Temple University Women's Track

Forde, a four-time All-American and two-time Olympian, came to the Owls after spending a dozen years as the head track and field coach at Illinois State.  He had previously served 13 years as the head track and field coach at Austin Peay State. A native of St. Andrew, Barbados, Forde has dedicated his life to the sport of track and field, helping student-athletes succeed not only in competition but in the classroom. In his 12 years at ISU (2002-14), Forde was able to foster a successful environment, and coached many outstanding student-athletes including 10-time All-American and Capital One Academic All-American Brittany Smith, NCAA javelin champion Tim Glover, and two-time Missouri Valley Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year Devon Williams, who amassed 11 conference titles and set four school records and one MVC mark. Named the 2001 Ohio Valley Coach of the Year during his 13-year tenure at Austin Peay State (1989-2002), Forde coached four Capital One Academic All-Americans, an NCAA Outdoor All-American and three conference Student-Athletes of the Year. A successful runner in his own right, Forde started his collegiate career at Murray State, where he earned All-America honors as runner-up in the 600-yard dash at the 1982 NCAA Indoor Championships.  He later transferred to Southern Illinois Carbondale where he earned multiple All-America honors for the Salukis.  In 1984, as a member of the SIUC 1600-meter relay team, he helped set NCAA records during both the indoor (3:07.15) and outdoor (3:00.78) seasons. Named the Southern Illinois Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior in 1984, he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1995. Following his successful college career, Forde competed in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, representing Barbados.  He was a two-time national champion at 600 yards at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships and he still owns the Barbados national record in the 400-meter dash. Forde owns a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Southern Illinois (1986) and a Master of Science degree in athletic administration from Austin Peay State (1994). Forde, and his wife Beverly, are the proud parents of two children, Chante' and Kevin. Elvis Forde, who has a quarter century of experience as a head track and field/cross country coach at the NCAA Division I level, was named the track and field/cross country coach at Temple University in August of 2014.  Forde, a four-time All-American and two-time Olympian, came to the Owls after spending a dozen years as the head track and field coach at Illinois State.  He had previously served 13 years as the head track and field coach at Austin Peay State. A native of St. Andrew, Barbados, Forde has dedicated his life to the sport of track and field, helping student-athletes succeed not only in competition but in the classroom. In his 12 years at ISU (2002-14), Forde was able to foster a successful environment, and coached many outstanding student-athletes including 10-time All-American and Capital One Academic All-American Brittany Smith, NCAA javelin champion Tim Glover, and two-time Missouri Valley Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year Devon Williams, who amassed 11 conference titles and set four school records and one MVC mark. Named the 2001 Ohio Valley Coach of the Year during his 13-year tenure at Austin Peay State (1989-2002), Forde coached four Capital One Academic All-Americans, an NCAA Outdoor All-American and three conference Student-Athletes of the Year. A successful runner in his own right, Forde started his collegiate career at Murray State, where he earned All-America honors as runner-up in the 600-yard dash at the 1982 NCAA Indoor Championships.  He later transferred to Southern Illinois Carbondale where he earned multiple All-America honors for the Salukis.  In 1984, as a member of the SIUC 1600-meter relay team, he helped set NCAA records during both the indoor (3:07.15) and outdoor (3:00.78) seasons. Named the Southern Illinois Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior in 1984, he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1995. Following his successful college career, Forde competed in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, representing Barbados.  He was a two-time national champion at 600 yards at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships and he still owns the Barbados national record in the 400-meter dash. Forde owns a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Southern Illinois (1986) and a Master of Science degree in athletic administration from Austin Peay State (1994). Forde, and his wife Beverly, are the proud parents of two children, Chante' and Kevin.

Snyder handles the day-to-day responsibilities for the cross country teams as well as the middle and long distance runners on the track. No stranger to the Philadelphia area, Snyder is a Downingtown, Pa., native and graduate of Downingtown East High School.  During Snyders three years at the helm of the Owls distance running program the team has experienced unprecedented success at the conference, regional and national level. Blanca Fernandez recently completed her career as an Owl by earning Second Team All-American honors in the 5,000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the NCAA Preliminary Round she also established a new school record in the event. Continuing her dominance at the conference level, she defended her 1500m crown from the previous spring and doubled back to win the 5,000m, scoring 20 points for the Owls. Sophomore Katie Pinson also earned All-Conference honors in the 3,000m steeplechase and established a new school record in the process. At the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, the Womens DMR placed second to earn All-Conference recognition.  In the fall, Fernandez completed an undefeated regular season prior to earning All-American honors with her 29th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. She became the first female cross country All-American in Temple history and was also honored as the NCAA-Mid Atlantic Cross Country Runner of the Year, American Athletic Conference Champion and Temple University Female Athlete of the Year.  On the mens side, seniors Matt Kacyon and Alex Izewski earned All-Conference honors leading the team to a program-best fourth-place finish at the American Athletic Conference Championships.  Snyders second year on North Broad was a memorable one for the Owls as Fernandez became Temples first female track & field athlete in nearly 30 years to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She went on to earn Second Team All-American Honors in the mile.  At the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, Fernandez was named Track Performer of the Meet after winning both the mile and 3000m in meet record times. Snyders athletes broke three school records during the indoor campaign (mile, 3000m, 5000m) and this success continued onto the outdoor oval where the womens distance group established new program bests in every event from 800m through 10,000m.  Fernandez replicated her performance indoors by earning Second Team All-American Honors in the 1500m at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  She won the 1500m at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships and also was named All-Conference in the 5000m. On the cross country course, Kacyon became Temples first All-Conference honoree when he finished eighth at The American Athletic Conference Championships. Two weeks later at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, Kacyon earned All-Region honors and was named to the USTFCCCA Academic All-American Team. The mens distance group continued to thrive on the track where Izewski became the first Owl in 38 years to break the 30-minute barrier in the 10,000m run.  He and Kacyon each qualified for the IC4A Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  In his first year at Temple, Snyders distance runners established numerous school records as the team adapted to his training philosophy. Five athletes earned All-Conference accolades in the Owls' inaugural year in the American Athletic Conference. Competing in the IC4A/ECAC Championships, Jenna Dubrow (womens 10,000m) and Kacyon (mens 3,000m steeplechase) earned All-East Honors.  Kacyon also represented the Owls in the East Preliminary Round of the NCAA Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase in 2014.  Off the course, Snyders mens and womens cross country teams have earned USTFCCCA Academic All-American Honors each year of his tenure. Snyder came to Temple from Florida State University where he served as the operations assistant for the Seminoles cross country and track & field program for a year.  Among other duties, Snyder was responsible for managing the equipment budget, planning team travel, assisting with home meet management, coordinating on-campus recruiting and assisting with the day to day administration of the Seminole men's distance program.  Team accomplishments during the 2012-13 season included an NCAA fifth-place finish for mens cross country as well as an ACC Mens Outdoor Track & Field title. Prior to his summer 2012 arrival in Tallahassee, Snyder spent two years as a graduate assistant at Appalachian State University, where he assisted with both the men's and women's distance programs. The Mountaineers enjoyed wide-ranging success both in cross country and on the track, with both the men and women establishing numerous school records, NCAA East Preliminary qualifying marks and Southern Conference championships and honors. Snyder is a USA Track & Field Level I and II (Endurance) coach and was selected by USATF to participate in the inaugural Coaches Mentorship Program held in conjunction with the 2012 Olympic Track & Field Trials. A firm believer in the importance of resistance training for distance runners, he is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and has received the distinction of Sport Performance Coach from USA Weightlifting. Snyder graduated as the '09 class valedictorian from the exercise science department at George Mason University, where he was a multiple letterwinner for the cross country and track & field programs. In 2012 he completed a master's degree in exercise science (strength & conditioning concentration) from Appalachian State.  While in graduate school Snyders research focused on sport science and distance running performance.  He has presented his work before the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength & Conditioning Association.  Snyder has also had his work published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, The Journal of Sport Science as well as the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. As a student he completed an internship with the United States Olympic Committee in Lake Placid, N.Y., and also spent three summers working for ZAP Fitness, a Team USA Distance Running Training Center in Blowing Rock, N.C.  In addition to his work with the Owls Snyder also coaches Brandon Hudgins, a post-collegiate athlete who qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials in the 1500m.  James and his wife Rachel reside in Philadelphia.   James Snyder joined the Temple Athletics staff as the Assistant Track & Field/Cross Country Coach in July, 2013 and was named Head Mens & Womens Cross Country Coach in July, 2016.  Snyder handles the day-to-day responsibilities for the cross country teams as well as the middle and long distance runners on the track. No stranger to the Philadelphia area, Snyder is a Downingtown, Pa., native and graduate of Downingtown East High School.  During Snyders three years at the helm of the Owls distance running program the team has experienced unprecedented success at the conference, regional and national level. Blanca Fernandez recently completed her career as an Owl by earning Second Team All-American honors in the 5,000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the NCAA Preliminary Round she also established a new school record in the event. Continuing her dominance at the conference level, she defended her 1500m crown from the previous spring and doubled back to win the 5,000m, scoring 20 points for the Owls. Sophomore Katie Pinson also earned All-Conference honors in the 3,000m steeplechase and established a new school record in the process. At the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, the Womens DMR placed second to earn All-Conference recognition.  In the fall, Fernandez completed an undefeated regular season prior to earning All-American honors with her 29th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. She became the first female cross country All-American in Temple history and was also honored as the NCAA-Mid Atlantic Cross Country Runner of the Year, American Athletic Conference Champion and Temple University Female Athlete of the Year.  On the mens side, seniors Matt Kacyon and Alex Izewski earned All-Conference honors leading the team to a program-best fourth-place finish at the American Athletic Conference Championships.  Snyders second year on North Broad was a memorable one for the Owls as Fernandez became Temples first female track & field athlete in nearly 30 years to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She went on to earn Second Team All-American Honors in the mile.  At the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, Fernandez was named Track Performer of the Meet after winning both the mile and 3000m in meet record times. Snyders athletes broke three school records during the indoor campaign (mile, 3000m, 5000m) and this success continued onto the outdoor oval where the womens distance group established new program bests in every event from 800m through 10,000m.  Fernandez replicated her performance indoors by earning Second Team All-American Honors in the 1500m at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  She won the 1500m at the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships and also was named All-Conference in the 5000m. On the cross country course, Kacyon became Temples first All-Conference honoree when he finished eighth at The American Athletic Conference Championships. Two weeks later at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, Kacyon earned All-Region honors and was named to the USTFCCCA Academic All-American Team. The mens distance group continued to thrive on the track where Izewski became the first Owl in 38 years to break the 30-minute barrier in the 10,000m run.  He and Kacyon each qualified for the IC4A Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  In his first year at Temple, Snyders distance runners established numerous school records as the team adapted to his training philosophy. Five athletes earned All-Conference accolades in the Owls' inaugural year in the American Athletic Conference. Competing in the IC4A/ECAC Championships, Jenna Dubrow (womens 10,000m) and Kacyon (mens 3,000m steeplechase) earned All-East Honors.  Kacyon also represented the Owls in the East Preliminary Round of the NCAA Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase in 2014.  Off the course, Snyders mens and womens cross country teams have earned USTFCCCA Academic All-American Honors each year of his tenure. Snyder came to Temple from Florida State University where he served as the operations assistant for the Seminoles cross country and track & field program for a year.  Among other duties, Snyder was responsible for managing the equipment budget, planning team travel, assisting with home meet management, coordinating on-campus recruiting and assisting with the day to day administration of the Seminole men's distance program.  Team accomplishments during the 2012-13 season included an NCAA fifth-place finish for mens cross country as well as an ACC Mens Outdoor Track & Field title. Prior to his summer 2012 arrival in Tallahassee, Snyder spent two years as a graduate assistant at Appalachian State University, where he assisted with both the men's and women's distance programs. The Mountaineers enjoyed wide-ranging success both in cross country and on the track, with both the men and women establishing numerous school records, NCAA East Preliminary qualifying marks and Southern Conference championships and honors. Snyder is a USA Track & Field Level I and II (Endurance) coach and was selected by USATF to participate in the inaugural Coaches Mentorship Program held in conjunction with the 2012 Olympic Track & Field Trials. A firm believer in the importance of resistance training for distance runners, he is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and has received the distinction of Sport Performance Coach from USA Weightlifting. Snyder graduated as the '09 class valedictorian from the exercise science department at George Mason University, where he was a multiple letterwinner for the cross country and track & field programs. In 2012 he completed a master's degree in exercise science (strength & conditioning concentration) from Appalachian State.  While in graduate school Snyders research focused on sport science and distance running performance.  He has presented his work before the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength & Conditioning Association.  Snyder has also had his work published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, The Journal of Sport Science as well as the International Journal of Athletic Therapy and Training. As a student he completed an internship with the United States Olympic Committee in Lake Placid, N.Y., and also spent three summers working for ZAP Fitness, a Team USA Distance Running Training Center in Blowing Rock, N.C.  In addition to his work with the Owls Snyder also coaches Brandon Hudgins, a post-collegiate athlete who qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials in the 1500m.  James and his wife Rachel reside in Philadelphia.  

Forde, a four-time All-American and two-time Olympian, came to the Owls after spending a dozen years as the head track and field coach at Illinois State.  He had previously served 13 years as the head track and field coach at Austin Peay State. A native of St. Andrew, Barbados, Forde has dedicated his life to the sport of track and field, helping student-athletes succeed not only in competition but in the classroom. In his 12 years at ISU (2002-14), Forde was able to foster a successful environment, and coached many outstanding student-athletes including 10-time All-American and Capital One Academic All-American Brittany Smith, NCAA javelin champion Tim Glover, and two-time Missouri Valley Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year Devon Williams, who amassed 11 conference titles and set four school records and one MVC mark. Named the 2001 Ohio Valley Coach of the Year during his 13-year tenure at Austin Peay State (1989-2002), Forde coached four Capital One Academic All-Americans, an NCAA Outdoor All-American and three conference Student-Athletes of the Year. A successful runner in his own right, Forde started his collegiate career at Murray State, where he earned All-America honors as runner-up in the 600-yard dash at the 1982 NCAA Indoor Championships.  He later transferred to Southern Illinois Carbondale where he earned multiple All-America honors for the Salukis.  In 1984, as a member of the SIUC 1600-meter relay team, he helped set NCAA records during both the indoor (3:07.15) and outdoor (3:00.78) seasons. Named the Southern Illinois Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior in 1984, he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1995. Following his successful college career, Forde competed in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, representing Barbados.  He was a two-time national champion at 600 yards at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships and he still owns the Barbados national record in the 400-meter dash. Forde owns a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Southern Illinois (1986) and a Master of Science degree in athletic administration from Austin Peay State (1994). Forde, and his wife Beverly, are the proud parents of two children, Chante' and Kevin. Elvis Forde, who has a quarter century of experience as a head track and field/cross country coach at the NCAA Division I level, was named the track and field/cross country coach at Temple University in August of 2014.  Forde, a four-time All-American and two-time Olympian, came to the Owls after spending a dozen years as the head track and field coach at Illinois State.  He had previously served 13 years as the head track and field coach at Austin Peay State. A native of St. Andrew, Barbados, Forde has dedicated his life to the sport of track and field, helping student-athletes succeed not only in competition but in the classroom. In his 12 years at ISU (2002-14), Forde was able to foster a successful environment, and coached many outstanding student-athletes including 10-time All-American and Capital One Academic All-American Brittany Smith, NCAA javelin champion Tim Glover, and two-time Missouri Valley Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year Devon Williams, who amassed 11 conference titles and set four school records and one MVC mark. Named the 2001 Ohio Valley Coach of the Year during his 13-year tenure at Austin Peay State (1989-2002), Forde coached four Capital One Academic All-Americans, an NCAA Outdoor All-American and three conference Student-Athletes of the Year. A successful runner in his own right, Forde started his collegiate career at Murray State, where he earned All-America honors as runner-up in the 600-yard dash at the 1982 NCAA Indoor Championships.  He later transferred to Southern Illinois Carbondale where he earned multiple All-America honors for the Salukis.  In 1984, as a member of the SIUC 1600-meter relay team, he helped set NCAA records during both the indoor (3:07.15) and outdoor (3:00.78) seasons. Named the Southern Illinois Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior in 1984, he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 1995. Following his successful college career, Forde competed in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, representing Barbados.  He was a two-time national champion at 600 yards at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships and he still owns the Barbados national record in the 400-meter dash. Forde owns a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Southern Illinois (1986) and a Master of Science degree in athletic administration from Austin Peay State (1994). Forde, and his wife Beverly, are the proud parents of two children, Chante' and Kevin.