How did summer training go for your team?
The team started Aug. 7 in the shape I wanted them. I do not meet with my runners at all during the summer. All of our summer workouts are captain led and this puts the season accountability onto the athletes! This is how I have always done summers and it seems to work well.
How do you prepare for the season with winning a state title last season?
The planning for each season is based on the current team. Summer is for base, August allows us to see which training direction we need to move in. Every season has the same goal, STATE.
What kind of goals do you have?
Both teams are defending 5A State Champions, and I leave all goal setting to the team. I can tell you, the girls want no part of being the group that loses the streak. The boys have won two if the last three and are wanting to be the first group to repeat at Riverside since their 11 year run back in the 80s-90s.
Why do you coach and how long have you been coaching?
I love cross. Grew up reading mydads articles when he ran and lived my experience with in high school at Springstead HS in Spring Hill, Fl under Coach Fred Hudson and at USCS (now Upstate) under Mike Massey. I have been coaching cross country since the fall of 1997.
What is your biggest challenge as a coach?
Recently it has been crowd control. Last year we had almost 200 runners and organizing workouts and travel has been a chore. This year we have 130 and these numbers have already made practice a lot smoother and the buses will be easier to get the team to the meets.
What is your motivation?
I love this sport. I enjoy watching the runners grow into themselves and become more than they thought they could become when they started. My oldest son runs for me now and I enjoy the time we get to spend together through the sport.
Did you run in high school?
I ran at Springstead HS in Spring Hill, Fla. and finished second (15:21) in the state as a senior in the largest classification. I ran a PR of 15:01 (3 miles) and ran a road 5K at St. Leo College in 14:47.
Top newcomers: Girls: Laura MacGregor-So, Katherine-8, Lea Neufeld-Jr, Amanda Littrell-Fr, Jessica Perry-Fr