Lainey Phelps & Will Stone return for Homewood High School in 2017. (Photos by Rivercat Photo)
1.
How many years have you been coaching high
school cross country (and at your current school)?
This is my sixth year coaching high school, and they have
all been at Homewood.
2.
What do you attribute as the main reasons for the success of your
program?
I was fortunate to
inherit a great group of kids my first year that helped establish a positive
culture. Each class has poured into the next. You can accomplish a
lot with positive attitudes, strong work ethic, and an eagerness to improve.
3.
What would be the best way to describe your style and philosophy of coaching
and working with high school runners?
I see
myself as a facilitator. My coaching staff and I have established and
communicated a strong training philosophy. We believe that we can help
kids reach their goals, but true growth happens when they take ownership of
it. At that point, we can just stay out of their way, watch them grow,
and be their biggest supporter.
4.
What are your core beliefs in your training plan and workouts for
your cross country squads?
This
one is tough because there is so much involved with training, but I would say,
that it all boils down to balance. While cross country certainly emphases
aerobic work, we still pay attention to the anaerobic system. Couple that
with prioritizing recovery over additional work, and we've been satisfied with
the results.
5.
How many runners do you return from your top 7 from a year ago?
The boys are returning 5 of last year's top 7, and the girls are
returning all 7.
6. Who is your projected top 7 heading into the cross country season?
For the boys: Will Stone, Lucas Lamb, Jack Gray, Azariah Kipchumba, Carson Bedics, and Alvin Finch.
For the girls: Lainey Phelps, Celie Jackson, Audrey Nabors, Zoe Nichols, Adah Allen, Hannah Brook Gibbons, and Edie Smith.
7.
Who are your team captains or leaders and what stands out about them
as examples for the rest of their teammates?
The beautiful thing about our teams right now is that there is a
real sense of shared leadership. Our seniors, however, are all doing
their part in organizing group runs, leading warm-ups, and setting the tone
with consistent effort. This would include Lucas Lamb, Azariah Kipchumba,
and Alvin Finch for the boys. The girls group includes Hannah Brook
Gibbons, Katie Grace Bateman, and Maggie Sexton.
8.
Who have you been most impressed or surprised with their improvement and/or
fitness from their summer training?
There
are almost too many to name, so I will inevitably leave someone out that
deserves recognition. But two that have really impressed me this summer
for the boys are Lucas Lamb (just logged a bunch of quality miles) and Jack
Gray (strength is catching up with recent growth spurts). Honestly our
entire girls team has built on what was a great Spring so everyone is ahead of
where they were last year. But one that appears to be entering with a
great base is Edie Smith.
9.
Any impactful freshmen or transfers to join the team this season?
We have some exciting moves on the girls
side. Victoria Thompson is a rising freshman that has run sub-20:00, and
we look forward to her training with us year round. Alex Steltenpohl has
also moved to Homewood this summer, and having run under 20:00 several
times, she will certainly be another rising freshman that will make an
immediate impact. On the boys side it is hard to say. Our freshman
class is extremely hard working, and we feel that several have the opportunity
to run at or below 17-flat by late in the season.
10.
What are the top invitational meets that your team will be attending
this season?
We open at Memphis
Twilight, and we will attend Chickasaw Trails and Jesse Owens as always.
We are also looking forward to running at the Greater Louisville Classic a the
end of September.
11.
What will be the biggest obstacle or challenge facing your team this
season?
We just have to limit
distractions and fight complacency, two things that both teams do well.
We are poised for a great season, and if we focus on our own improvement I
believe we will be successful.
12.
What will be the biggest reason why your team is successful this
season?
There is a hunger among
both teams that is matched with maturity. They recognize that they have
work to do, they are eager to put in that work, and they trust the training
plan will have them ready when the time comes.
13.
What is a favorite annual or common pre-season workout or run for
your team?
I am not sure that this
is the athlete's favorite workout, but I love 12-16 400s on grass. It is
usually hot and miserable, but it exposes everyones' fitness and shows us as
coaches who needs work, who is willing to work, and most importantly, who wants
to work.
14.
What is a favorite annual or common mid-season workout for your team?
There is a love/hate relationship with Homewood's
Murray Hill. We will do 10 by Murray Hill, a workout which many dread;
but it leaves everyone with a sense of pride that they "beat the
workout."
15. What is a favorite annual or common championship season or end-of-season workout for your team? Mile repeats with full recovery. We usually see PRs in the mile, and this workout solidifies confidence going into the State Meet.
16.
What are your top 3 goals for this year's squad?
Less of a goal and more of a challenge for our athletes is to see
how many boys can we run under 17:00 and how many girls can run
under 20:00by the end of the season. If athletes meet this
challenge, our team goals should fall into place.