Coaches
Linda Campbell - Coaching Coordinator
My first experience with coaching was as a senior in high school,
having been involved in T&F and Field Hockey since age 11. I was
invited to coach some special needs children in elementary school
and also what is now called Special Olympics. Coaching took a break
while raising 4 children and restarted in 1993 as a Discus coach
with Prince George Track & Field. In 1995
I moved to Victoria where
I coached Discus and RW for 13 years. I am a NCCP Level 2 Middle
Distance coach and have my level 3 Technical Mid/Long distance and
I'm just finishing up my level 3 Theory.
In addition to T&F I'm a YMCA certified Personal Trainer although no
longer working in the field the background in strength and
conditioning is complimentary to track and field training.
Al Johnston
Al has been coaching for 20+ years at all levels. His coaching
career started in Saskatchewan in the early 1980’s and continued
when he moved back to Vancouver Island in 1994 to attend the
National Coaching Institute in Victoria specializing in Middle
Distance. He has produced champions from the local to the
International level. He has also been involved in coaching blind and
paraplegic athletes who have medaled at international competitions.
Al has coached on several provincial teams and national teams. At
the Provincial level he has been a team coach on all Provincial
teams, from Zone teams to Canada Games Team. He was recently named
to Team BC for the 2009 Canada Games team in Prince Edward Island.
At the national level he has been a team coach on the Francophone
Games team, World Junior Championship team, World Youth Team, World
Championships as well as the World Cup of Race Walking, Head Coach
Pan-Am Cup of Race Walking and Pan Am Jr. Cup of Race Walk.
A NCCP Master Coach in middle distance he is also a certified NCCP
Theory Facilitator for
Part A & B and Level 3. A Technical Course Conductor for T & F level
1, 2 & 3 and a Master Facilitator for the RJT program. Al also holds
the unique distinction of being a certified IAAF level 2
Distance/Race Walk Course Conductor as well as a certified IAAF
Level 2 Race Walk coach.
At present he is involved in coaching at Wellington Secondary
School, Nanaimo Track and Field Club, member of the BCA Senior
Technical Committee and is the acting President of this Club.
Mike Viers
Mike has coached midget to masters aged sprinters with the club
since 2004. Mike is a former competitive sprinter who spent time
with the Kamloops Track and Field Club, Coquitlam Cheetahs,
University of BC, and Sims including the National Legion Camp,
Canadian Junior and Senior Championships, Olympic Trion Fraser
University teams. Mike has competed at numerous
national level eventals, Canadian Indoor Championships, Western
Canada Games, Canada Games, and the Canadian University Indoor
Championships.
Mike also represented Canada on several national teams. He competed
for Canada at the 1991 Pan-American Junior Championships in Jamaica
(6th in 100m final), the 1993 World Student Games in Buffalo (4th in
the 4x100m relay), and the 1994 Francophone Games in Paris (ran in
semi-finals for 4x100m team that eventually won gold). Mike lists
his main motivations for coaching as
passing along the knowledge that his former coaches gave to him and
helping athletes strive for personal excellence. Mike has been a
physiotherapist since 1998 and currently works at Summit Injury
Management at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.
Brian Foan
My only competitive achievement when young was winning the Welsh
High Schools Chess Championship. I began cross country running in
my late teens in the Royal Air Force. However, when I emigrated to
New Zealand in 1958, I switched to tramping. Hiking remains my favourite physical pursuit. I had my first track experience at the
age of 56 when I got bored of watching my daughter compete. So we
joined the track club in 1989 and I found myself coaching the cross
country team. Currently I coordinate the Track Rascals Program and
the off-season fitness programs. I have CAC certification at Level 3
technical in distance running and full certification at Level 2,
also RUN JUMP THROW certification.
Jeannie Isbister
Jeannie Isbister is a certified Level one coach and RJT coach, and a
level two official. She started coaching track and field when her
daughters joined the club nine years ago. She is a former sprinter,
hurdler and long jumper.
Patrick Milford
I'm a 23 year old 3rd year physical education student at VIU.
Competed for Nanaimo T&F from 2001-2002. Competed in Shot Put,
Hammer, Discuss and Shot Put. Graduated from Dover Bay Secondary in
2003. Retired from T&F competition to focus on my competitive
weightlifting career.
I won 3 Under-20 National Championships from 2003-2006. Holds many
provincial records in 2 different weight classes. Currently coaches
rugby as well as weightlifting at the high school level.
Maryon Paulsen
Strugstad
Age: 22
Maryon is a track and field athlete from Norway who came to Canada
in 2006 to study at VIU. She is currently in her 3rd year of a
Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Earth Science.
Maryon has been coaching at the Nanaimo track and field club since
spring 2008. Before she came to Canada she was coaching track and
field at summer camps in Norway. In 2004 she became a certified
track and field referee and have experience from small local meets
and larger international meets.
Maryon is still an active athlete and competing. So far she has won
several medals in the Nationals for juniors in Norway and become
within the top 6 in the Nationals for Seniors (long-jump and
triple-jump). In 2005 she competed for Norway on the national team
in the Nordic Match (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland)
where she came 6th in long jump. She likes to be diverse and has at
different points competed in all track and field events.
"Being competitive, trying out all kinds of events and learning
about the rules and regulations as a referee has given me a lot of
knowledge about track and field. I really enjoy sharing this with
all the kids as well as my love for the sport."
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