New Coach Inspires New Motivation

Blaire Bradford, Staff Writer
September 13, 2010
Filed under Sports

Although Summit Cross Country has only participated in two meets so far, the team has already showed evidence of improvement from last year’s season. From placing a high 17th place out of 42 schools in Burleson, to dropping an incredible ten minutes individually off times, Summit XC is planning to run through nothing but success this season.

Not only are there changes in mile times but changes in the cross country staff as well. The team has a new head coach this year, Shannon Utley, who works her athletes harder than they’ve ever worked before. Her main affect on the team is her ability to motivate, according to Priscilla Clayton, junior at Summit High School. Clayton feels that the cross country program has lacked the motivation to succeed, and has faith that Coach Utley will fill that role.

“Coach Utley shows us what we need to work on in ways where we improve every practice and meet,” Clayton said. “I’ve never been coached like that before!”

Coach Utley and the team’s strategy for this season are to increase stamina and work on speed. Every week, Coach Utley instructs the athletes to go on exhausting “off campus runs”, where they either run three to five miles individually or as a team in an “Indian run”. Clayton and Sims both agree that the only negative they can find in Coach Utley’s coaching methods this season is that they wish the team has her sooner.

“Practice is hard enough for our bodies to be sore every day! But I always leave with a feeling that I have improved,” Clayton said.

What seperates Summit XC from other schools in the district is their individual goals and athletic ability. This season’s cross country runners are very diverse in what they want to gain out of their experience in this sport. The team ranges from potential college runners like Priscilla Clayton to basketball players who are just finding ways to prepare for their upcoming season, like Blu Sims.

“I am running to get in shape,” Sims said. “It started out just running cross country to get out of snakes (in basketball class), but as it progressed, I really got into it!”

Sims has already seen positive results in her speed and stamina, and she thanks all of her success to Coach Utley, who understands the team and their individual athletic ability. Sims appreciates Utley’s hard work in pushing them because she’s not the fastest in the bunch.

“Practice is really tough for me because I’m a thick girl. Running is a weakness. But as Coach Utley pushes me, it gets easier everyday,” Sims said.

There is no specific leader or position under Coach Utley this season. Unlike last year, the runner’s grade does not qualify them as a captain of the team. Each runner shares the roll in encouraging and motivating their teammates through every work and of course, every step.

The times for the first two meets have put Summit XC on track to do extremely well in district, a huge goal that related to everyone on the team. So far, the runners have already met accomplishments without going down hill, so setting them higher is the only option. 

“We’ve had a great start,” Sims said, “we can only go up from here.”