CALIFORNIA (July 23) – The California University of Pennsylvania cross country and track & field programs are hosting “The Road to the Top” featuring speakers Dr. Joe Vigil, Joe Newton and Roger Kingdom.

The two-day event begins Thursday, Aug. 5 at 3:30 p.m. in Steele Auditorium for athletes. The following day, Friday, Aug. 6, is designed as a coaches' clinic and will begin at 9 a.m. in Keystone Hall Room 205. Click here for a daily schedule.

Vigil has been a U.S. Olympic distance coach since 1988 during which time he has coached Olympic medalists and over 100 National Champions. One of the founders of the USATF coaching education program, Vigil has received 11 Hall of Fame and 14 National Coach of the Year awards. On several occasions he has served as head coach of the U.S. World Cross Country teams. He has lectured on six continents and is considered be one of the greatest U.S. distances coaches in history.

Newton, head cross country coach of York High School has led the boys of York High School to 26 state titles, and 20 National titles. Back in 1988 he was the first high school coach ever assigned as a manager for the U.S. Olympic team. On countless occasions, Newton has been voted Coach of the Year in addition to receiving 12 Hall of Fame awards. Newton is a renowned speaker who has written four books, concentrating on training and motivation. The movie "The Long Green Line," which documents Newton's 2005 boy's team, has become a must-watch for distance runners and in turn has propelled the 80-year old Newton to international running fame.

Kingdom, director of the Cal U Track & Field and Cross Country programs, is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Originally from Vienna, Ga., Kingdom won the gold medal in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He is a five-time U.S. champion and won gold medals in the 1989 World Cup, 1989 World University Games and the 1989 and 1995 Pan Am Games. Kingdom set the world record of 12.92 in the 110-meter high hurdles in Zurich, Switzerland in 1989, surpassing the mark set by Renaldo Nehemiah. He retired from active competition in 1998.

For additional information, please contact Cal U head cross country coach Daniel Caulfield at 724.938.5684 or caulfield@calu.edu.