Congratulations to the Orchard Park Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams on their impressive seasons! They finished the year off with a commendable record by becoming ECIC Class A Champions and Section VI Class A Champions for Girls Cross Country. They also had several State qualifiers for both the Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams: Noel Barlette, Benjamin Betrus, Thomas Blake, Annabelle Czekanski, Samantha Messore, Ella Perryman, Alexis Sanelli, Isabella Sollecito, Ella Stegner and Alice Wierer. Read below to see Coach Betrus’s perspective regarding the success of this cross country season!
How would you define the overall performance of the runners this season?
It was an incredible year for all of our runners. We saw a lot of improvement in times in our veterans from last season to this season, and our rookies continued to grow the entire year.
How do you train runners to prepare for races?
The physical part of training is easy: try and mimic as much of the races as you can during practice–the pace, the terrain, the weather–the more you can get into training the better. The mental aspect of preparing student-athletes for racing is much harder. Everyone fights their own mental battles in their own ways during a cross country race, so coaches need to give as much individualized attention as possible.
How important is teamwork and camaraderie in cross country?
Camaraderie is the main reason that lots of kids decide to do cross country, so it is a critical aspect of what we do. Great captains and a strong team culture lead to fun events, like pasta parties and group outings. Teamwork is important too! Finding the extra gear at the end of a race or in a hard training session is hard when you are just doing it for yourself, but a little bit easier when you know that your whole team is counting on you to give 100%.
What advice do you give runners before races?
Stay focused on what you are doing. Run the first mile at a controlled pace, hold steady during mile 2, and then remember why you run during mile 3! Remember that everyone around you is in just as much pain as you are, but they are still finding a way to push, so you can too!
What are some key lessons you have learned as a coach?
In my first year being a cross-country coach, I have learned a lot. I have learned that coaching is just as much about communicating and motivating as it is about designing a good workout. The best workout plan in the world doesn’t accomplish anything if the athletes aren’t motivated to complete it!
What has been the best part about this season?
The best part of the season has been getting to know the student-athletes better. Helping them put smiles on their faces because of good race performances, making new friends, and trying new things is what coaching is all about for me.
