Cayuga Cross Country 2016

Cayuga Cross Country Warming Up for State Run

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

CAYUGA – The Cayuga Cross Country team is looking to make a statement this year and in years to come under the direction of CC Coach Chad Martinez.

The coach said he got involved in cross country running while he was in high school and carried that over to college. “I always ran on my own as a high school athlete and in college I ran for the Cross Country team for a short time before concentrating on basketball,” he said.

As the team prepares for the upcoming season, the coach described a typical practice and said, “Before school starts, we are up here at 7:00 am running. We do a variety of workouts form timed runs to mileage to pacing workouts. We try to get in 15-20 miles a week depending on what all is going on that the athletes are involved in.”

He said this year’s team will have four returning runners with two girls and two boys as well as “… a lot of new faces on the 2016 Cross Country team.”

Even with only four runners returning, he stressed, “I expect us to contend for a team spot in regionals. Three of the four returning runners qualified individually for regionals and we are hoping the team steps up and makes the trip as well.”

The motivation of athletes plays a key role in a successful program Martinez explained. “You push them to be the best that they can be. We talk about what it takes to be successful and the work that has to be put in. I do my best to be there to support every runner every day in practice and in the meets. By being there with them every day and encouraging them to be their best, they begin to trust in you and buy into what you are asking of them. Consistency – the number one rule for me is to be consistent with whatever we do.”

Changing gears somewhat, the coach was asked to describe his philosophy on the relationship between athletics and education.

“I believe they go hand in hand,” Martinez said. “A lot of the students need athletics as a motivation to do well in school. Athletics can help them with their education and make them want to learn. I coach the kids just as I teach them in the classroom and have high expectations for them in both areas.”

Asked for one word or phrase he hoped former student athletes would use in a description of him or the program he was coaching, Martinez did not hesitate and said, “Tough. I want people to know that whatever Cayuga has lost or gained from year to year, that our kids will be tough to beat. They will scratch and claw and find a way to compete every day.”

Assessing his strengths and weaknesses, the coach remarked, “My weakness is finding enough time to keep more kids involved. With so many involved in other sports and programs at school, it is hard to keep up with all the different schedules and keep more kids involved. As far as strengths go mine is encouraging and supporting the kids and getting them to buy into the program. We have a fantastic group of kids that wants to be successful in Cross Country and I am super excited to have them.”

Martinez was also asked what his coaching goals for the program were and what he hoped to see in the future.

“I really think that this program could build into something special and be a serious contender to get to state year in and year out. I hope to be here at Cayuga in five, 10 and 15 years with a strong program built that is expected to do well, instead of hoping to do well,” he asserted.