+ Junior Olympic State Finalists
• 20+ Junior Olympic Regional Qualifiers
• 8 Junior Olympic National Qualifiers
• 12 High School Individual Conference Finalists
• 10 CHSAA Individual State Finalists
• 6 Collegiate Recruited Athletes

Coach Wirth- Hurdles/Sprints/Jumps

Hi everyone! My name is Jacenta and I am the jumps and hurdles coach. I have been involved in track and field since I can remember. I grew up doing USATF and our family vacations were always created around where the national meet was that summer! I was a USATF national high jump champion and All-American for 5 years in the heptathlon, I was also 8 time MN state high school champion in the high jump, triple jump and 100 hurdles as well as in gymnastics. From there I went on to the University of Minnesota where I was a NCAA Division 1 track and field athlete. I was a national qualifier in the heptathlon and finished as the Big Ten runner-up in the javelin and the pentathlon/heptathlon during my career. I was also part of the 1st ever Big Ten Team Title for our school. I was recently inducted into the Moorhead High School Hall of Fame in 2020.

After college, I continued to coach youth and high school track and field in Minnesota and provided private lessons until I moved to Denver. Soon after, I became the sprints/jumps/hurdles coach at Metro State for 2 years before going back to school to become a nurse. During this short period away from coaching, I completed my USATF Certified Official class as I have a strong passion for the sport of track and field. I love the variety the sport offers and the enthusiasm the kids bring to the track each and every day. My philosophy for coaching is based around developing each person to be the best person they can be, both on and off the track. Teaching the youth to be responsible and respectful, but also to push themselves to their limits and learn how much they can actually achieve.

• Certifications:
• Precision Nutrition Certified
• B.S. Exercise Science
• Masters Degree in Education
• B.S. in Nursing
• USATF official certified
• USATF Level 1 certification  (in progress)
• Coach John- Sprints-Assistant/Photographer