Greetings from Birmingham! It with great pleasure I announce this summer I'll be working as Flotrack’s Europe correspondent. My goal is simple: I want to bring you the best coverage, stories and inside looks at track and field on the road to Moscow.

Expect to see a lot of photos, watch a lot of videos and read a lot of articles. I made the decision to major in journalism at Marquette University, because I have a passion for sports, traveling and interviewing interesting people. Tapping into the skills I have learned in the classroom and on the road with Ryan and Alex at meet coverages each weekend, I strive to provide quality content. 

One of my strengths on the Flotrack team is writing. Contributing news briefs, previews, and recaps from afar was fun during the school year. Being up close with the athletes will provide access to break news and create in-depth profiles about their daily life. Many of my updates will come via social media. I will tweet from my personal account, which can be followed @Chris_J_Chavez, as well as from the @Flotrack handle. 

Aside from press conferences, post-race interviews and short highlight moments, I hope to put together a few videos similar to the profile on law-school student-athlete Tyler Leverington and the inside-look at the Mass Transit Racers. As I gear up for the 2013 Chicago Marathon, I’ll try and capture short videos or photos from the many scenic stops on the circuit. Instagram will have photos as well. 

Whether they’re a world record holder, Olympic finalist or brand new professional, Europe is ready to prepare the athletes for the 2013 IAAF World Championships in August. The next two months will serve as my test and I am ready. 

First up, Sainsbury’s Grand Prix (Diamond League - Birmingham)!

Get to Know Me A Little Better
1. Top 3 Most Played Song on my iPod: “Brother Sport” by Animal Collective, “Party Up (In Here)” by DMX, and “I Will Wait” by Mumford and Sons
2. Celebrity Look-A-Like: Taylor Lautner...maybe from the “Shark Boy and Lava Girl Days”
3. Favorite Television Shows: “The Wire”, “Cheers” and “Friday Night Lights”
4. Last movie to make me cry: “Les Miserables”... Stop it, Anne Hathaway. 
5. Fun Fact: Beat Joey Fatone at the 2013 Walt Disney World Half-Marathon.