Swim Coaches
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Megan Melgaard – Head Swim Coach E-mail: Megan.Melgaard@gmail.com Running Experience: 2 Marathons Cycling Experience: 20+ century rides Swimming Experience: US National Team Triathlon Experience: 40+ Off Road Triathlons, Olympics, Half IRONMANs, Full IRONMAN Awards: US National Champion in Swimming, 5-Time All American, Pan American Games Silver Medalist (Swimming), Swim Course Record Holder (World Championships Xterra Off Road Triathlon), Pan American Masters Champion (Open Water 3K) Certifications: USAT Race Director, WSI, American Swim Coaches Association, USA Swimming, US Masters Swimming, CPR, First Aid, FIT, SPIN Instructor |
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Background: Megan is a World Class competitive swimmer and triathlete and is currently on the United States National Swim Team. She was a five time All American in swimming in college at the University of Florida and was also named to the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society, among many other such achievements. She continues to race pool and open water competitions, aquathlons, adventure races, in addition to on and off-road triathlons. Her passion is helping others develop greater confidence in their swimming skills to help achieve their athletic dreams. |
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Karen Killough – Co-Head Swim Coach E-mail: kckillough@gmail.com Running Experience: 2 Marathons, 4 Half-marathons Cycling Experience: Spin class instructor Triathlon Experience: 9 Sprints, 9 Olympics, 1 Half IRONMAN, 1 IRONMAN Awards: 8 AG podium finishes, competed at AG Nationals 2003 & 2004 Certifications: Spinning Instructor, CPR |
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Background: Karen comes to us with a swimming background, starting at age 6 in the neighborhood pool. She continued swimming competitively through high school in West Virginia, qualifying for YMCA and USAA Nationals from age 12. She turned to running in the off season, and Karen’s high school cross country team captured the state title. Karen signed on to swim for the NC State Wolfpack, where she competed in sprint freestyle events and was team captain her senior year. After college, Karen moved to Austin, TX and caught the triathlon bug. Since 2003, Karen has done numerous Sprint and Olympic distance events, standing on the podium and qualifying for AG Nationals in 2003 and 2004. In Austin, she began teaching spin classes and helping triathletes with their swim technique. In 2008, Karen and her husband moved to England, where she competed in a few sprint triathlons with the Oxford University triathlon team. 2011 brought Karen back to the US and to the Atlanta Triathlon Club. Karen finished her first Ironman, Cozumel, in November. |
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April Lea Gellatly – Head Open Water Swim Coach E-mail: algellatly@gmail.com Triathlon Experience: Approximately 100 triathlons, 9 Full IRONMAN Certifications: USAT Level I Coaching Certification, CPR Certification Awards: 1st Age Group at Ironman Wisconsin (2004, 2006), 2nd Age Group at Ironman Hawaii World Championship (2005, 2006), 3rd Age Group at Ironman Hawaii World Championship (2007), 8th Female Pro at Ironman Louisville (2009), 10th Female Pro at Ironman USA (2009), ITU Age Group Long Course World Champion (2005), USAT All-American (2005, 2006, 2007), Inside Triathlon Age Group 20-24 Athlete of the Year (2006) |
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Background: April comes from a swimming background starting here in GA with Southern Crescent Aquatic Team and continuing through high school with Bowling Green Swim Club (Ohio). She signed with Youngstown State University and represented the Fighting Penguins 2001 – 2003. Following the loss of her father, she moved back to Georgia to be closer to the family. She set her sites on Ironman. She coached swimming with both Southern Crescent Aquatic Team and Southside Masters Team, while finishing her college education at Georgia State University. She finished Ironman Wisconsin in 2004, and qualified for Hawaii. Through the years, April has quite the collections of Ironman podiums. She took that momentum and turn pro mid-2008. The 2009 season was her most successful to date with 3 Ironman Top 10 finishes. April will be leading the open water swim sessions for the Atlanta Triathlon Club. |
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Matt Boyer – Head FNS Swim Coach E-mail: mattbo66@hotmail.com Triathlon Experience: 2 Olympic, 1 Half Ironman Awards: 3rd AG and 1st Clydesdale – Peachtree International Triathlon Certifications: CPR Certification |
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Background: Matt is a former High School and year-round Club Team swimmer. He was captain of his High School Team and coached Summer League Swim Team for several years. Though staying active, just started competing in running and triathlon in 2009. Matt qualified for Age Group Nationals at both Olympic distance races he completed in 2009. |
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Matt Gardner – Assistant Swim Coach E-mail: matt.gardner81@gmail.com Running Experience: 6 Half Marathons, 3 Marathons Cycling Experience: 5 Century Rides Triathlon Experience: 6 Sprints, 2 Olympics, 2 Half IRONMAN, 1 Full IRONMAN Awards: Macon Half IM – 2nd Place Clydesdale Certifications: CPR |
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Background: Matt was an accomplished club and high school swimmer in Massachusetts and went on to swim NCAA Division I at St. Bonaventure University. After his freshman year, he transferred to Marist College where he was the head swim coach of the JCC Snappers of Dutchess County (NY) for two years. Matt was introduced to endurance sports through his brother (triathlons) and wife (marathons). 2010 was his first year of triathlon specific training and completed Ironman Wisconsin; his swim time of 56:37 was in the top 2% of all participants. |
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Ken Burkey E-mail: burkmeist@yahoo.com Running Experience: 3 Marathons Cycling Experience: 100+ Century Rides Triathlon Experience: 1 Olympic, 7 Half Ironman, 2 Full Ironman Certifications: CPR
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Background: Ken grew up in a sports minded environment. He played baseball, soccer and driveway basketball. After successfully passing his mandatory physical education requirements at Elizabethtown College (swimming, badminton and archery), Ken settled into a life of TV and drinking. Inspired by the late ‘90s program EcoChallenge, Ken started to participate in adventure races. He was on three teams that qualified for the US Adventure Racing Championship. He raced in Tampa, FL in 2005, Santa Barbara, CA in 2006 and unfortunately had to sit out the 2007 championship race due to injury. After multiple injuries he switched his sporting obsession to triathlon. In 2009, he completed the Florida IM event, and in 2010 the Louisville IM. |
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Krista Glasscock – Assistant Swim Coach E-mail: kristaglasscock@gmail.com Triathlon Experience: 3 Olympics, 2 Half Ironman, 1 Ironman Cycling Experience: 2 Century Rides Certifications: CPR Certification |
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Background: Krista grew up swimming, diving, and doing gymnastics competitively. Once Krista moved to Atlanta she began to look for ways to continue being active and started training for a half marathon. Growing up Krista loved to ride her bike and decided to start riding again, as well as swimming. Triathlons seemed like a natural next step and she began competing in triathlons in 2005…and has been hooked since. |
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Melissa McDonald – Assistant Swim Coach E-mail: mam0720@gmail.com Running Experience: 2 Half Marathons, 1st Marathon scheduled for March 2012 Cycling Experience: 1 Century Ride Triathlon Experience: 3 Sprints, 2 Olympics, 1 Half Ironman Awards: 1st place AG TRIforLIFE Roswell, 2nd place AG Richard B. Russell Olympic Certifications: CPR |
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Background: Melissa started swimming competitively from the age of 5 through senior year of high school. She competed on her city’s US swimming club level 3 team, Flint River Rapids, winning many ribbons/trophies for smaller swim meet events and qualifying for GA state swim meet a few times. In the 11-12 AG, she placed 6th in Georgia for the 100 meter backstroke event. In high school, she competed on the varsity swim team, qualifying for the state swim meet each year. She was also a lifeguard and swim instructor for 3 summers during high school/college. She joined ATC in April 2011. |
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Adam Budd – Assistant Swim Coach Email: Abudd7@gmail.com Running: Few 5Ks Cycling: Just for fun Triathlon: 8 Sprints, 1 Olympic. Certifications: WSI, Lifeguard, CPR |
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Background: Adam did US swimming when he was young and was top ten in several events for his age group in New England. He was captain of his high school (Xaverian Bros) and college (Bridgewater) swim teams in Massachusetts. He placed well in high school state championships as well as NCAA Division 3 New England college championships. He is still on his College record board on all relay events from the late 90’s. Adam coached a high school swim team as well as several friends to better there technique and spent summers lifeguarding at the ocean in Massachusetts during college. |
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Kelley Kay Hutchinson – Assistant Swim Coach E-mail: k2h@msn.com Swimming Experience: AAU & Master’s competitive swimmer Running Experience: Half Marathon, 10+ 10K’s and other short races Triathlon Experience: 2 Sprints (Tri P’tree City and Irongirl) Certifications: Heartsaver First Aid, CPR, AED |
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Background: Kelley started swimming over 36 years ago with SwimAtlanta. She competed her way through State and Junior Olympic Championships and by the age of eleven, she was invited to compete internationally with Olympic goals in mind. She went on to excel on her high school and college teams, qualifying and/or competing in local and State Championships. After college, Kelley swam competitively and trained under some of the best coaches in Master’s swim clubs including those at: SwimAtlanta, Dynamo Swim Club and Longhorn Aquatics (Austin, Texas). Under their coaching and guidance, Kelley was a top ranking swimmer regionally in multiple events. Today, she swims for fun and exercise with goals to race in an Olympic triathlon and Half Ironman. 2012 will begin the third year Kelley has coached with the Atlanta Triathlon Club. |
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Jeannine Hillmer – Assistant Swim Coach E-mail: jeanninehillmer@gmail.com Cycling Experience: 3 Metric Centuries Running Experience: 3 Marathons Triathlon Experience: 4 Sprint, 3 Olympic and 2 Half Ironman Certifications: None |
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Background: Jeannine grew up swimming like many of the other coaches. As an age group swimmer in the state of Michigan she took home several awards and consistently placed at the state level in various events. In college she ran cross country at Michigan Technological University and in addition to her normal studies, she took classes in Coaching Psychology, Athletic training and related classes to become a state of Michigan certified athletic coach. Later the desire to coach and encourage people toward physical fitness led to Jeannine becoming an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. She joined ATC in 2009 and completed her first triathlon. In 2010 she earned 1st Place in her Age Group in the Georgia State Games 3K Open Water Swim. Jeannine is most proud of being voted “ATC Triathlete of the Year” in 2010. 2012 will be her first year as an ATC swim coach. Jeannine hopes to end the year being able to say her most proud triathlon accomplishments are finishing Ironman Wisconsin and helping ATC swimmers to a more successful and enjoyable year. |
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Trey Kitchen – Assistant Swim Coach
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