Stop Me Project

Howdy & aloha! Episode 414 of Airey Bros Radio brings us back to New Jersey as we sit down with Coach Nicol Starkes, Associate Head Coach for Rutgers Cross Country & Track & Field — one of the brightest rising programs in the Big Ten.Coach Starkes has played a major role in Rutgers’ distance resurgence, guiding the Scarlet Knights to school records in the 800, 1500, mile, 3000, and DMR, multiple NCAA All-Region honors, and the best team finishes in program history.A former NCAA All-American, six-time A-10 Champion, and Olympic Trials Qualifier, she’s also a member of both the Ridge High School and University of Richmond Halls of Fame.In this deep-dive, we cover:Building Rutgers into a Big Ten contenderCoaching philosophy, athlete development & cultureDouble-threshold training & lactate testingRecruiting New Jersey talentNIL, transfer portal, academics & campus lifeCoach Starkes’ athletic journey + Gags storiesProgram vision for XC/Indoor/Outdoor T&FIf you’re a runner, recruit, coac