SPC Coaches Go Over 5,000 Miles In One Day For 2020 Senior Student-Athletes

(I learned today that five pieces of content that I had submitted to Texas Runner and Triathlete editor Lance Phegley to be included in an edition that was to feature what runners and triathletes did to keep themselves motivated during the COVID-19 pandemic was not included by the publisher in the purported last issue of the magazine.  As a result, I'm posting the content here on the blog to share with those who might have expected to see it.  I haven't seen the publication yet, but it is my understanding that the number of pages was dramatically reduced from the last quarterly edition.)

All across America, communities found innovative ways to recognize their student-athletes who lost their senior season of competition to the COVID-19 crisis.

The 18 schools of the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC), all but one of who are located in Texas, may have outdone them all – and themselves.

The athletic departments and their coaching staffs pledged to run, hike, bike and walk 2,020 miles in honor of their seniors on Saturday, May 2.

Generally, depending on where they would have started and finished on both coasts, the 476 coaches collectively could have run, walked and cycled across the United States and back as they registered 5,397.82 miles.

Five schools posted totals of more than 400 miles with Houston St. John’s School edging out Fort Worth Trinity Valley School by just less than a 5K and The Woodlands John Cooper School by less than a 5-miler.

The Mavericks coaching staff led the way with 486.90 miles, followed by the Trojans with 484.45 and the Dragons with 482.01.

The idea was the brainchild of John Cooper School athletic director John Hoye.

“As coaches, we have a respect for one another and enjoy friendly competition,” said Hoye.  “This is an opportunity for all of us to connect.”

SPC Commissioner Bob Windham couldn’t have agreed more.

“I really appreciate the SPC Athletic Directors working together to create an event to honor our senior athletes," he said. "This has been an unsettling and difficult time for all of our athletes, coaches, and fans. I am glad to see the ADs have initiated a fun activity to end what would have been the end of our spring season.”

And fun it was.

Episcopal School of Dallas crew coach Adam Jones led all cyclists with 81 miles, edging out Fort Worth Country Day School cross country and track coach Lexi Endicott by just a mile.  Fort Worth Trinity Valley School cross country coach Carry Hansen rounded out the podium with 65.1 miles on the bike.

Dallas Hockaday School cross country and swimming coach Rachel Grabow, also a Dallas Running Club member, led all runners with 26.25 miles, which might have been expected as she has completed 42 races of marathon or greater distance since her marathon debut at the Cowtown Marathon in February 2013.

Houston The Kinkaid School assistant girls soccer coach Tarik Guendouzi was second with 20.9 miles while Houston St. John’s School girls basketball coach Kathy Halligan was third with 20.2.

Bellaire Episcopal High School head track and field coach Isaiah Coleman grabbed the walking division with 50 kilometers -- on the treadmill.

Dallas Hockaday School head athletic trainer Jeanne Olson was second with 22 miles and Houston The Kinkaid School mental skills coach John Couture edged out Austin St. Andrew’s School’s Victor Nunez by less than a mile with 13.76 miles.

Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas associate athletic director Josh Friesen was first in multisport miles with 56.5, besting Fort Worth Country Day School boys head soccer coach Mike Vincent and The Woodlands John Cooper School cross country, track and basketball coach Carrie Aman, who achieved 51 and 50.53 miles, respectively.

Houston St. John’s School – 486.90
Fort Worth Trinity Valley School – 484.45
The Woodlands John Cooper School – 482.01
Fort Worth Country Day School – 439.11
Dallas Hockaday School – 411.84
Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal School – 378.30
Houston The Kinkaid School – 348.41
Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas – 338.08
Dallas Greenhill School – 321.25
Bellaire Episcopal High School – 319.27
Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School – 268.52
Episcopal School of Dallas – 243.21
Arlington The Oakridge School – 191.40
Houston Awty International School – 186.72
Oklahoma City Casady School – 175.90
Houston Christian High School – 139.02
Houston Duchesne Academy – 135.20
Irving Cistercian Prep – 15.6

Cycling Miles
81 - Adam Jones, Episcopal School of Dallas
80 – Lexi Endicott, Fort Worth Country Day School
65.1 – Carry Hansen, Fort Worth Trinity Valley School
63.25 – Jeff Kralik, Houston Awty International School
55.1 – Charleton Perry, Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
50.3 – Alexis Jones, Dallas Hockaday School
50 – Andy Aceves, Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
50 – Neil Mendalson, Austin St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
37 – Brady Brown, Fort Worth Country Day School
33.25 – Kendall Bernard, Houston St. John’s School

Multi-Sport Miles
56.5 – Josh Friesen, Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas
51 – Mike Vincent, Fort Worth Country Day School
50.53 – Carrie Aman, The Woodlands John Cooper School
44.3 – Spencer Dornin, Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas
44.12 – Kyle Kennedy, Fort Worth Trinity Valley School
40.58 – Kenny Halligan, Houston St. John’s School
38.01 – Heidi Crone, Dallas Hockaday School
33.3 – Julius Michael, Bellaire Episcopal High
30.34 – Amber Clevenger, The Woodlands John Cooper School
30 – Jennifer Johnson, Dallas Hockaday School

Running Miles
26.25 – Rachel Grabow, Dallas Hockaday School
20.9 – Tarik Guendouzi, Houston The Kinkaid School
20.2 – Kathy Halligan, Houston St. John’s School
15.05 – Keon Jefferson, Fort Worth Country Day School
13.1 – Matt Byrd, Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
10.32 – John Hoye, The Woodlands John Cooper School
10.04 – Gillian Glengarry, Dallas Greenhill School
10 – Curt Brooks, Houston The Kinkaid School
9.03 – David Nelson, Houston Christian High School
8.13 – Matt Blimline, Dallas Greenhill School

Walking Miles
31.2 – Isaiah Coleman, Bellaire Episcopal High School
22 – Jeanne Olson, Dallas Hockaday School
13.76 – John Couture, Houston The Kinkaid School
12.92 – Victor Nunez, Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
12.4 – Walt Miga, Dallas St. Mark’s School of Texas
11.11 – Josh Blumenthal, Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
11 – Matt Assiff, Houston The Kinkaid School
11 – Jack Soliman, Houston St. John’s School
10.89 – Sam Chambers, Houston St. John’s School
10.7 – John Tomczak, Houston St. John’s School