TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Keena Miller
Texas School for the Deaf
512-462-5328, cell: 512-658-4444
FOR RELEASE MARCH 3, 2011
World Record Runner Visits High School Track & Fielders
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Athletes Inspired by Elite Athlete, Achievements
Austin, Texas – March 3, 2011 As a track and cross-country record holder who leads by example, Leonel Manzano inspires students at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) to push beyond challenges and limitations to be the best they can be….on and off the track.
At 4:00 p.m. Thursday, March 3 Manzano will give a brief pep talk to the TSD track team, sharing his story of “Running Unleashed” which he first experienced in 2005 as a freshman at the University of Texas when he won his first ever NCAA Outdoor Championship. As a Longhorn, Manzano was and still is a top-ranked runner. After the Beijing Olympic Games, Manzano continues to compete internationally and currently holds the number 6 position in the world and is ranked number 1 in the United States at the one-mile distance.
Embarking on the upcoming 2011 track season, TSD has high hopes of defending the National Deaf Track Championship title earned in 2010. For students, Manzano will share his challenges growing up in rural Mexico with odds stacked against him, to experiences and achievements he never thought could be reality. Manzano will provide some tips and training drills, and sign autographs for TSD athletes.
Nick Bannon, TSD’s Curriculum Specialist and Wellness Coordinator says, "having Leo presents a wonderful opportunity for TSD student athletes to learn a few things from one of the best in the world. All athletes face obstacles, but inspiration directly from Leo, who’s done so much as a young man, places, within reach, a belief that anyone can achieve greatness with the right determination and mindset.”
Manzano, along with Jack and Adam’s Bicycles of Austin, hosts the Manzano Mile at the Texas School for the Deaf on Saturday, April 2, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The event is open to all participants, ages 10-50+, with proceeds benefiting the Leo Manzano Foundation.
The Texas School for the Deaf is the oldest continuously operating public school in Texas. Educating deaf and hard of hearing students of Texas since 1856, the campus also provides outreach and educational resources for students, their families and professionals in the field throughout the state of Texas. With educational excellence and a strong belief in a culture and community at TSD, students form a unique identity based on their individual strengths and talents. TSD is an environment where students learn, grow, and belong. For more information about the Texas School for the Deaf, visit http://www.tsd.state.tx.us/. To register for the Manzano Mile, visit: http://www.manzanomile.com.
WHAT: Leonel Manzano visits Texas School for the Deaf track and field team
WHEN: Thursday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Gamblin Field
Texas School for the Deaf
1102 South Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78704
CONTACT: Keena Miller, 512-462-5328, cell: 512-658-4444