Now I can appreciate the challenge of working with a group of athletes and how a coach can contribute to their success. The success is evident in Curtin's cross country team and track distance runners. Last fall the Emory women's cross country team finished seventh at the NCAA Division III national championships, the highest finish in school history. The key is finding a way to push their buttons to get 120 percent effort from them. If they give you their best effort, that's all you can ask for.
People think all distance runners do is simply run.
Distance running is not just physical talent, it's a state of mind. You can't just impose your will and produce instant results. They have to learn it for themselves over a period of time. Ga. As a freshman, she finished 107th with a time of 20 minutes and 11 seconds at the NCAA national cross country championships. And to learn when to push hard and when to let up in her training.