Radford University Women's Track

Chumbley enters his 10th season at Radford University and his seventh year as the Director of Cross Country/Track and Field. During Chumbleys tenure as head coach, Radford has produced 151 all-conference performers, 39 Big South Champions, 37 regional qualifiers, 67 school records, a regional champion, and six All-Americans. The 2013-14 season saw nine new school records established and added 62 top-ten performances to the record books. Additionally, four conference championships and one NCAA All-American were also added. This years recruiting class includes several state champions - which many of them are expected to make an immediate impact. With added depth in the distances, two high ranking recruits in the throwing events and the return of a school record holder in the sprints, Radford is well positioned to make noise in the Big South come championship season. Chumbleys impact also carries over to post-collegiate athletes, just ask Radford's two-time All-American, Brian Richotte. He coached Richotte to the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in the hammer throw. He also coached Brian Krantz at the 2008 Indoor Championships. In 2011, Chumbley guided Kyle Morse in his second All-America campaign in the hammer throw. The Highlanders were named all-conference in seven events on the mens side and eight on the womens. Aimee Veatch enjoyed another standout season under Chumbleys watchful eye, breaking the Top-20 in the NCAA rankings for the weight throw. The Highlaners had five athletes that were regional qualifiers and had two athletes earn Academic All-America status in Matt Dobson and Sean Domer. Breaking school records have been a common occurance under Chumbley. A total of 22 school records on the womens side and 23 mens records have been eclipsed since 2007, when Chumbley arrived in Radford. Chumbleys 2009-10 season saw the mens team finish third at the Big South Outdoor Championships, the highest finish since 2006. The women garnered a third-place in the Big South Indoor Championships, also the highest since 2006. For his efforts on the womens side, Chumbley was named 2010 Big South Conference Womens Coach of the Year for the indoor season. The 2009 season was no different for Chumbley, as the Highlanders carried over their success from the previous year by placing fourth and sixth in the outdoor championship and sixth and seventh in the indoor championships. Chumbleys throwers fared well in the 2009 season as they placed in the top-five at both the indoor and outdoor championships. Freshman Aimee Veatch recorded first-place finishes in the weight throw at the indoor championships and reached the podium twice at the outdoor championships. Chumbley also had his hands in helping Lindsey Noe become the school record-holder in the pole vault.   On the mens side, he helped with the steady improvement of Matt Dobson and nurtured the talents of Justin Smith. During the 2009 season, each of these two individuals placed at the conference championship; Dobson in the weight throw and Smith in the hammer and discus. Chumbleys guidance helped six athletes qualify for the NCAA Regionals and national championships. Shemelia Brandon, Aimee Veatch and Britney Whittaker on the womens side and Raschad Kelso, Olajuwon Jones and the 4x400 team on the mens side. Kyle Morse reached the next level of competition as he competed in the USATF National Championships. Brett Olinger and Justin Smith also reached the next level as they competed in the USATF Junior Championships. Chumbleys knowledge and experience of the sport saw instant results in the 2008 season. The mens team posted their best-ever finish, second, at the Indoor Championships. Individually the mens and womens teams produced seven all-conference performers. The 2008 outdoor season saw individual Big South success and a number of Chumbleys athletes advanced to the NCAA Regional meet. Two women, Amy Marshall and Shemelia Brandon, and seven men, Kyle Morse, Nictae Moore, Daniel Oseth, Raschad Kelso, Olajuwon Jones, Wayne Gore and Gaylon Johnson, all competed in the East Regional. Morse, an athlete under Chumbleys teaching since his sophomore year, claimed the East Regional title in the hammer throw and advanced to the NCAA Championships, where he became Radfords fifth All-America athlete, and the first with Chumbley at the helm. In 2007, Chumbley was called on to fill a new role, moving into the position of interim Program Director. At the conclusion of Radfords track and field season in 2007, Chumbley had the interim tag lifted from his title when he became the schools director of track and field/cross country on June 23. On the womens side, he helped develop the top two throwers in programs history: Tiffany Evans and Marshall. Under Chumbleys watchful eye, Evans racked up four conference championships and earned Big South Field Performer of the Year honors in both the 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons. Marshall went on to post a pair of javelin titles of her own (2007-08), and etched her name into the school record books. In 2006, Chumbley was hired as the throws coach and in his first season there were instant results. Four throwers made their mark among the very best in the Big South and the programs record book. Before landing in Radford, Chumbleys background include four different stops. Prior to his arrival to Radford, he spent four seasons as an assistant at Illinois State. In his time with the Redbirds, Chumbley produced one United States Olympic Trials qualifier, two NCAA Championship qualifiers, 17 NCAA Regional qualifiers,eight conference champions and 23 all-conference performers. Prior to Illinois State, Chumbley spent one year at Murray State, where he helped produce a conference champion, 17 all-conference performers and guided his group in setting four school records. Chumbley earned his masters degree in teaching (physical education) from Hastings College (Ky.), where he coached the NAIA affiliate school in producing two All-Americans, 12 national qualifiers, one multi-event national champion and 17 new school records. Beyond his collegiate coaching resume, Chumbley brings experience from the King of the Ring Throws Festival, the Redbird Track and Field Camp, the Urbana Coaches Clinic, Central Illinois Track Club and the Chumbley and Fister Throws Camp. His track and field training includes certification as a USATF Level II Throws coach, and from USATF Level I coaching school. In 1998, Chumbley earned his bachelors degree in education and kinesiology from the University of Kentucky. An All-Southern Conference performer in the hammer throw while at Marshall University, Chumbley was also a three-time Kentucky High School State Champion. He and his wife Jennifer currently reside in Radford with their daughter, Alex.   Brent Chumbley Director of Cross Country / Track & Field Brent Chumbley enters his 10th season at Radford University and his seventh year as the Director of Cross Country/Track and Field. During Chumbleys tenure as head coach, Radford has produced 151 all-conference performers, 39 Big South Champions, 37 regional qualifiers, 67 school records, a regional champion, and six All-Americans. The 2013-14 season saw nine new school records established and added 62 top-ten performances to the record books. Additionally, four conference championships and one NCAA All-American were also added. This years recruiting class includes several state champions - which many of them are expected to make an immediate impact. With added depth in the distances, two high ranking recruits in the throwing events and the return of a school record holder in the sprints, Radford is well positioned to make noise in the Big South come championship season. Chumbleys impact also carries over to post-collegiate athletes, just ask Radford's two-time All-American, Brian Richotte. He coached Richotte to the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in the hammer throw. He also coached Brian Krantz at the 2008 Indoor Championships. In 2011, Chumbley guided Kyle Morse in his second All-America campaign in the hammer throw. The Highlanders were named all-conference in seven events on the mens side and eight on the womens. Aimee Veatch enjoyed another standout season under Chumbleys watchful eye, breaking the Top-20 in the NCAA rankings for the weight throw. The Highlaners had five athletes that were regional qualifiers and had two athletes earn Academic All-America status in Matt Dobson and Sean Domer. Breaking school records have been a common occurance under Chumbley. A total of 22 school records on the womens side and 23 mens records have been eclipsed since 2007, when Chumbley arrived in Radford. Chumbleys 2009-10 season saw the mens team finish third at the Big South Outdoor Championships, the highest finish since 2006. The women garnered a third-place in the Big South Indoor Championships, also the highest since 2006. For his efforts on the womens side, Chumbley was named 2010 Big South Conference Womens Coach of the Year for the indoor season. The 2009 season was no different for Chumbley, as the Highlanders carried over their success from the previous year by placing fourth and sixth in the outdoor championship and sixth and seventh in the indoor championships. Chumbleys throwers fared well in the 2009 season as they placed in the top-five at both the indoor and outdoor championships. Freshman Aimee Veatch recorded first-place finishes in the weight throw at the indoor championships and reached the podium twice at the outdoor championships. Chumbley also had his hands in helping Lindsey Noe become the school record-holder in the pole vault.   On the mens side, he helped with the steady improvement of Matt Dobson and nurtured the talents of Justin Smith. During the 2009 season, each of these two individuals placed at the conference championship; Dobson in the weight throw and Smith in the hammer and discus. Chumbleys guidance helped six athletes qualify for the NCAA Regionals and national championships. Shemelia Brandon, Aimee Veatch and Britney Whittaker on the womens side and Raschad Kelso, Olajuwon Jones and the 4x400 team on the mens side. Kyle Morse reached the next level of competition as he competed in the USATF National Championships. Brett Olinger and Justin Smith also reached the next level as they competed in the USATF Junior Championships. Chumbleys knowledge and experience of the sport saw instant results in the 2008 season. The mens team posted their best-ever finish, second, at the Indoor Championships. Individually the mens and womens teams produced seven all-conference performers. The 2008 outdoor season saw individual Big South success and a number of Chumbleys athletes advanced to the NCAA Regional meet. Two women, Amy Marshall and Shemelia Brandon, and seven men, Kyle Morse, Nictae Moore, Daniel Oseth, Raschad Kelso, Olajuwon Jones, Wayne Gore and Gaylon Johnson, all competed in the East Regional. Morse, an athlete under Chumbleys teaching since his sophomore year, claimed the East Regional title in the hammer throw and advanced to the NCAA Championships, where he became Radfords fifth All-America athlete, and the first with Chumbley at the helm. In 2007, Chumbley was called on to fill a new role, moving into the position of interim Program Director. At the conclusion of Radfords track and field season in 2007, Chumbley had the interim tag lifted from his title when he became the schools director of track and field/cross country on June 23. On the womens side, he helped develop the top two throwers in programs history: Tiffany Evans and Marshall. Under Chumbleys watchful eye, Evans racked up four conference championships and earned Big South Field Performer of the Year honors in both the 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons. Marshall went on to post a pair of javelin titles of her own (2007-08), and etched her name into the school record books. In 2006, Chumbley was hired as the throws coach and in his first season there were instant results. Four throwers made their mark among the very best in the Big South and the programs record book. Before landing in Radford, Chumbleys background include four different stops. Prior to his arrival to Radford, he spent four seasons as an assistant at Illinois State. In his time with the Redbirds, Chumbley produced one United States Olympic Trials qualifier, two NCAA Championship qualifiers, 17 NCAA Regional qualifiers,eight conference champions and 23 all-conference performers. Prior to Illinois State, Chumbley spent one year at Murray State, where he helped produce a conference champion, 17 all-conference performers and guided his group in setting four school records. Chumbley earned his masters degree in teaching (physical education) from Hastings College (Ky.), where he coached the NAIA affiliate school in producing two All-Americans, 12 national qualifiers, one multi-event national champion and 17 new school records. Beyond his collegiate coaching resume, Chumbley brings experience from the King of the Ring Throws Festival, the Redbird Track and Field Camp, the Urbana Coaches Clinic, Central Illinois Track Club and the Chumbley and Fister Throws Camp. His track and field training includes certification as a USATF Level II Throws coach, and from USATF Level I coaching school. In 1998, Chumbley earned his bachelors degree in education and kinesiology from the University of Kentucky. An All-Southern Conference performer in the hammer throw while at Marshall University, Chumbley was also a three-time Kentucky High School State Champion. He and his wife Jennifer currently reside in Radford with their daughter, Alex.  

Thatcher was named Radford's head cross country coach/assistant track and field coach in August 2015. At Radford, Thatcher will oversee the Highlanders' cross country teams and work with the women's track distance crew. Prior to his first head coaching position, Thatcher  spent three years at Bowling Green State, having direct oversight of the men's cross country program while assisting with the women's distance runners.   During his first men's cross country season at BGSU in 2013, Thatcher guided Jason Salyer to a sixth-place finish at the MAC Championships to become the Falcons' first men's cross country runner to be named First-Team All-MAC since 1995. Salyer added a 51 st -place finish out of 207 runners at the NCAA Regional Championships and was third of 289 runners at the All-Ohio Championships.   In addition to their athletic accolades, Thatcher's student-athletes were equally as impressive in the classroom. His men's cross country teams ranked in the top 10 of the USTFCCCA academic team rankings two of the last three years.   A Lakeview, Ohio native, Thatcher went to Bowling Green after spending seven years (2005-12) with the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), where he competed as an athlete and coach.   Thatcher was an assistant coach at Heidelberg University, working with the cross country and track and field programs from 2010-12. While at Heidelberg, Thatcher's duties included training the mid-distance groups, serving as recruiting coordinator, and conducting operational duties for team travel and fundraising.   Prior to his stint at Heidelberg, Thatcher participated in cross country and track and field at Ohio Northern University for four years, where he was a three-time all-conference honoree. Thatcher was also part of five OAC championship teams, and was a NCAA DIII National Cross Country Championship qualifier as the team placed 11 th .   Thatcher assisted an Ohio Northern program that had both men's and women's individual cross country conference champions in 2009. The program also won a team championship in women's cross country and men's and women's indoor track and field in his one season as a student-assistant coach.   While attending Ohio Northern, Thatcher was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Habitat for Humanity, while also being named to the dean's list four times.   Thatcher, who is USATF Level I Coaching Certified, graduated from Ohio Northern University in May of 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Bachelor of Arts in sport management. He completed his master's degree from Heidelberg University in education in May 2014. Thatcher and his wife, Erica, have two children: Braden and Lillian. Eric Thatcher was named Radford's head cross country coach/assistant track and field coach in August 2015.

Coach Sayers in entering her fifth year as head coach after being promoted to Director of Cross Country and Track & Field on July 31, 2019. Previously, she served as Assistant Coach from the 2015 - 2019 seasons.   Sayers has been in the New River Valley most of her life as a Blacksburg native and a Roanoke College alumna. In 2016, she was inducted into Blacksburg High School’s Athletics Hall of Fame due to her athletic accomplishments. Sayers has achieved as much success in coaching in addition to racing. During the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, Sayers saw a resurgence of Radford distance running including back-to-back Big South cross country runner-up finishes and Hannah Moran’s individual championship in 2021. Moran went on to break numerous school records and become the first NCAA East Preliminary qualifier since 2015 for the Highlanders. In addition to the distance squad, several athletes earned podium finishes in the Big South Track & Field Championships in 2022, including Austin Swallow’s second-place javelin performance.   In the 2019 season, the Highlanders saw further growth and improvement with two Big South champions at the 2019 Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships in La'Tisha Chambers (200-meter dash) and Taylor Tinsley (high jump). Amidst the shortened 2020 season, Radford's newcomers set countless marks in the top-10 lists. Additionally, veterans continued building on previous seasons by improving personal records and moving up in the record books. The Highlanders have also excelled inside the classroom by during the Spring 2020 semester with 90% of the team earning above a 3.0 GPA. In 2018, Sayers assisted in leading Radford to the program’s best finish in history at the Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships during a season that saw Amelia Reynolds earn Big South Freshman of the Year honors and several athletes earning places on the podium. Prior to her time at Radford, Sayers made an impact at the University of Norther Iowa (UNI) and Roanoke College. During her time at Northern Iowa, she was one of the few women in the country to head a combined men's and women's program. Her sprinters and hurdlers established four school records, earned six Missouri Valley all-conference honors, and captured two Missouri Valley Conference Championships in the 4x400 relay. In 2015, Sayers coached a NCAA Division I qualifier in the 400 meter and two women to All-MVC honors and onto the UNI all-time top five list in the 400m. She also mentored an athlete to set a freshman record in the 60m hurdles (8.63) and earn All-MVC honors (2nd). Her shuttle hurdle relay team finished second at the Drake Relays in 2012 and was ranked No. 6 in the nation by USA Track & Field News. Prior to UNI, Sayers spent six seasons at Roanoke College as an assistant Track & Field coach. While in Roanoke, she developed a dominant group of sprinters and hurdlers that won nine straight ODAC titles. In total, Sayers coached eight individual All-Americans, four All-American relay squads, and one national champion; while her event groups established 28 school records and 12 conference records. Sayers' success was honored, being awarded the South/Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She became the first female coach to receive the title. Sayers is a 2000 graduate of Roanoke College and is USATF Level 2 certified in sprints, hurdles and relays. She resides in the New River Valley with her husband, Andy, and their daughters, Lily and Virginia.   WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT SHELLI SAYERS... "Shelli is a truly extraordinary track and field coach. She cares deeply for all of her athletes and has always displayed a tireless commitment to their success. She's going to make a terrific head coach at Radford and I couldn't be happier for Shelli and the Highlanders" – Dan Steele, Former Associate Head Coach at Iowa State   "I could not think of a better choice. It has been a pleasure watching Shelli's student-athletes grow under her direction and watching the performance that she gets out of them." – Ben Paxton, Head Cross Country & Track Coach at Winthrop   "Coach Sayers is a highly respected coach. She has established her legacy of developing successful athletes and will serve Radford well as the head track & field coach. She knows the sport inside and out, but equally as important, she genuinely cares about the well being of her student-athletes." - Natasha Kaiser-Brown, Associate Head Track and Field Coach at Missouri