The Multi-talented Coach "Z" brings us into his home via Google Hangout as he recaps all the action of both the Bay State and Brown Invitationals.
Last year Nate Kraft , former Northhampton H. S. coach and current Clark University Cross-Country coach, compiled this amazing list of the Top 100 Times on the present Northfield Mountain course.
The Northfield Mountain course in Western Massachusetts has always been an intimidating track and its now legendary lore has athletes itching to get a personal feel of the hellacious incline.The bring-the-runners-to-their-knees nature of the mountain has also caused coaches to pause and reflect on its ruthlessness. Plymouth North coach John Laverty once said the opening incline reaches into the heavens and athletes could touch God at the top. Long-time Notre Dame of Hingham coach Rick Kates doesn’t see the layout quite as majestic, deeming it Satan’s Playground. How it’s viewed, and by who, really doesn’t matter in the big picture of a cross country season. What’s important is that the mountain is the site of this year’s state championships and Saturday’s Bay State Invitational was a prime opportunity for harriers to get an up-close-and-personal view of the challenging layout.
Sarah Baxter smashed the CR by 16s at Mt. Sac with a 16:00 clocking! Perrin gets MT state title, Rohrer and Erba super fast in IN! Much more inside!
Every three years, when the All State Meet heads West to Northfield, the MSTCA puts on an invite there to get runners accustomed to the steep climb of the early portion of the race. Some simply put their head down and find a way through the hills, while others would prefer hiring a Sherpa, viewing the steep ascent as more of a death march than a cross country race.