President's Corner

A word from VAS President - Dan Foutz

To all our supporters, athletes, coaches, sponsors, and volunteers,

We are one month out of a remarkably successful Main Games Weekend at Liberty University. We were fortunate to have Coach Deletha Quarles as our Olympic speaker. She delivered an inspiring speech to thousands of Virginia Commonwealth Games athletes and their families. That following Wednesday she was on her way to Paris France. The Director of the James Madison Track & Field, Coach Dee aided Team USA by coaching the jumps and multis. Under her leadership, the United States tallied a gold medal and pair of bronzes in jumping events. Team USA secured gold and bronze in the women’s long jump and a bronze medal in the triple jump. Please read a great article on Coach Dee in this newsletter.

We are gearing up for our annual golf tournament at Hanging Rock Golf Club on September 19th. It is a memorial tournament in honor of a former VAS employee who left us too soon in his battle with cancer. Get your team signed up here. It is always a fun day at the course with lunch and nice prizes.

As always, we appreciate your support and participation. Continue to train, practice, and prepare and I look forward to seeing you all out there!

Best wishes!
Dan Foutz

Games Information

Thanks for being a part of the 2024 Commonwealth Games!
We had a record number of participants this year!
 Check out all the great photos on our Facebook page.
We have over 1,000 photos posted in the 2024 albums.
We have more sports still happening this year:
  • Field Hockey – Gloucester – August 24
  • Able Soccer – Amherst – October
  • Darts – Lynchburg – November 16-17
  • Able Rugby – UVA – Fall
  • Cheerleading – Virtual - Fall
 
Save the Date for the 2025 Virginia Commonwealth Games at Liberty University, Lynchburg – Main Games Weekend July 18-20
 

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped support our events, we appreciate you!


 
Still time to get your 2024 Commonwealth Games Merchandise! 


Get your Official Gear before it’s gone!
 

Upcoming Special Events

We are Looking for Golfers and Sponsors
27th Annual VAS Owen Grogan “Big O” Memorial Golf Tournament 
September 19 at Hanging Rock, Salem 
For more information check out our flyer!

 
Registration is open for the Star City Half Marathon,
10K and Kids Miler 


Saturday, November 23, River’s Edge, Roanoke
Roanoke’s longest-standing premier running event, part of the Blue Ridge Triple Crown Series.  After party includes favorite foods from around Roanoke and beverage truck!
Click Here for More info!


 
 

by Chris Moody - VAS Contributor
 

From the halls of a small Virginia high school to the bright lights of Paris, Coach Delethea Quarles has traveled an amazing route. Her journey hits its pinnacle in early August when she will be one of the coaches for Team USA track and field at the   Olympics in Paris.

Quarles, known universally as Coach Dee, will coach the women’s jumping events and the heptathlon.

Quarles, now the director of track and field at James Madison University, this is her first chance to be on the Team USA coaching staff at the Olympics, although she has coached the United States’ team in other international events, including serving as head women’s coach in IAAF World Championships in Beijing in 2015.

Earning a spot as a coach for Team USA is a high-pressure, performance-based selection akin to making the team as an athlete. It starts with an application to be a coach for junior events and lower-tier international meets. In those roles, Coach Dee has traveled to Russia, Qatar, South Korea, Canada and Brazil. Along the way, she made the grade that allowed her to apply to remain on the international staff.

“You’re graded on performance,” she said. “You have to get a certain grade to be able to apply again. It’s a great time but a high-pressure time.”  (Read More)

 


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