De Grasse joins ALTIS

[Speedster]

From the front page:

http://worldathleticscenter.com/news/de-grasse-joins-altis/

Not staying with his USC set up and Carol Smith Gilbert after all.

A high quality squad who I am sure will attract more athletes as a result of De Grasse moving there.

[booond]

Interesting and exciting. Can't wait for the outdoor sprint season to begin.

[1runner1]

A very wise decision!

[cladthin]

IMO-I think he'd be better off staying at USC-CGS is an excellent coach. That said, if he is able to work with Pfaff (or at least in a program that DP has a part in) I'm sure he will continue to excel.

I'd guess this change is being pushed by his agent/manager/Puma?

[booond]

IMO-I think he'd be better off staying at USC-CGS is an excellent coach.

Send them a gift basket with a nice card. Once a sprinter shows he/she is capable of running with the big dogs they should go. Too many bad things can happen during the freebie days better to get paid.

[cladthin]

Not every college coach who continues to work with an elite post college does so for free.

A lot of negatives can also take place when one changes programs/coaches particularly when the current one has had DeGrasse improving so dramatically.

We've all seen examples of recent collegiate elites fall off when changing to pro coaches. If a change is in the offing it's better to do so in preparation for a non Olympic year.

Another downside of Altis is the number of athletes that I've heard are currently training there. It can be a great environment to train in with numerous world class athletes and obviously some very good coaches. The other side of that is there are so many athletes there currently that one has to wonder how much individualized attention many of the athletes can get there. I'm not sure how they have the practices scheduled though I believe it's on the campus of a local college.

[ATK]

Another downside of Altis is the number of athletes that I've heard are currently training there.

How does it compare in size to groups like Dennis Mitchell's, Johns Smith's and Bobby Kersee's groups?

[cladthin]

How does it compare in size to groups like Dennis Mitchell's, Johns Smith's and Bobby Kersee's groups?

While I'm not completely sure about this, my understanding is that it is a larger group than those three groups combined.

[gm]

Stu McMillan will be his coach at Altis.

[cladthin]

I thought he would be the coach since he also works with Jobodwana and Pfaff works mostly with jumpers now though for his sake I would hope DP has some involvement in his program.

[cladthin]

Send them a gift basket with a nice card. Once a sprinter shows he/she is capable of running with the big dogs they should go. Too many bad things can happen during the freebie days better to get paid.

I misunderstand what you meant with your freebie comment. I meant since he's gone pro- IMO- he should to continue to train with CGS (who is at USC) as a pro not continue to be a collegiate athlete

[CKuykendall]

De Grasse will remain on my fantasy team until February and then depart, unless before that he changes to USA nationality, which is...uh...doubtful (Woody Allen: "commensurate with two like snowflakes"). Then I learn from the article that former team member Jeremy Dodson has switched to Samoa. Oh the humanity.

[cladthin]

I did hear recently that DeGrasse moving to Altis was pushed/insisted upon by PUMA.

[polevaultpower]

I've been super impressed with everything I've seen coming out of Altis and the conversations I've had with people there. No training group is perfect for everyone, but they seem to have a pretty awesome thing going on down there. My in-laws live in Phoenix, I'm looking forward to a visit!