The Long Run

Historic team leaves behind legacy of commitment

rinity ’ s three-time state championship cross country team graduated a core group of runners in June. However, these athletes are leaving behind a roadmap to success forged by the students themselves, and nurtured by their coach, Marcus Jones ’00. “They have created an enduring culture of winning. It ’ s an inclusive culture, with no hierarchy, and great appreciation for all members, ” Jones said. “And culture doesn ’ t graduate. ”

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Jake Wilkes ’13, Mac Strehler ’13 and

Reider Strehler

’13 were part of all three championship teams, and helped shape the team. It all began after the state meet in 2009, where the team finished fourth. “We were disappointed, ” said Jake Wilkes. “We were down on ourselves. We knew that next year, we ’d still have the same guys. So we worked all summer. ” Mac Strehler remembers that loss as pivotal. “The loss was almost as valuable as a win, ” he said. “It taught us that a win doesn ’ t come easily. ”

Marcus Jones remembers how the team re-grouped. “I remember right after we lost in 2009, standing by the old tennis courts, talking to key returners, and listening to them talk about how they could do it. It felt different. ” Under the leadership of Guy Shelby ’12 and Chris Cantone ’12, the team implemented a plan for victory. “Collectively they all committed to a grueling training regimen, ” said Jones. “They decided that if they were going to lose, it wasn ’ t going to be because they didn ’ t work hard. ”

In the summer of 2010, they trained hard. Guy were always texting us to meet. ” Jones remembers how much the runners changed. “They fell in love with the process of trying to win. It ’ s easy to show up for one day in November with a lot of passion, but they were able to bring that passion in the heat of July and on rainy days in August, ” he said. “They were invested in the team goal and in each other. ”

The result? The team won the Prep League meet and uprooted Woodberry Forest School’ s dynasty at a memorable meet. “It was easily the closest meet I’ ve witnessed or been a part of, ” said Jones. The Strehlers contributed more than their share to the drama of the moment. “Reider ran a really gutsy race after an injury, ” said Jake Wilkes. “Mac was behind down the last straightaway, and then Mac leaned in and we won by one point. ” The first

The team repeated both championships in 2011, with the largest margin of victory in history at a state meet. They stayed true to the practice regimen they ’d established. “Reider, Jake and I tried to copy Guy and Chris ’ s leadership, ” said Mac Strehler. “We wanted the team to be open to everybody. We wanted to make the younger guys feel valuable. ”

The state and league championships in 2012 simply confirmed what Coach Jones had come to value in his team: that the athleticism was matched or exceeded by character. “I think that they were a very talented group, but they found meaning in working hard, ” he said. “I think as coaches we talk to our athletes about working hard, but a lot of times there is a disconnect about what it means to work hard. It ’ s an ambiguous term. Wanting to win a state championship didn ’ t make them special. It ’ s about the sacrifices that you ’ re willing to make. ”

The runners are quick to credit Jones with superlative leadership. “Coach made you feel that the win was possible, ” said Mac Strehler. In looking back at the thousands of miles that led to success, that state meet loss in 2009 still looms large. “That loss may have ensured our three state championships, ” said Reider Strehler. Jones agrees. “We had to lose to win. ”

The 2013 team is up to the challenge of continuing the culture of hard work and camaraderie. “They feel pride in the team, and want to continue what was started in 2010, ” said Jones. “We will be competitive. We will go in with a chance to win. As long as we have a group willing to make that commitment, we ’ll be competitive every year. ”

Left to right:

The team before the 2012 State Meet; Mac Strehler ‘13 at the finish of the 2010 Prep League Meet where his defeating the WFS runner meant a one point win; Guy Shelby ’12 crossing the finish line at the 2011 State Meet where he became the first Trinity runner to win a boys individual state title (Reider Strehler won in 2012 to become the 2nd individual winner).