Kibwé Johnson, a two-time Olympic hammer thrower and a former NCAA record holder in the weight throw, dispatched advice to all three of IMG Academy's heptathletes, Juskeviciute, Alix Still and Sara Absten.

Johnson, who has worked at the Bradenton, Fla. school since October 2015, is one member of a coaching staff with impressive pedigrees. It's one of the things that make IMG Academy unique.

"Technically, it's kind of a sports school," Johnson said. "You go half a day for school and half a day for sports. That makes it pretty intense."

IMG has gained a reputation for its football and basketball teams, among others. But with instructors like Johnson, former LSU head coach Loren Seagrave, and the recent addition of former Olympic hurdler Dwight Thomas, the track and field program could be picking up steam.

"It's been really fun working with the kids, especially this group for the past two years," said Todd Jones, a multis coach who worked in Germany for the past seven years and before that at the Chula Vista Training Center, gaining expertise in events from the marathon to the shot put.

"My job is to teach them as good of a technical basis for all the events as possible.

"Our kids go to practice in the morning, go to practice in the afternoon and have an APD -- Athletic & Personal Development (period) -- either nutrition, mental conditioning, skills that you don't learn on the track or in the classroom."

Juskeviciute, a native of Kaunas, Lithuania, who won the New Balance Nationals Outdoor heptathlon with 5,251 points, visited the academy for summer camp in 2016. The academy offers one-to three-week camps in many disciplines. (National high school heptathlon record holder Anna Hall of Valor Christian CO is a previous camper).

Juskeviciute enrolled full time in January 2017.

"At first you are frustrated," said Juskeviciute, who will compete at Cornell. "It took a while to adapt. At first my marks dropped and I was like, 'What happened?'

"I ended up PRing in all my events, adding 500 points to my score. I went to World Juniors and got fifth."

The Academy has an international flavor. Jones counts athletes from eight countries on the track team, including Juskeviciute and Torstein Eliassen, a native of Norway who was turned onto IMG as an exchange student in Florida (Eliassen finished 11th in the decathlon at NBNO with 6,014 points). 

"One of the best things is to see them (appreciate) each other's cultures," Jones said.  

Breakthrough for Ofotan

The Field School DC senior Justin Ofotan emerged as a surprise performer in the 100 meters at New Balance Nationals. His 10.40 second-place finish in the 100 shocked some, including his coach, Jesse Gaylord.

"He came into the weekend with a 10.58 PR," Gaylord said Ofotan, who set 10.58/21.61 meet records May 24 at the DCSAA Championships.

"I thought he might be able to run 10.48 if he really ran well. When he ran 10.40, I was blown away."

Ofotan, whose cousins Kimberly Azie and Stanley Azie were sprinters the University of Wisconsin and the University of Illinois, has never run an indoor season. He played soccer and basketball at The Field School but a running focus appears to be the next step.

"I plan on running in college," said Ofotan, who is still uncommitted. "After this performance I feel I can compete at a higher level."

NFL Pedigree

Wellesley MA sophomore Abby Comella, who finished 10th in the 400 (54.90), counts her father, former NFL and Stanford fullback Greg Comella, among her biggest influences.

"His kind of drive," Comella said. "Just seeing how hard he works on everything. I got that from him. Just ignoring all the things that stop you from getting to where you want to go."

Greg Comella played seven seasons in the NFL for four teams, most notably for the New York Giants where he spent four seasons.

Soto Story

WIth an infectious clap, Centerville OH junior Yariel Soto awakened the crowd at New Balance Nationals. Shooting the long jump runway, the decathlete plunged to the pit for a 23-4 personal best.

For Soto, who finished second to Indiana's Peyton Haack in the decathlon with 7,025 points, the multi is a perfect fit.  

"There's nothing better for me than to try to be the world's greatest athlete, now or in the future," Soto said. "The guys in the event are great. You can joke with them but it's also a competition.

"It's 10 events, and takes place over two days. It's so me."

Soto's proven his versatility in Ohio, claiming outdoor state championships in the long jump and pole vault, with PRs of 24-2.75 and 15-7 and an indoor state championship in the long jump and the 400 (with a PR of 49.25). 

It's a talent with a familial root: Soto's mother, Johanna, a native of Hatillo, Puerto Rico, ran the 400, 200, 4x400 and long jumped as a school girl on the island.

"I've always thought about representing Puerto Rico but I didn't realize that I could do it until this year," said Soto, who is aiming for the IAAF World U-20 Championships.

"During spring break I visited Puerto Rico and met with the Federation. They told me it would be no problem."

Growing Into the HJ

With lithe quickness, Nyagoa Bayak skirted the high jump pit and prepared to jump. It's a routine the Westbrook ME junior and Maine state record holder has mastered over time.

"I've been jumping since the seventh grade," Bayak said. "In middle school, you're able to do basketball and track. Then as a sophomore it got hard (to do both), so I decided to do track."

Bayak, who stands over six feet tall, is still growing into the event.

"I've definitely progressed," said Bayak, who finished second in the high jump at 5-10.50 at New Balance Nationals. "Sophomore year I jumped 5-6. I've definitely gotten stronger but I've still got a lot of work to do."

Added Dave Miklovich, one of Bayak's coaches at Westbrook: "She's kind of got some direction with track and field and the high jump. Up until a couple of weeks ago she was still doing the triple jump. She did 39-1. ... She's been absolutely great to work with. She's done a great job taking on criticism and taking on goals."

Kinder Paying It Forward

Under a blazing sun in Greensboro, Jeff Kinder eyed the long jump pit. A 1988 Olympic decathlete, Kinder had his eyes on two athletes: his son, Jett Kinder, and teammate Garrett Lee.

"That's too flat!" Kinder instructed one of the boys. "He's got to set it down on the right foot."

At Kindersport Elite, an outgrowth of the Nashville-based Kinder Foundation, Kinder has put his expertise to good use.

Kinder was originally drawn to the Music City for a country music career following a coaching stint at the University of Virginia. Starting in 1993, Kinder's band, Last Man Standing, toured for 10 years and shared the same producer with Jason Aldean.

Kinder also found fertile ground in Nashville to promote youth sports.

"It's something I feel that I should be doing," Kinder said. "Honestly, it just kind of grew out of a couple of kids and working with them. We worked together and it grew pretty organically."

Kinder's son, Jett, who finished sixth in the decathlon at NBNO 2017 with 6,245 points and won the 10-event decathlon at the Tennessee State Championship with 6,557 points, did not compete past the 400, logging 3,204 points through five events. Lee finished 12th  with 5,628 points.

"You have to be extremely optimistic," Kinder said about training for the decathlon. "Even if they've got five or six events (mastered), they still have to pick up the other ones. We have a situation like that now. We have a kid with eight events. Then you have the ninth and you find out how hard it is to get that event."

Kinder took up the event when John Bach, a coaching legend at Festus High in Missouri, suggested it to him.

With enthusiasm, Kinder is passing on his knowledge to the next generation.

"Nobody's recruiting you," Kinder said. "But most college coaches are looking at your grades and marks. It's your ACT and your 100 time."