Mileplit Ohio's Nate Shively caught up with St. Ignatius cross country head coach Dr. Michael Gallagher to discuss the team's upcoming season.
Last year, the Wildcats finished ninth in the team standings at the OHSAA Division 1 State Championship. With top finishers Steven Zucca and Nick Mulhern graduated, new faces emerge as leaders and will highlight the 2020 team. This is Coach Gallagher's 16th season as head coach of the squad.
MileSplit Ohio:
What was the team's approach to summer training this year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic?
Coach Gallagher:
At Ignatius we draw kids from all over Cuyahoga County, so we set up two or three sites for the guys to meet. We do a south site, west site and an east site. The guys just couldn't wait to start since they missed the entire outdoor track season. As soon as they knew they could start running again, they were all over it. I didn't really change anything as far as training goes. We just put in a lot of base work over the summer. The interesting thing with this year was I didn't have to push anyone to come to practice, the guys were like race horses chomping at the bit because they were so tired of not doing anything. Because they missed the track season it really left a void in all these kids. Most of the guys like to base their cross country season off of how they did in track, and they don't have that this year. The runners feel like they are playing catch up.
MileSplit Ohio:
With the season set to start on August 24th, what's the training schedule look like leading up to that?
Coach Gallagher:
I layout my training in three stages: base, build and peak. Our top group is running right around 60 miles per week. Personally, I'm a big fan of Jack Daniels and his pace work so we mix that into our training. I like having variety. Mixing a fartlek into a workout, repeat 1ks, fast finishes on reps. I find the kids respond to variety as much as anything else. I have 75 kids on the team, so I have to keep the workouts interesting for the top guys as well as the developmental guys. Most importantly, it's been a way to avoid runners getting hurt.
MileSplit Ohio:
What are some of the team's goals for this season?
Coach Gallagher:
Number one: we always want to compete for the state championship. Number two: I want at least half of the guys to earn their letter, which they need to break 18 minutes. Number three: I want to develop our next group of guys. We need to identify the kids that were junior varsity runners last year and are ready to take the jump to varsity.
MileSplit Ohio:
With your top two runners at state last year, Steven Zucca and Nick Mulhern, both graduating last year, who do you feel like you can count on to lead the team this year?
Coach Gallagher:
My two senior co-captains, Peter Fitzpatrick and Aidan Monroe, were on the state qualifying team last year. Neither of them were happy with their personal performance or the way the team performed. You like it when a kid says, "I have more in me, and I'm not going to let it happen again". They have been great leaders this summer. There's nothing that makes it easier for a coach than your captains have the same passion you have. Junior Matt Kelly was on our state team last year and is very competitive. I really believe he would have made it to the state track meet this year in the mile. Junior Sean Uhran was disappointed to be the alternate at the state cross country meet last year, so he has a chip on his shoulder this season. Joe Maloney is getting really fit as well. In a nutshell, our team is really itching to race.
MileSplit Ohio:
It looks like you have a solid group of guys that went under 17 minutes last year.
Coach Gallagher:
Yeah, it's great. But what these guys know is that's not good enough anymore. The competition is just too tight. There's so many great programs in Ohio that getting under 17 minutes just doesn't do it anymore.
MileSplit Ohio:
Can you highlight some of the St. Ignatius up-and-comers?
Coach Gallagher:
Sure. I have the luxury of having depth this year. Some juniors to watch: Alex Paliga, Sean Becker, Will Leahy. Any of those kids can bump up into our varsity lineup.
MileSplit Ohio:
I noticed you have two additions to your coaching staff this year in Dan True and Sarah Horbol. Can you give a little background on each and what made them a good fit to join your staff?
Coach Gallagher:
Dan True worked the past few years with Fred Kieser at Saint Joseph Academy. He came to Ignatius as a Theology teacher, and Dan also is our team Chaplain. It feels like he has been here all along, that's how smooth the transition was. Sarah Horbol is such a talented marathoner. I coached her when she was in grade school, so I've known her since she was in fourth grade. I happened to run into her and asked about her interest in coaching with us and she accepted. She is such a competitive athlete and brings a competitive spirit to our team.
MileSplit Ohio:
Is there anything else you would like to say about your team or this season?
Coach Gallagher:
Our team is just walking on eggshells hoping we can get out there and race. It's going to be an interesting season because of what's going on. We're looking forward to getting on a course to use all of this training and do something with it. Practice is great, but I love race day.
MileSplit Ohio:
Thanks Coach Gallagher and good luck this season!