HEAD COACH, SPRINTS & MID-DISTANCE COACH

Coach Chris Florence is a professional track athlete with over 13 years of experience in competitive track and field. He served as a team captain at Clayton State University, where he specialized in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and relay events. Chris brings both leadership and high-level performance experience to his role as Head Coach for sprints and mid-distance. He has a strong record of success at the conference and regional levels, earning multiple All-Peach Belt Conference and USTFCCCA All-Region honors.

During his collegiate career, Chris was a Peach Belt Conference Champion in the 400 meters and the 4x400-meter relay, and he qualified as an NCAA Division II provisional athlete in the 400 meters. He also helped set the indoor program record in the 4x200-meter relay. In addition to his athletic achievements, Chris was recognized as an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar for his excellence on and off the track.

Chris is passionate about developing youth athletes while continuing to refine his own skills as a professional competitor. He has previous coaching experience in both football and track and is committed to teaching proper technique, discipline, and confidence. His approach emphasizes speed development, race strategy, and long-term athlete growth.

SPRINTS AND LONG JUMP COACH

Coach Will Williams is an elite long jump and sprints coach with extensive NCAA and international experience. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management and communications and competed as one of the top long jumpers in the nation. During his collegiate career, Will was a five-time All-American in the long jump and 4x100 relay, a two-time letterman, and an NCAA Indoor National Team Champion. He also captured an NCAA long jump national title, an SEC indoor long jump championship, and contributed to an SEC team championship.

Will is a Texas A&M school and facility record holder and a two-time USA Indoor National Champion. On the international stage, he is a NACAC Champion, a four-time World Championships qualifier, and a two-time World Championships finalist. Following his competitive career, Will served as the sprints and horizontal jumps coach at Arkansas State University from 2020–2023. There, he coached multiple Sun Belt Conference champions across the long jump, triple jump, hurdles, and sprints, including championship marks of 8.06m in the long jump and 6.66 in the 60m. He was part of six Sun Belt Conference team championship staffs. Will brings elite-level technical expertise, championship experience, and a development-focused mindset to every athlete he coaches.

HURDLES COACH

Coach Zaya is an Olympic athlete, international sports executive, and one of the most recognized figures in Brazilian track and field. With more than 25 years of experience in elite athletics, she has represented Brazil on the world’s biggest stages, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Pan American Games as a 100-meter hurdles specialist. Zaya brings over a decade of coaching experience, specializing in hurdles and athlete development across youth, collegiate, and elite levels. Her coaching philosophy blends technical excellence, discipline, and mental toughness shaped by years of international competition.

In addition to her athletic career, she has proudly served for more than 13 years as a Third Sergeant in the Brazilian Navy, demonstrating leadership both on and off the track. Beyond coaching, Zaya is an accomplished expert in international sports marketing, brand development, and strategic leadership. She is the founder and CEO of BrazilNation, the official brand of Brazilian Olympic athletes, and MCH Management, a U.S.-based sports management firm. Through her work, she has helped athletes build sustainable careers beyond competition. Recognized as an international ambassador for Brazilian sport, Zaya combines performance, leadership, and purpose in everything she does. As hurdles coach, she is passionate about mentoring athletes and helping them unlock their full potential through sport.

SPRINTS COACH

Coach Derrick Ward is a highly accomplished sprint and hurdles coach with a strong collegiate and high school competitive background. He earned All-Conference honors after winning the 400m hurdles at the Peach Belt Conference Championships with a personal-best time of 56.02. Derrick also contributed to a second-place finish in the 4x100m relay at the conference championships and was part of a program-record-setting 4x200m indoor relay team.

During his collegiate career, he competed across sprints, hurdles, and relays, earning seven first-place finishes and 13 total podium finishes in a single outdoor season. He consistently set personal bests while competing in the 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, and multiple relay events. Despite seasons impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Derrick continued to produce high-level performances, including relay victories and record-setting efforts.

A native of Marietta, Georgia, Derrick graduated from Kell High School, where he was a standout multi-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track & field. He qualified for regional competition all four years as a hurdler and advanced to the state championship level as a senior. His experience as both an elite competitor and team leader informs his disciplined, technically sound approach to sprint and hurdle development. 

DISTANCE COACH



I am a proud track and field athlete, coach, and mentor from Alexandria, Virginia. My journey in the sport began as a standout middle-distance runner at North Carolina A&T State University, where I broke the 800m conference record. I continued to excel at Hampton University, where I attended for graduate studies and earned All-American honors, solidifying my place among the nation’s elite. These milestones remain defining highlights of my collegiate career.

After college, I transitioned to professional competition, representing the United States on both national and international stages. Among my career highlights is competing at the Olympic Trials, a testament to my dedication and passion for the sport. Currently, I am training with my sights set on A Gold medal at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, aiming to achieve the pinnacle of athletic excellence.

Since 2014, I have channeled my experience and expertise into coaching, specializing in hurdlers and middle-distance runners. My coaching philosophy emphasizes technical precision, mental resilience, and individualized training plans. Under my guidance, athletes have achieved personal bests, and I am particularly proud of helping one athlete break a Guyanese national record in her event.

As I step into this new role within the track club, I am excited to continue fostering talent, inspiring the next generation of athletes, and contributing to the growth of the sport that has shaped my life. Together, we will strive for greatness, both on and off the track.

POLE VAULT & MULTIS COACH

Coach Natalie Rego Uy is entering her third year coaching with Cambridge Youth Track Club and brings elite international experience to the pole vault and high jump program. She was an Ohio State Division I runner-up in the pole vault and a multi-event state qualifier in high jump, long jump, hurdles, and pole vault during her high school career. Natalie still holds Fairmont High School records in the long jump and pole vault. She earned a full Division I track and field scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, competing in the heptathlon and pole vault.

During her collegiate career, Natalie was named a Mid-American Conference Scholar Athlete of the Week, helped lead her team to a MAC Conference Championship, and qualified twice for the NCAA Division I East Regional Championships. On the international stage, she is a current Philippine National Record Holder and Southeast Asian Record Holder. Natalie is a two-time Philippine National Champion and a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist. She has also earned medals at major international competitions across Asia, including the Asian Championships, Singapore Open, and Thailand Open.

Natalie’s extensive competitive background allows her to blend technical precision with athlete confidence and consistency. She is passionate about developing young athletes and helping them reach their full potential in the vertical jumps.

THROWS COACH

Coach Noah is a former United States Navy servicemember and an accomplished throws coach with experience at the scholastic, club, collegiate, and international levels. He has studied and trained under world-class coaches and former world record holders, helping shape a technically sound and athlete-centered coaching philosophy. Noah has coached multiple district, regional, and state champions, as well as athletes who have broken numerous school records across several programs. Many of his state-qualifying athletes began the season with little or no prior throwing experience.

During his time in Florida, Noah guided athletes to standout performances at the FHSAA State Championships, including multiple podium finishes in shot put, discus, and javelin. He has coached nationally ranked athletes and helped multiple throwers earn collegiate opportunities. At the club level, he worked with Piedmont Track & Field Club, developing both beginners and elite state champions now competing at the NCAA level.

In addition to coaching, Noah is an active collegiate thrower who has earned conference championship medals and competed internationally. He has achieved personal bests over 60 meters in the hammer throw and continues to compete at a high level while coaching. Noah attended Fort Hays State University from 2016 through 2018, University of Texas at El Paso from 2023-2025 and is currently competing at Kennesaw State University.

Noah is USATF Level 1 certified and brings a disciplined, development-focused approach to every athlete he coaches.

DISTANCE COACH

Isabella “Bella” began her running career in 2014 and was a Division 1 Track and Field athlete at Florida Atlantic University where she competed in long distance and the Pentathlon. She graduated from Creekview High School in 2018 and competed all four years as a varsity member. She also competed with the Creekview USATF club program and was an Assistant Coach for long distance and high jump for all ages.

Bella retired in the spring of 2021 and is now pursuing her academic career (Masters Program). She still loves to run and is training for a half marathon this fall.

Bella looks forward to sharing her experience and passion for running with others. It does not define her, but it is a major part of who what brings her joy.

CLINICS & PROGRAMMING FOR SPRINTS/JUMPS

Six times global gold medalist and five times ranked No. 1 in the world, Dwight Phillips dominated the long jump from 2003-11. During that span he won the Olympic title at Athens in 2004 to go with four World Outdoor golds (’03, ’05, ’09 and ’11) and one World Indoors crown (’03).

His five medals at the World Outdoors is the highest total in meet history in the men’s long jump, as is his tally of seven finals made.

Phillips won six U.S. indoor and outdoor titles and had nine jumps exceeding 28-feet in his career, topped by a 28-8¼ personal best to win the Prefontaine Classic in 2009.

Also a talented sprinter, Phillips four times qualified for the USATF Championships indoors and outdoors, and he clocked personal bests of 6.47 for 60m in 2005 and 10.06 for 100m in 2009. He was an NCAA finalist in the long jump and triple jump for Arizona State, taking silver in the long jump indoors and outdoors in 2000.

Following his retirement from competition, Phillips has continued to serve the sport through coaching and advocacy.

Dwight coaches youth, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes who seek to improve and master their skills and has helped develop NFL, NCAA, and professional track and field athletes. Three of these athletes have competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in the long jump, all representing different countries. Phillips coached Chantel Malone, Darya Klishina, and Lorraine Ugen on the Olympic stage.

Dwight will lead sprint/hurdles/jump clinics for our Cambridge athletes and also develop innovative training and programming for our coaches.