CROSS COUNTRY 2020

Coach Budd shall start posting workouts in about a week or so as he did during the Spring Track and Field season.

Workouts shall exist on our ladyspartan web site which can simply be clicked on this page.

Expect workouts about 4 times a week.

I realize it is impossible all the time to follow the workouts because there is a chance that some of you may be travelling at times, and weather can sometimes prohibit what and when you can do things.

If you have to travel, it might be wise to avoid many of the popular Southern States, as it seems as if this virus is starting to spike in various areas of the South.

The Recreation Department shall be giving me names of incoming folks as well as 8th, 7th and 6th graders that have done some sports. WE NEED NEW PEOPLE or we could fall into what happened last year and not have enough people to even field a team.

Losing Spring, actually set Cross Country back about 17 years (21 for track and field). One day I will explain, but please understand that it was a huge setback. Training will take on a full new meaning this year.

I have no idea what to expect in the Fall. We may or may not have a season. School days are also still up in the air that I know of in terms of classroom and/or home study.

This Summer the MSTCA has been in discussion on Zoom (which I still have no idea how it works - but have managed to participate in) about what could happen.

I would think that each person shall be required to wear a mask at practice unless actually running.  You all will have to bring your own water bottles (as usual) and not share. For warmups it is wise to exercise social distancing...we also may have to run in small groups. Hand sanitizers should  or could be required.

Getting back to the Rec Dept: I am going to see if we can get folks to train with us at Birchland. At the very least, learn how we drill. We have an opportunity to build a stronger team at all levels because not many of the other sports will be approved to go without even more restrictions than I have outlined  above.

Am looking at July, 13, 20, 27 at 6:30 - 8 to start. Additional dates can be added if everything goes well. I could also call it off in a moment's notice.

If you feel "feverish", do not train. Rest and quarantine for 14 days. Listen to Governor Baker's mid-day reports whenever you can and check this page each day for updates. We will proceed subject to the approval of the EL Health Department as well. They will guide the Rec Department. The program will be more "hands off".

Messages here would be posted after 8pm, on the other site I will put up by 7am, as I imagine that if you all are running, you shall do so in the morning. Will try to communicate 4 days per week.

Officially the school does NOT approve the term "Captain's Practices". if you all want to get together to run or exercise, it is something that you and your parents have mutually agreed upon. I shall submit ideas on the Ladyspartan site, but it is a guideline.

There could be NON XC runners around, so I shall have something for them also. Hopefully some may join un in the Fall. The tentative schedule is up simply click on XC.

Duck Races would be the first large XC meet throughout the State. There could be some restrictions. As of right now I do not know what they shall be. Also, bus trips could have restrictions in terms of number of participants depending upon our numbers, the boys numbers, and how many vehicles we are able to get assigned.

Elizabeth, Margaret, Angelina and Elyse shall be the leaders  They have the most experience working within the system. I shall send them all of the potential names and contact information.

By the way...COACH ABAD is taking over the Boys team. Please let me know WHO the team veterans are for them, so I can contact them and give them some instruction and allow them to contact their new coach.

For those of you that did not see my message the school sent to masslive, here it is. I also want to commend Mr. Paige, Mr. Magee and our trainer Diane for caring enough to send out heartfelt messages to all of our student/athletes. NO OTHER SCHOOL showed that consideration.

Be PROUD to be a Spartan. Your administration LISTENS and CARES about your concerns!

BRIDEWATER STATE SPORTS UNSUNG HERO 2020

You all need to LISTEN to Coach Budd. Jessica was a Soccer player and Basketball player while at East Longmeadow.

We tried to encourage her to do Indoor....she really did not play much ( for years). 

We tried to have her run Cross Country. While she did play, she shunned the idea of running distance.

We tried to get her to run distance rather than sprints...she simply would not buy in.

Then, her Senior year (AFTER basketball season), she tells me that she would much rather run Track and Field in college. 

She goes to Bridgewater State as a walk on. She makes the team. 

They make her do Indoor...she LOVED it!

They wanted her to run Cross Country...she had a great deal of success.

JESSICA HAYWOOD

Became the schools unsung hero her Senior year along with some Team titles

Moral of story...LISTEN to Coach Budd!

If you have a passion for another sport and are REALLY good, I won't tell you to leave it.

BUT, if you are still trying to figure out your sports future...there is ALWAYS something for you in our sport!  REMEMBER THAT!

NAME THE SHOES

Can any one of you name the EXACT brand of shoes this stunningly fast 400 runner is wearing?

What do you make of the socks?

FROM DUTILLE TO DILLY DILLY

In a UNANIMOUS vote, all past winners of the Frank Dutille Award independently selected ERIN LAVELLE for the Frank Dutille Award, which goes to the Track and Field team's outstanding underclassman.

Chosen by the media as an All-Western Mass athlete, Erin was our best high jumper, long jumper, 300 meter and 55 meter dash runner Indoors.

There is NO doubt she is the fastest girl at East Longmeadow High School as well as in the town.

Congratulations to her for earning this prestigious award, we hope to be able to present it to her sometime in the Summer or perhaps during the next Indoor season.

By tradition, the previous year's winner gets to make the presentation. That would be K-Rod.

Almost every picture of her seems to be a blur...that's FAST!

Some people are so fast, they can turn out the lights and get in bed before it gets dark!

TEEBO OR TEBOW GETS A SCHOLARSHIP FROM STATE COACHES

I am not certain who this person is that got a scholarship from the Mass State Track Coaches Association.

Is it TEEBO?

 OR is it TEBOW?

Or should we simply call her by her REAL name...TREDO?

For some reason we don't have a whole lot of pictures of her in action? Nice to see her whuppin up on Minnechaug, though...

I'll go with the FIRST PICTURE...she's an EWOK!

She is also only the 4th person in school history to receive an MSTCA scholarship.

Any award from them is not easy to get at any level. It requires an essay amongst many other things.

She was also competing against other folks throughout the State (there are only about 300 teams).

Congratulations to Grace Tredo: Ewok, Quarterback, and school record holder in the 1500 and 1000.

SO WHAT IS A TRACK AND FIELD MEET LIKE AT ELHS?

For those of you that were going to be new this year, This is a 27 minute video on the meet that we host every season SPARTAN INVITATIONAL.

Here are some of the events that go on in a competition.

We hope that those of you that were unable to compete this season but shall be around next year would join us.

Most meets do not include the boys, but we are working on getting them involved. in our races.

It really is a lot of fun.

For some of you, this may be a trip down memory lane from 2018 .

For some of you this is a trip down memory lane.

Just so you know, many of our officials that are hired thoughout Western Mass are ELHS Almuni or/and parents of ELHS grads.

The Starter here is Gina Potorski, who ran for us back in the 90's

One of the Long Jump officials is Ali McMahon, who you all might have seen on one of our relay teams' pictures or videos. The other Long Jump official is the Mom of school and Western Mass triple jump recordholder Jenise Everett ( Ethel Everett).

Josh McGowan was a State Champion in the 4 x 400 relay, teaches at Central HS and worked the High Jump.

Bill McMahon is Ali's Dad and served as one of the clerks alongside our Assistant Coach Dr. Gary Gorman.

These are paid positions...just so you know.

In the Fall we host a Cross Country meet in which 500 students show up for. Teams come from the Cape and the Berkshires to run.

WE DO IT ALL!

MESSAGE TO THE SENIORS

THANK YOU SENIORS

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU!

If any of you have pictures of yourselves particularly in uniform, please share with Coach Budd

www.youralarmguy@aol.com   TEXT: (413) 364-1168

I have a few but not many.

Thanks

Coach Budd

FINAL RELAY TEAM: POSSIBLY THE BEST EVER

For the end of relay month, I simply had to recognize the most famous of all the relay teams in school history.

In 2003, these four became the FIRST Western Mass team to win a State Championship, and the first team in school history (that I know of) to secure such a title.

We had gone to an MSTCA event for the very first time earlier that season and beat Marlboro in the 4 x 200 meter relay at the Girls Invitational. It was our first exposure to the big time.

So when we returned for the State Meet later in the year, we felt pretty good about ourselves in the Championship race...our main competition was Algonquin Regional.

We had the then NEW Western Mass 600 meter champion leading off (mostly because she had difficulty taking a baton, but also she would run leadoff and stay with the leaders!).

She handed off to the Western Mass 55 meter dash champion, who we knew would put or keep us in a terrific position.

From there our 3rd leg was a finalist in the 300 meters that was interfered with during that race with a "hacky sack". but still managed to place. She also held the freshman record in the Outdoor 200.

The anchor was money. 3rd place in the Western Mass. 55 dash as well as the current school record holder in the pole vault.

FOUR of the best athletes of ALLTIME!

They are currently immortalized in our trophy case.

Cortney Bowen (Energizer Bunny) Birtwell - Undefeated that year in all dual contests. State Champ on the Soccer team. Undefeated Indoors and Undefeated Outdoors. She and Christiana Racicot are the only people in East Longmeadow School history to go an ENTIRE year without losing! (1 tie in Soccer).

Kara (Storm) Budd - School record holder in the 55,100, 200, 300 hurdles, Indoor triple, and long. Only our own Paige Suse out jumped her in the high jump. 2 time athlete of the week, and her 4 x 1 relay team STILL has the school record.

New England runner up in the long jump and Champion in the triple. State champ in the 55 and 200 meter dash.

Currently a member of the ELHS Hall of Fame.

Beth Kineavy (Tugboat) Honecker - Part of that school record holder currently in the 4 x 100. Still holds the freshman records in the Indoor AND Outdoor 200. Two time State Champion in the 4 x 200. Western Mass. Champ her rookie year in the 4 x 100

Erika Graham Sharp (Teddy Graham) - Was a two time bronze medalist in the 55 dash. School record holder in the Pole Vault and at one time was part of the school long jump relay team that won Steele's and the McIntyre (New England) Relays. One of the best leaders I ever worked with and currently a member of the East Longmeadow Sports Hall of Fame.

I shall post the video of this at some point in the future. It was an amazing race to watch, as we led from start to finish.

STORM, TUGBOAT,TEDDY GRAHAM, ENERGIZER BUNNY

MEET COACH VAL

So unfortunately without having a season this year, I at least wanted to find a old picture of Coach Val.

She was our throws Coach back around 2007 and worked with several really good shot, disc and javelin throwers.

Our group of Girls that reported to her became known as VAL'S GALS!

She is a superb Coach that actually competed in Scotland and brought a lot of team unity to us!

CHANNEL 22 ATHLETES OF THE WEEK IN THE WRONG EVENT

So way back when, we had a relay team that simply dominated in the 4 x 200 at Western Mass.

They helped us earn our very first TEAM title. An unbelievable team that took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the hurdles IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEET! Sorry Coach Gorman, we swept your participant that day in the finals.  A picture tells 1000 words.

The funny thing is that I was TOLD by a grandparent that we could not win without her grandaughter ( who had missed several practices without excuses at the end of the season). WRONG!

Our plan was to build a house that day. For those of you that have been to our pre-championship meetings, you will understand that we "create" that daybefore  and then "implement" the next.

So after some great performances, we decided to go on to the States and win that relay again, we were the #1 seed, and I knew there was no way anyone could beat us.

In a way, we ended up beating ourselves.

You are supposed to check in prior to the race. We FAILED to do that. WHAT?  WHY?

It's a long story, but I am going to tell it anyway.  Our Western Mass Champion Long Jumper was jumping in the State finals and was unable to make the call. Our Western Mass. Champion High Jumper was also our school record holder in the 600 dash. There was an error at the table and she was called down to the arena to secure the correct medal (better place!) in the 600.

So where were the other two?  watching their team Captain in the finals of the jumps and missed the call.

We were OUT of the 4 x 200. Too late to be added. Now Coach Budd was EXTREMELY ANGRY!
(not that I get angry often, but the stakes were incredibly high, you see).

I went up to the table in the gym to see what I could do, and I was offered the opportunity to have these four run in the 4 x 400 relay, but it meant I had to bounce the four I had previously registered.

OH WELL!

I think these four were probably upset AND scared, but their "punishment" was that they were going to run. They were four of the best athletes we had ever worked with.

CANDACE "CANDO" KASPER

KAYLA "KILLER" RYBACKI

MAYA "FLOJO" RHINEHART

ALI "BOOMAYAY" McMAHON

They were running that day, regardless. My daughter was there and told me, that was the right thing to do. So they ran...possibly in fear, but WHATEVER! Time to make the donuts!

They took 8 seconds off the school record that day and qualified for the All-States!

In the 4 x 200, they would have made it, but could have been dominated by Boston area teams, instead they went there (ALL-STATES) in the 4 x 400 and then took another 4 seconds off their new school record, thus earning a spot at NEW ENGLANDS! Channel 22 came down and named them athletes of the Week.

Well earned, much deserved,  and completely unexpected...by the way they brought the time down another two seconds. Still the fastest 4 x 400 Indoors OR Outdoors ever at our school!

ALL-STATE FINALS 2011

Lost again to Sprint City (Hingham), in two weeks they took 14 seconds off the school record, BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY -  I wasn't mad no more...

MULTIPLE SCHOOL RECORDS IN RELAYS

Sometimes a relay team comes together at precisely the right time.  Injuries and other things always seemed to prevent us from putting together another Dream Team Indoors. Another sport prevented us from keeping this team together throughout the Outdoor season.

Yeah, one of these folks played that funny game with sticks in the Spring.

Surprisingly, not all four of these folks ran Cross Country together. Well, maybe NOT surprisingly.

One of the weaknesses we have as a program is that not everyone buys into the sport right away.

This was evidenced my first year here, when I noticed two superbly talented distance runners that made a huge difference, that were committed to Soccer, then realized that they were suited to become far better performers as distance runners.

Those two ended up being a great one-two punch for us and BOTH went on to become physicians!

Kathleen Wicks and Shannon Brennan...SPARKPLUG and CLUTCH!

I understand if  someone has a passion for a sport, but once you find out you're superior at ours, you really should consider changing unless your are even BETTER at another one.

We have had more than our share of people come out of our program and end up competing collegiately. One of them this year became an ALL-AMERICAN ( Ashley CORKY Corcoran).

The mistake is when a coach tries to take, say, a really explosive type of individual and attempt to convert them. Now you are creating conflict in their energy systems and their natural twitch muscles.

Each one of these runners was originally scheduled to run in the sprints (and did) as Freshman. None of them were established distance runners. 

But with time and observing them in practices as well as competitions, they gradually moved into Middle Distance and Distance.

By 2016, they were collectively Western Mass Champions in the 4 x 800, and State Runners Up in the same event. Their time is the second best listed ever Indoors (only second to Holyoke Catholic, who is a traditionally powerful distance team).

What surprises me is that no one ever took video on them.

Here they are by name, and what they accomplished over their career:

Morgan Voight ( DMV): Current school record holder in the INDOOR and OUTDOOR Mile.

Also a member of the school record setting DISTANCE MEDLEY INDOORS. Currently runs for Quinnipiac.

Abby Laughlin (HAMMER) Current school record holder in the INDOOR and OUTDOOR 800.

Also the INDOORS DISTANCE and SPRINT MEDLEYS.

Abigail Rate ( ABBYCUS) Current school record holder in the INDOOR DISTANCE MEDLEY

Lauren Crum ( CRUM BABY) Current school record holder in the OUTDOOR 4 x 1600 meter relay

They also won a bet with Coach Matt Benoit that allowed them to color his hair ( I don't DO that stuff, you are SUPPOSED to break records, because that's my JOB to put you in position to do well)!

YOUR MOMENT IN TIME IS COMING

I am taking a few moments to address the entire team, but I do want to talk to each of you individually.

I am guessing that most of you are on school vacation, as I know that is how my son's school is handling this week.

My intent is to contact each of you individually to see how you are doing, and hope that you and your family are making the best of this situation.

If you like, after Saturday, I can continue to send you all workouts, but as you know we will not have any opportunity to compete this Spring. Let  Coach Morrissey and me know.

I am especially disappointed for our Seniors, who will not have an opportunity to shine for us once more. I truly believe that we have the best team in this Section, because of our experience, depth and the number of people we would have been working with. We certainly had a chance.

Coach Morrissey, Coach Gorman, Coach Sullivan, Coach Besser, Coach Kennedy, Coach Cowieson (which you all had no chance to meet yet), I want to thank all of you as well. I KNOW what each of you brings to the table.

I am equally frustrated...but we have to move on.

Focus your efforts on the things that you can control: Schoolwork, health, and being the good citizens that I know each and every one of you are.

I will still post some of our past relay teams as we go through April (since in this sport this month really IS relay month).

I shall be in touch with the boosters so see if there is anything they can do for you all. We have to be careful and allow the school district guide us.

I know I am going to miss a lot of you. For those that I have never had the chance to work with directly, I know you may be a little bit lost...but have faith.

I want to thank your parents for supporting you and trying to guide you through this challenging experience.

Don't be shy and do not be afraid to contact me if you need some sort of support. I don't have a lot of pull, but I can always try to find the answers you need.

You are all tough! We'll figure this out. Meantime, stay healthy, observe what those in authority are telling you to do, and we will all get through this, and be stronger in the process.

I want to dedicate this video to all of you so you know how I feel about you all and especially the last four years.

Coach Budd

FROM CAMPS TO CHAMPS

 There have been many members of the Spartan Summer Track and Field Camp to have flourished when they got to the school. 

Here are four from my Summer Camp that came directly from those camps to be honored as Champions individually as well as numerous times in a relay.

ALEXANDRIA " BOOMAYAY" McMAHON

KAYLA "KILLER" RYBACKI

MAYA "FLOJO" RHINEHART

AZI "GREEN LANTERN" AKPAN

The picture even lists the first year they won the 4 x 400 relay at Western Mass.

They repeated the next year as well.

Before this series ends, I will tell you an interesting story about them that I never thought would happen.

I happen to like the shirts because 1) they actually MATCH and two, they represent the World's Fastest Superhero. I like Star Wars, but I like Superheroes too!

These four WERE Superheroes!

RELAY TEAM WITH A STAR WARS CROSSOVER

Okay, so sometimes races remind me of Star Wars. I happen to be wired that way where EVERYTHING reminds me of Star Wars.

We had a relay race for the Western Mass. Championship and the final hand off looked eerily like a spaceship blasting out of the Death Star right before it was blown up.

ALL of the teams entered the last zone seemingly simultaneously and only ONE emerged first with their baton on their way to a title!

We had worked on that handoff all week long. I lost my mind trying to get them to do it right (some would say I never had a mind to begin with...fair enough).

Isabella "Itchy: Gamelli got the stick into the hand of McKenzie "Joker" Quigley and while everyone else struggled, we just jumped into hyperspace.

Now to best describe what it looked like by viewing the video...it's right before Lando Calrissian exclaims "YEE-HAW".

The participants on that team also included Pally "Taker" Borrello and Elizabeth "Knight Rider" Lizzy Knight.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of that team, but I do have one of the one the following year which includes Erin "Dilly Dilly" Lavelle.

Erin Dilly Dilly Lavelle,  Mckenzie "Joker" Quigley

Pally "Taker" Borrello, Isabella "Itchy" Gamelli

RELAY TO REVISIT THE 4 X 200

The 4 x 200 relay team had just won the Western Mass title in the event which clinched the 2012 Western Mass. Title.

They were undefeated.

Unfortunately, the leadoff runner was not going to attend the State Meet. 

WHAT?

There is never anything more disappointing than an athlete that can compete for the ultimate prize and then suddenly not appear to try and secure it!

The only thing that takes the sting out of it is when someone else steps up in an unfamiliar role and gives the maximum effort for the team!

Enter Red Robin, Gabby Weithofer. Gabby was never afraid of a challenge and never entered a contest without giving her all!

Of course she had some fairly good back up.

Sister Julia (Red Raven), who earlier in the year wiped out two Athol boys that got in her way and also was the champion of the long jump.

Candace (Kazbah OR Cando take your pick), who placed second in the 300 meter dash

And finally Erin (CSI) Rybacki, who had placed second in the long jump as well as the 55 dash.

The opposition was only the best in the State. SPRINT CITY, also known as Hingham HS and also Bishop Feehan who clearly had the best sprints coach and sprinting formula in the country.

To BE the best, you have to BEAT the best!

Well, they did not actually WIN the state title, but made it VERY INTERESTING! In the process they broke the school record which still exists today.

CSI, RED RAVEN, CANDO AND RED ROBIN