LCKC coaches resign

GAINESVILLE - The husband and wife who have coached the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club the past year have given up the post so the wife can train for the 2008 Olympics.

Shelley Oates-Wilding, a two-time kayak Olympian from Australia, is returning to Australia to train.

"(We are) grateful for the intense love and commitment devoted to our program by the Wildings this year and they will be greatly missed," said LCKC Executive Director Connie Hagler. " We wish Shelley the best in her quest for the Olympic dream."

Shelley and Guy Wilding have been head coaches for the LCKC for the past year.

"Shelley's daily commitment to teach local athletes to aspire and and live their dreams made her realize that she wants to give an Olympic medal another try," Hagler said, who added that a search has already begun for a new coach.

The Wildings have had a record-breaking year as coaches at the Lanier Legacy Program. Nine local athletes qualified for the U.S. Junior World Championships team, five qualified for the U.S. Senior World Championships and 21 Lanier athletes paddled for the U.S. in the Pan American Championships this summer in Lac Beauport, Quebec.

Hagler says the training and motivation provided by the Wildings helped Morgan House post the best results in U.S. history at the Junior World Championships in Hungary with his 5th place finish in the K1 Men 500M and 9th in the K1 Men 1000M.

"Similar improvements were seen with many of the athletes in the Lanier program," Hagler added. "The Wildings improved an exceptional Lanier program which is now poised to reach even greater heights."