Travis Floeck
Assistant Camp Director
Hometown: Canyonville, Oregon
Education:
B.S. Communication/Journalism
Southern Oregon University
USATF Level One Certified and Level Two (Distance) Coach
First year at Steens: 1997
Career/Professional/Coaching Highlights/Achievements:
Currently the Cross Country/Assistant Track & Field Coach at the University of Idaho, started in the fall of 2014.
Travis has coached NCAA All-American’s, a Big Sky Conference Champion, multiple NCAA qualifiers, numerous All-Big Sky athletes and conference scorers, two Big Sky Freshmen of the Year award winners, a school record holder, dozens of all-time list performers and the Idaho cross country teams have steadily climbed their way into the upper echelon of the Big Sky Conference, most notably the Idaho women’s cross country team finished second in the Big Sky Conference in 2019. The men also had a breakthrough year in 2019 when they placed ninth at the NCAA West Regional meet, the highest finish at the West region meet ever by a team from the Big Sky Conference.
Travis also coaches a contingent of professional and post-collegiate athletes. He has been coaching Steens staffer Samantha Lewis during her pro career, helping her capture a USATF National Title in the Women’s Half Marathon Trail Championships, place third at the US Mountain Running Championships and capturing a spot on the USA World Mountain Running team, and signing a contract with On Running as a pro athlete. Another notable athlete Travis coaches is Kinsey Middleton, one of the top Canadian distance athletes. Under Travis’ guidance she qualified for the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 2018 and run personal bests of 4:15 in the 1500, 9:06 in the 3000m, 15:52 in the 5000m, 32:32 in the 10,000m, and 1:11:48 in the half marathon. She is currently an Olympic hopeful for Canada in the marathon and 10,000m races.
Assistant Track & Field/Cross Country Coach at Oregon State University 2010-2014.
Helped the continued development of the program at OSU. Helped a fundraising campaign to build the Whyte Track & Field Center and the development of the track & field events to build a comprehensive program. Assisted in coaching three-time All-American Laura Carlyle to three school records.
Head Cross Country/Assistant Track & Field Coach at Lane Community College 2007-2009.
Coached 18 distance Junior College All-Americans, two USATF junior national qualifiers, and an NWAACC Champion in the 1500m while at Lane. Voted NWAACC Southern Region Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2008.
Other coaching stints include Southern Oregon University in 2006 and Siuslaw HS in 2010.
Has also worked in other avenues of the sport including driving the Nike XC Truck for two cross county seasons (2005, 2006) and as one of the original employees of Runnerspace.com.
Athletic Highlights/Achievements:
Two-time National Qualifier at Southern Oregon University in 800m.
Member of Four Conference Champion teams, including the 2005 track & field team that finished sixth at nationals and the 2004 conference and regional champion cross country team that finished 12th at Nationals.
2000 Oregon 3A State Champion and school record holder in 800m while at South Umpqua HS for coach John Blomberg.
Why Travis continues to return to Steens Mountain Running Camp each summer:
Since I’ve been attending Steens every summer since I was 15, it is really one of the places I’ve grown up. Harland has been one of the most influential people in my life. His guidance, along with other mentors I have on the mountain like Ron Smith, have taught me so much, allowing me to have an amazing opportunity to pursue my dream of coaching in college.
Without Steens Mountain Running Camp, I wouldn’t be the person I am today, that inspires me to continue to attend each summer in hopes that I can contribute to providing the same type of experience I had for the campers that attend every summer. Steens goes far beyond making each camper a better runner, but can make them a better person and provide lessons for the rest of their lives.