South Lake Hospital partners with Pure Athletics to expand track and field in Central Florida
The partnership will allow for expanded programming and athlete recruitment.
MEDIA CONTACT
Kim Couch
352.241.7122
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CLERMONT, Fla. — South Lake Hospital has entered into a management agreement with Pure Athletics to operate the National Training Center (NTC) Track and Field Complex.
The partnership will allow for expanded programming and athlete recruitment at the facility and help grow the NTC outreach in the track and field industry. Ken Brauman leads the management of Pure Athletics and comes with an extensive track and field resume.
“We are excited about the opportunities that this partnership will bring the area, both in terms of increased sports tourism and community programming,” commented Paul Johns, South Lake Hospital Chief Operating Officer. “Ken Brauman has a proven model of success and is highly regarded locally and internationally in the sport of track and field.”
Brauman was the head manager of the U.S. Olympic Men’s team for the 2012 London Olympic Games, 2011 World Outdoor Championships, Daegu, South Korea, 2010 World Indoor Championships, Doha, Qatar and 2009 World Championships, Berlin, Germany, as well as over a half dozen additional international teams. Locally, Brauman is the meet director for prestigious meets including the annual Golden South Classic held in Orlando. Brauman coached high school track and field for over 40 years and was named the Florida track coach of the year 10 times and the national track coach of the year in 1997. He is a member of the Florida Track Hall of Fame and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
The hospital owns and has operated the NTC Track and Field Complex since it was built in 2002. The partnership will create a more focused effort on recruitment for college teams as well as international athletic teams looking for warm weather training in preparation for events such as world championships and future Olympic Games.
“I am looking forward to this new partnership,” commented Brauman. “We will be undergoing renovation projects in the next several months to make the track and field complex second to none as a premier training destination for local, national and international athletes. We will continue to support current community programs while reaching out to offer more opportunities to the youth in Lake County."
In addition to sports tourism, Pure Athletics will also bring new community opportunities to the area. A competitive youth track club – Pure Athletics Youth Track Club – is now being offered at the NTC Track & Field Complex for athletes ages five through 18. This club is coached by Gary Evans, who also runs a successful youth club in Gainesville, Fla. Pure Athletics plans to work with the local high schools to create invitational to draw teams to the South Lake area from throughout Florida and the southern region.
The NTC Track and Field Complex will also remain the home of Pure Athletics professional team, which is coached by Lance Brauman. The team includes 11 professional track and field athletes including Tyson Gay, Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Nikel Ashmeade, Alonso Edward, Curtis Mitchell, Jason Smyth, Gerald Phiri, Ramon McKenzie, Samantha Henry-Robinson and Tiffany Townsend. The pro team has been training at the NTC since 2007.
“With the professional athletes training at the NTC, Ken Brauman’s business expertise and the community component of Pure Athletics, the hospital feels that this partnership will continue to strengthen the NTC’s presence in the sports world,” commented Johns.
About LiveWell South Lake Hospital Campus:
The LiveWell South Lake Hospital Campus includes the 122-bed non-profit hospital, in partnership with Orlando Health, Centre for Women’s Health, LiveWell Fitness Center, National Training Center, South Lake Endoscopy Center, South Lake Surgery Center and campus partners Special Olympics Florida, Brandy Johnson Global Gymnastics and several medical office buildings.
South Lake Hospital has been serving the healthcare needs of the South Lake community since 1947 and employs 1,100 employees and has more than 200 physicians on its medical staff. The campus focuses on preventative healthcare through health, sports and fitness programming.
