Strong Youth Conference 2024 Keynote Speaker: Ed Eyestone

In this engaging talk, Ed Eyestone shares invaluable insights on youth sports, coaching, and the balance between striving for perfection and embracing imperfection. Through personal stories and examples, he discusses the importance of keeping sports fun, avoiding early specialization, and letting young athletes take the reins in their development. Whether you're a parent, coach, or athlete, this talk provides a wealth of knowledge on fostering long-term success and happiness in sports. Tune in for practical advice and inspiring stories, including how fun can lead to Olympic success!

Ed Eyestone was a 10 time All-American and 4 time National Champion in the 10,000 meters (twice), 5000 meters and cross country at Brigham Young University. His senior year he won the triple crown national championships of cross country and the 5000 and 10,000 meters outdoors. He went on to have a 15 year professional running career, winning the title of American Road Racer of the year 5 times. He made the 1988 and 1992 US Olympic Teams in the marathon. He was a member of 8 US World Cross Country teams, including 3 teams that won bronze and silver medals. He has been the Head Men's Cross Country Coach since 2000 and in 2013 was named the Director of Track and Field over the combined men's and women's program. During that time his men's cross country teams have won 17 conference titles and have qualified for the NCAA championships every year, a streak of 24 years straight. His men's cross country teams have finished in the top 10 12 times, including winning the National championship in 2019 over a highly favored NAU team for which he was named NCAA Coach of the Year. His distance runners have earned 34 All-American awards and 84 first team track All-American honors.

Ed has coached 4 of his athletes to berths on the US Olympic team. In addition to coaching Conner Mantz and Clayton Young to their recent wins at the 2024 Olympic Marathon trials, Ed coached Jared Ward to the Olympic marathon team (2016) and Josh McAdams, Steeplechase (2008). Rory Linkletter, a former BYU All-American, has also qualified for the 2024 Canadian Olympic team in the marathon.

Ed was a monthly columnist for Runner's World Magazine from 2000-2011 and is a color analyst for marathons from 1994 to the present. He was the lead distance analyst on NBC for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has been commentator for network broadcasts of the Boston, New York City and Chicago marathons, including the Chicago race call of Kelvin Kiptum's 2023 world record.