With New Coaches, Cross Country Looks Ahead to New Season

by Gabby Beddingfield

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Greenfield’s cross-country team began practicing during the summer to prepare for their first meet on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at Wayne Christian. All the runners had a great first run, with junior Anna Grace Beddingfield finishing fourth overall for girls, senior RJ Shealy finishing eighth overall for boys, and sixth-grader John Dean finishing tenth overall for boys.

Mr. Mark Thompson and Mrs. Devon Stronach are the two coaches for the team this year. This is the first year Mr. Thompson is coaching cross country at Greenfield, and he is also the Assistant Head of School.

When asked what it was like switching from working as an administrator to coaching cross country, Mr. Thompson said, “I get to work closely with students and see them make progress on a daily basis.”

An avid cross country enthusiast, Mr. Thompson remarked positively on the sport.

“It is both an individual and a team sport, and everyone has to do the same workouts. They all have the same race, so there’s a sense of everyone is in the exact same position or situation.”

Coach Stronach echoes Mr. Thompson: “I like the zone you get into after you’ve gotten through your first mile, and I like the feeling after you’ve stopped your run, you always feel really good.”

Above: Coach Devon Stronach takes a moment away from cross country practice. Photo credit: Jasmine Nguyen.

Greenfield students are hopeful in the team’s success; in a poll conducted in the Upper School, each of the respondents remarked that they believe the team will have a good season.

Note: Gabby Beddingfield, the writer of this article, is the sister of cross country runner Anna Grace Beddingfield.