Meet Swampscott HS cross country coach W.F. Newhall
SWAMPSCOTT, Mass. — When W.F. Newhall entered Swampscott High School as a student in the 1970s, competitive running wasn鈥檛 on his radar. 鈥淢y dad may have mentioned it, but it went in one ear and out the other,鈥� Newhall joked during an interview with us. 鈥淭hen, I had buddies who were on the Cross Country team who played basketball after practice. I went out for Cross Country for just that reason, I liked basketball.鈥� He was about to be humbled. 鈥淭he first time we did a six-mile run I thought I was going to die,鈥� he chuckled. 鈥淏ut I stuck with it. Growing up in such a sports town, I wanted to wear Swampscott on my sleeve.鈥�
Today, nearly 50 years later, he still wears Swampscott proudly, but now as coach of that very same program. Unlike Track & Field, its cousin Cross Country is a bit lesser known – with some significant differences. 鈥淐ross Country involves running on often uneven terrain – path, roads, or trails,鈥� Newhall explained. 鈥淭ypical distances are 2.5 and 3.1 miles, also known as the 5K.鈥�
Swampscott鈥檚 home course is a combination of asphalt road and the trails of Jackson Park. 鈥淵ou’ll find yourself on hills and some difficult terrain for over two miles,鈥� Newhall said. The program ranges from seventeen to thirty runners every fall – split between girls and boys – a smaller group than its local competitors. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 tight knit,鈥� Newhall said. 鈥淯nlike Track and Field, everyone on the Cross Country team is getting ready for the same course. We are together 5 days per week, doing the same workout at various聽levels.鈥�
As coach, he hopes he can help his runners develop what he calls a “blueprint for success鈥�:聽 sacrifice, perseverance, determination, setting goals, time management, grit, creativity, and patience. 鈥淭hose are things that only make a great runner but are important in any endeavor,鈥� Newhall noted. 鈥淚f they improve as a runner, I want them to understand it is because they’ve developed those character traits.鈥�
Newhall also hopes his runners develop something that he clearly has over his half century at the sport. 鈥淎n appreciation for running,鈥� Newhall said. 鈥淣ot just a competitive athlete, but just as a great way to exercise through their whole life. Newhall helps new runners 鈥榞et over the hump.鈥� 鈥淚f you can get to a certain fitness level where you can go out and run 30 to 40 minutes, nice and easy, and develop an appreciation for running on a beautiful crisp fall day, that’s something you can have your whole life.鈥�
As for the team鈥檚 prospects this year 鈥渨e’re in a rebuilding phase,鈥� Newhall reports. 鈥淲e’re up against tough competition in Danvers, Peabody, Beverly, and Marblehead.聽We’re working to get stronger. If you鈥檙e interested in running, give us a shot.鈥�
Newhall says any SHS student interested in the Cross Country should head to the cafeteria to meet the team any day after school through mid-November.聽
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