A&M-Commerce Faculty and Students Conduct Elite Athlete Research Abroad

A team of A&M-Commerce researchers recently partnered with USA Track & Field to conduct research at the 2023 Thorpe Cup competition in Germany. The trip was sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Performance, the College of Education and Human Services and the Office of International Programs at A&M-Commerce.

(The ROARHP Lab team with USA Track & Field superstar and social media sensation Chari Hawkins.)

Tasked with building an athletic profile of the world's top heptathletes and decathletes, the ROARHP Lab team traveled with the DARI Motion markerless motion capture system to analyze biomechanical patterns of movement during the athletes' daily preparations. They aim to formulate a mathematical model to help coaches predict potential points scored in competition compared to field tests and biomechanical data.

(The ROARHP Lab team and USA Track & Field heptathlon and decathlon athletes in Marburg, Germany.)

Faculty researchers included Dr. Michael Oldham, Dr. Steve Prewitt, Dr. Vipa Bernhardt and Kaylie Campbell, R.D. Undergraduate researchers included Fatima Alonso, Cheni Byun, Gi Gwon, Jacqueline Navarro, Marshall Tousant, Cate Voorheese and Riley Williams. Graduate researchers included Francesca Aquilino, Ernie Balderrama, Raquel Cavazos, Shelby Gerner and Austin Riffe.

Explore opportunities available through the Department of Health and Human Performance at A&M-Commerce.