Cross Country Team Improves by Leaps and Bounds in 2014 Season

In order to achieve this success, coaches Jim Fischer, Cristina Cochran, and Todd Helmecki, who have been coaching together for two years, utilized several specific coaching strategies throughout the season. “This is truly a collaborative effort of all three coaches working with a great group of student-athletes,” Jim said.

After the first race of the season, each student wrote a detailed reflection about their performance—analyzing their technique, pacing, mental focus, and how they felt during and after the race. According to Cristina, “many students responded with practical ways they could improve from this race. This early exercise/reflection gave our runners a firm foundation from which they could improve.” In addition, Coach Jim Fischer gave each runner a detailed written synopsis of their performance after every race, noting their strengths and areas where they could improve.

The coaching staff often spoke to the team about the difference between “running” and “racing,” encouraging them to take risks and be competitive during meets. The team also used the grueling hills on Sanford’s course to their advantage, incorporating them in nearly every workout on campus. “We coaches took great pride in watching our runners pass other runners on hills both on our home course and on other courses,” Cristina said. Jim, Todd, and Cristina also took care to strategically place themselves at different parts of the course during races, ensuring that runner would have support and encouragement at challenging parts of the course as well as the crucial beginning and end of each race.

Leadership came from the students as well as the coaching staff. In addition to team captains Emily Friedman ‘15 and Benson Cook, the team also had a rotating “weekly captain,” usually a senior or an especially involved junior. “Having these students recognize our faith in them as leaders gave them a sense of confidence and an ownership over their impact on our team,” explained Cristina. “Our upperclassmen shared advice before meets and helped our younger runners to grow. We found their leadership invaluable.”

In addition to the DISC meet, where Benson and Gavin earned their personal best times, the Cross Country team also excelled in difficult conditions at the New Castle County Cross Country Championship meet at Winterthur, racing on a muddy, hilly course through rain on a 40 degree day. “Our students continued to push themselves to excel, even in challenging weather conditions,” Cristina said. “We believe that X Country molds character and provides our students with the grit, tenacity, and resilience they will need in their life pursuits.”