Tahoma HS cross country team hosts annual Tahoma Co-ed Relay
MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. — On Saturday, September 10, 2022, the Tahoma High School cross-country team began their season by hosting the annual Tahoma Co-ed Relay. The opening race of the season brought 34 schools and 1,000 high school athletes to Lake Wilderness Park to compete. For 25 years, high school cross-country runners have been racing this 3k course which loops the park, goes through a single-track trail in the forest, and finishes with a sandy section in or by the lake.
Each school divides their runners into co-ed teams of five who each cover the 3k course for a total of 15 kilometers. This year, Eastlake High School took home the first-place gold medal, followed by Tahoma snagging the silver. Eastlake had bragging rights with two teams in the top three, while Tahoma impressed with three teams in the top ten.
Tahoma’s second-place team consisted of seniors: Ryan Lewis, Julia Stuard, Daniel Castelluccio, Anika Nau; and sophomore, Cooper Boyle. Other Bears on Tahoma’s top-performing teams included Kylie Castleman, Ella Benjamin, Kjell Fiskum, McKay Garvin, and Cannon Harmer, as a relay group. Kate Sanders, Ashlyn Dary, Ben Brady, Ben Cooper, and Seth Barber were on the other team that finished in the top ten.
The warm weather and energized crowd made for a memorable event. Fans lined the course and cheered on their athletes and teams. Tahoma Head Cross-Country Coach Jeff Brady added color commentary and music as the announcer.
Under the guidance of their coach, Jeff Brady, the Tahoma High School cross-country team looks forward to continuing the team’s tradition of success. After winning state titles in 2011, 2015, 2018, and the virtual state title in 2021, there’s plenty of optimism to go around.
Get to know a little bit about Coach Brady in the following Q&A session.
Position with the team/club?
Jeff Brady: Head Coach for Tahoma Cross Country.
How long have you been coaching?
Brady: 27 Years of coaching XC at Tahoma HS.
What is your background in this sport?
Brady: I ran track in high school and college. I became a distance runner in my late 20s after I started coaching XC. I’ve completed 9 marathons (including Boston in 2007).
What are one or two things that the team does in training that are keys to their success?
Brady: They work HARD and push one another to be better. I’m always so impressed with the effort that they put forth day in, day out. We have a season training plan, and they understand that they will have easier days and more challenging days. On those hard days, they are especially focused!
Please describe the most memorable games/tournaments/championships your team has won.
Brady: I have been fortunate to be part of the Tahoma XC team for all three state titles. The girls won in 2011 and the boys in 2015 & 2018. Both boys and girls also won the virtual state meet in 2021 (when teams ran separate, due to Covid, on the track and submitted times).
How do you encourage the team after a disappointing loss?
Brady: I try to get them to understand that it is difficult to have a top performance in every race. There will be highs and lows. The important thing is to learn something from each race regardless of your performance.
Describe your proudest coaching moment.
Brady: Those state titles!
What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from being a coach?
Brady: Every person on the team has a different strength. As a coach, I want to make everyone feel like they are a part of the team, part of the Tahoma XC family. It is not about who you beat each week, but how you are improving as an individual and how you are contributing to those around you.
What legacy do you hope to leave as a coach?
Brady: I hope that as a coach, I can help lay a foundation for a lifetime of fitness. I also hope my athletes leave the program knowing they can do hard things, both physically and mentally. In addition, Tahoma XC is about making those around you better. I hope I’ve made my athletes better runners and better people and that, in turn, they continue to positively impact those around them.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Brady: I have the privilege of an amazing coaching staff working with me. It is truly a collaborative effort, with each coach bringing unique skills to our team. Also supporting our team in countless ways are the families of our athletes, as well as our booster club. Tahoma XC would not be what it is without all of this incredible support.
I am exceedingly grateful for our athletes and how each and every one of them has brought the team to the level that we are today. Each year, the bar is raised and the team rises to the challenge before them.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.