COACH GARFIELD ELLENWOOD TO LEAD TEAM LIBERIA INTO THE 2008 ATHLETICS SEASON

Coach Garfield is the husband of former Liberian Track Athlete Joycelyn Harris

Bethune-Cookman University track & field head coach Garfield Ellenwood has been named to head the Liberian National Track & Field team into the 2008 season. An exciting teacher and outstanding recruiter, Garfield Ellenwood enters into his second year at the helm of the cross country and track & field programs at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He serves as the head coach of the men's and women's programs for each sport. Coach Garfield Ellenwood is the husband of Liberian Joycelyn Harris, a former Liberian Track athlete.

For his outstanding background and coaching services known around the track & field world, Ellenwood has been selected to lead the Liberian National team. That entails serving as the team liaison for all events; training and preparation for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing; as well as the development and implementation of a sustainable youth program.

"This is a great honor for not only me, but for my wife Joyce and her family," exclaims coach Ellenwood. "I am looking forward to building a great relationship in Liberia, and hopefully start to mend some great international ties for the Liberia track & field federation. This is certainly a way to attract some international attention to top Liberian athletes within this ever-growing sport.

Garfield's duties began March 7th as he prepared he Liberian Track Team for the just ended World Indoor Championships in Spain, where Kia Davis advanced to the semifinals in 60 meter hurdles and the Men’s 400 meter relay team of Hafiz Greigre, Marvin Lewis, Siraj Williams and Bobby Young finished 9th in the first round. The upcoming schedule for the Liberian Track Team is the Penn Relays in April, the African Championships in May, and the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

“I think Coach Gee with his strong credentials will be able to transform this program and take it to a new level,” stated two-time Olympian and Track Ambassador Kouty Mawenh. “Coach Gee’s leadership has already paid dividends by recruiting and raising the level for Liberian Track. Liberia Track is back!” exclaimed Mawenh.

"This is allowing me and Bethune-Cookman University to open gates that haven't been opened before," states Coach Ellenwood. "With this partnership, we get the chance to open up the international gates to Liberian students through the United Negro College Fund by supporting African nations. This is just an amazing opportunity with so many levels of possibility. This is certainly going to also help put Bethune-Cookman University Track & Field on the map."

Ellenwood arrived at Bethune-Cookman University after spending two years as an assistant coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). While at UNLV, he helped to guide the Running' Rebels women's program into a national competitor out of the Mountain West Conference. Under Coach Ellenwood's tenure, Christine Spence earned a two-time NCAA All-American status (HJ, 400H), Halima DeCree also earned NCAA All-American status (100m), and Ashley Owens was the NCAA All-American second place finalist by .01 second at the Indoor National Championship.

During the summer of 2005, Ellenwood served as an assistant coach at the World Junior Championships in Windsor, Canada. While there, he helped coach six gold medalists and a total of 17 medalists for Team USA.

Ellenwood is no stranger to the track himself after being an All-America athlete at his alma mater of Seton Hall. On the track, Ellenwood set a Big East Conference record in the 55-meter dash during the indoor campaign, as well as finishing third in the event in the 1997 NCAA Indoor Championship. During his illustrious career, Ellenwood won five Big East titles and was a three-time All-America student-athlete. A 1998 graduate, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Sciences/Psychology.

Ellenwood continues to perform on the track from time-to-time professionally as a sprinter throughout the world in his spare time. Most recently, he helped to represent the United States for the first time in his career at the 2002 Penn Relays where he was a member of the USA Red 4x200 meter relay squad that competed against the likes of Poland, Ghana, Germany and Jamaica.

"I will always be a practical participant of the sport," adds Ellenwood.
While running with the Reebok Enclave, Ellenwood competed in the 2000 United Olympic Trials in both the 100 and 200 meter dash competitions. During the 2000 indoor season, he placed fourth overall in the United States Championships in the 200-meter event.

For his previous coaching experience, Ellenwood has enjoyed stints as a volunteer assistant coach at Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey, as well as, coaching track & field athletes in his hometown of Rochester, New York. That includes volunteer efforts with Southwest Area Neighborhood and the National Youth Sports Program.

"Giving back to your surrounding community is vital to inspire youth and others that may develop into great contributors to the sport of track and field in the future," comments Ellenwood.

Garfield Ellenwood is a member of the USATF Athlete Advisory Committee and has been in that position since 1999. He is a USATF Level I Certified coach. During the 2004 USATF annual convention, Ellenwood was named the AAC event leader for the men's sprints, as well as, an assistant coach for the 2005 World University Games for the men's track team which competed in Izmir, Turkey. (US team did not travel due to the bird flu)

Coach Ellenwood is a native of Rochester, New York and currently lives in Palm Coast, Florida. He resides with his Liberian wife Joyce Ellenwood and his 14-year old daughter Diamond Ellenwood.