Producer Julia Dudley Najieb is a former high school and collegiate track star herself.

Masters track is about dreams. And now a 35-year-old Fresno high school teacher and movie maker is dreaming REALLY big. Her name is Julia Dudley Najieb, and Monday she wrote about her plans to produce a “track & field reality game show.” She envisions a series in which folks ages 32 to 52 train and compete to recapture the glory of their high school track days. And win money! Julia writes that, pending OK of the show’s buyer, 32 first-place winners would win $10,000 in prizes and gift certificates. (I need to check to see if that’s $10,000 each.) The same number of runner-ups would win $5,000, and 32 third-place winners would earn $2,500. And the high schools from whence the athletes came also get donations.

Of course, I shot off a bunch of questions.
But first, here was her original note (which apparently many people got):

Dear Track & Field Enthusiast,
Please check out our brief video about new track & field reality game show–T.R.A.C.K Live! Please join or pass this message and link along to others you think may have an interest in participating in this ultimate challenge!
We are also asking for former Olympic coaches, track & field Olympians, ranked high school and collegiate coaches to apply to be a part of our celebrity coaching & consulting staff. (Please go to our official website for more information: www.tracklive.tv)
Thank you!
Click below to watch the video:
http://revver.com/watch/324600
Sincerely,
Julia Dudley Najieb–Ann Marie Production
tracklivetv@annmariepro.com
Phone: 559-352-1444

And here’s the Q&A, which Julia returned Tuesday:

Masterstrack.com: Was this your idea — the age 32-52 recapture-the-glory concept?
Julia: Yes, I’m a head coach for a high school track and field at an inner-city high school, and I was shooting the breeze with the other head coach. I told him I wanted a concept that would force people to want to give back and still compete for the glory for the purpose of winning for their high school alma mater (a lot of high school programs where I live have to raise their own funding for their programs).
Why this specific age range?
I was 33 at the time and wanted to make the challenge more of a personal accomplishment for some of us who want to get back in shape and on the track. (I’m 35 now.)
Did you pick track and field because of your own T&F interest?
Yes! My whole family is engulfed: my dad is still a marathon runner; my nieces and nephews are all track and field stars in El Paso, Texas. My nephew Matthew Dudley has been ranked nationally and No. 1 for two years in the discus throw, coached by my brother, Steve Dudley, who was also a thrower in college, (Ranked 55th in CCS, where he took first place in 1984 w/discus throw of 180-7)
(I read a bio at: http://www.fresnofamous.com/node/4563)
Did you compete in T&F in HS? If yes, what events, top marks — and where?
Yes, I competed in high school: Leland High School; 1986-87, then I transferred to Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, California, in 1987 because of their track and field program. I served on the Mitty track squad from 1988 to 1990. I graduated in 1990; our girls team placed second overall in the Central Coast Section (of CIF) in 1988 and 1990. I ran both relays (400m and 1600m) all three years with two nationally ranked athletes (in ’88 and ’89 with Andreen Alvarenga, ’88 and ’89 with Tarsha Handy) so, often my marks were overshadowed, considered nothing compared to what they ran! (We often placed first or second in the CCS Top 8 meets overall because of our nationally ranked girls team members.)
My high school best marks at Archbishop Mitty in San Jose:
400 in 57.86 (1989)
400 in 57.89 (1990)
100 in 12.2 (1989)
200 in 25.2 (1990)
Long jump 16-6 (weak ankles, stopped after freshman year.)
1600 relay time 3:51.1 (1988) (I think we took 10th overall at the CIF state meet)
3:52.17 (1989) (we took sixth overall at CIF state meet)
3:57.5 (1990)
400 relay times of 48.25 (1988) 48.84 (1989) 49.5 (1990)
(Some of our Mitty High School track team records can be found at these links; I will post these links on my website for fun too, my athletes will have a blast looking at ancient stats in their opinion!.)
http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/stateres.htm#1988
http://www.dyestatcal.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/ccsalltm.htm
http://www.cifccs.org/history/trackgirls.htm#1988
We competed in the California state meet all three years (we even ran against Marion Jones at CIF state meet and others!):
In college, I ran X-Country for Hampton University in Hampton, VA, and I ranked in the top 10 in finals. I also ran indoor and outdoor track and placed in the top three for relays and individuals. We made to NCAA in Dallas in the 1600m relay.
Then I transferred to CSU Fresno; I ran cross country under Red Estes, then under Coach Bob Fraley; my events were the 400 hurdles and 800 run, and sometimes the 200.
Do you still teach and coach at Fresno HS?
Yes, I teach IB Film Studies & Production and English III. However, this was my last year of coaching because I want to focus on other means to help youth track and field programs, such as this reality show — asking the community to give back in honorable unique ways.
What’s your TV production experience?
I teach IB Film production, my company has produced a short film, and we just finished with a feature-length film that is in post-production (“Stars too High“) and my background is journalism and media arts.
In 1993, before I found out my mother was dying of cancer, my professor helped me get a job/internship at Paramount Studios/Viacom because of my experience in broadcast copywriting. I also had experience producing commercials since 1993 and a minor in marketing. Through the years I have had to serve as a public relations representative or media liaison for non-profit organizations.
What does “Ken” mean in “Top Resurrected Athletes Challenge-Ken”?
Through a resurrecting revelation, it means having the knowledge, awareness or understanding that everything is possible — having the “I can do it” mentality.
How many participants do you have in mind?
I think once it fills up to four heats of nine competitors for each race or event, then we may have to put out a warning to entrants still wanting to participate — in that case it would be a first-come, first-served basis. No limit has been set yet. We may separate the women and men into separate days if it looks like it’s filling up fast; we want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to participate in this challenge — for some it’s just for personal accomplishment.
Where will you film in California and Texas? Where will the final meet be held?
The reason we have the two different trial meets is to accommodate those trying to qualify for the show. For the entrants who have been cleared through the preliminary round: two forms of U.S. ID, their basic doctor’s clearance and proof of medical insurance, proof as a track and field athlete at a high school and our sports physician clearance, then they are advised to go to their former high school/college coaches and ask for assistance; they have three weeks to get in shape for the first round — the first T.R.A.C.K. Meets, one held in California and the other in Texas.
Cameras will be filming at . . . San Jose, Los Angeles, Fresno, El Paso, Dallas and San Antonio to watch how practice is going for athletes who are on their own for the qualifying round. Out of the two track meets (both track meets are filmed), the top 18 times and/or marks from each event move automatically to the second round. [roughly 2 heats for each event]. There are about 32 events total when classified as men and women.
Where/when would this air? Network TV? Cable channel? Anyone express an interest yet?
Yes, still negotiating, I can let you know these finite details perhaps by the end of August.
Have any bites yet on celebrity coaches?
Yes, my former collegiate coach, Bob Fraley, is my mentor and main consultant for this series; his son is an Olympian in the pole vault, and I have other former Olympic friends whom I am connecting with and waiting on their confirmations before I list their names on the website. We will start listing confirmations on the www.tracklive.tv site by the end of July 2007.
Who is “Anne Marie” (as in Anne Marie Productions)?
This was my mother?’ name: Ann Marie Fowlks Dudley. She died of cancer in 1995. I thought I’d name my production/publishing company after her and build up a scholarship fund in her honor, with a focus on business administration and entrepreneurship; she was the vice-president of Citibank in San Jose, California.
How does one “win” in this reality show?
Here is the tentative plan unless changed by the network:
First Round: Was the two filmed trial meets in Texas and California.
Second Round
The athletic contestants are brought to one facility where they are introduced to their top-notch coaching staff, which consists of former high school coaches from throughout the United States. The coaches introduce their workouts for the next three weeks, until their very first 2008 T.R.A.C.K. Live! No. 1 competition.
The coaching staff will be judging resurrected athletes on sportsmanship conduct, community relations, endurance ability and competitive drive for each T.R.A.C.K. Live! track meet. Contestants will also be required to work on community projects in between each round — they will be judged on how well they are able to work with their teammates and accomplish these tasks; these are factors in the elimination rounds.
After the T.R.A.C.K. Live! track meet, it’s time for eliminations; the top four marks or times of each event are automatically excluded from elimination. Based on the last three weeks, coaches decide who gets the best sportsmanship, endurance, competitive drive and community involvement awards from the men and women teams — these contestants win individual prizes. Also, coaches have to decide which six relays and six athletes per event must be cut from the challenge before moving to round three — the celebrity track & field coaches.
Third round
The celebrity coaches for round three come from a culmination of superlative collegiate coaches and track and field Olympians. Team members are introduced to their workouts for the next three weeks before the next 2008 T.R.A.C.K. Live! No. 2 track meet.
This is also an elimination round; the top four marks or times from each event are automatically excluded from elimination. Coaches decide who gets the best sportsmanship, endurance, competitive drive and community involvement awards based on the last three weeks—these awardees win individual prizes. Also, coaches have to decide which four relays and four athletes per event must be cut from the challenge before moving on to round four—training for the final 2008 T.R.A.C.K. Live! Top 8 Meet.
Final Round
The medals are given and athletes are recognized on the award stand. Also the overall 2008 T.R.A.C.K Live! awards are announced for the men and women teams: The most competitive drive, most inspiring athlete, most valuable field event, most endurance, most community involved, and best sportsmanship — they win big individual prizes. Also announced are the high schools who won donations for their track and field programs because of the 2008 T.R.A.C.K. Live! Top 8 Meet winners from the men and women teams.
What’s the prize?
Still being negotiated, but here is the tentative plan for the wins:
32 First-place winners: $5,000 in donations goes to former high school, first place medal, a trophy to go to former high school, sports-product commercial contracts for one year, guest commentators on a hosting sports channel or network, and motivational guest speakers nationwide to colleges and high schools. Finally, $10,000 in prizes and gift certificates go to the 32 winners.
32 second-place winners: $2,000 in donation goes to former high school, second place medal, $5,000 in prizes and gift certificates to the 32 winners.
32 Third-place winners: $1,000 in prizes goes to former high school, third-place medal and $2,500 in prizes and gift certificates to the 32 winners.
Any viewer participation (a la “American Idol”)?
Perhaps for the elimination rounds; the network involved is debating this for the first season.

Me again:
Calling this project ambitious is an understatement. Producers with more experience than Julia have struck out with their own concept reality shows. But in today’s media environment, with cable-TV networks eager to fill their vast hours with fresh programming, such ideas can be attractive.
The prize money Julia envisions is amazing. But the hoops that athletes have to hurdle seem a bit overwhelming. Still, Julia’s heart is in the right place, and if she can nail down a buyer, it might be a great marketing tool for the masters movement.
We wish her all the best. Lemme know if you join up and become a TV star yourself.