By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
The Greater Houlton Christian Academy cross-country team isn’t blessed with an overabundance of runners, but the ones that are participating are dedicated.
KICKS IN – GHCA’s Jaron Gray, left, kicked it up a notch to lose the Fort Kent runner Lucas Woodward, who was nip-and-tuck with Gray, during last week’s cross-country meet.
“Anyone who is out here running is a winner,” said GHCA coach Angela Ewings. “It’s not a sport where you can take time off and do it. You have to be dedicated to the sport.”
Running for GHCA this year are four boys and a girl — senior Jaron Gray: juniors Ren Shirai and Ryan Campbell; sophomore Micah Wiley and freshman Whitney Cote.
Ewings is relying on Gray to lead this young group of runners.
“He is showing his leadership qualities,” she said. “If there is a slack, Jaron picks it up. He is by far the most improved runner coming into the season. He is focused and I can see he is starting to really like running.”
Being the only female on the team can sometimes be difficult, but Cote is taking it all in stride.
“I’m so proud of Whitney,” said Ewings. “She is sticking it out.”
Ewings has high expectations for Japanese exchange student Shirai.
MAKING STRIDES – Ren Shirai of GHCA paces himself as he runs toward the finish line of last Wednesday’s cross-country meet.
“He likes to run,” she said. “He’s going to surprise some people. He has potential and he is a natural runner. Since he didn’t run all summer, practices will be crucial for him, as he develops his stamina.”
Wiley is a quiet thinker, according to his coach.
“His running philosophy is much like mine,” Ewings explained. “He is dedicated to whatever he is doing. He is an all around good kid, who I expect big things out of this year. He has set some personal goals and he will reach them.”
Another multiple sport student-athlete is Campbell, who Ewings sees as another natural runner.
“He knows what needs to be done and he gets the job done,” she said. “We are just a few weeks into the season and his running is beyond where he left off at the end of last year. He is pacing himself, relaxing while running and he should come on strong.”
Another asset this season is an assistant coach. Dave Goodrich was asked by GHCA Athletic Director Barrett Potter to team up with Ewings, since she took on a career change.
“We compliment each other,” said Ewings. “Where I am not strong, Dave is. Where Dave is not strong, I am. Barrett couldn’t have picked a better person to be my partner coaching. We both have a passion for running.
An avid long distance runner, Goodrich has competed in small venues of 5K races to several marathons, and he also ran track in high school.
(Micah Wiley)
“The ‘team spirit’ was a really neat thing,” he said, “even though I was one of the slowest people on our distance squad, running the two-mile event.”
Goodrich didn’t have to think too long before saying yes to the position.
“It was just a matter of working out my schedule,” he said. “I thought that this would be an opportunity to give something back to the sport, as well as the community.”
Ewings and Goodrich hope to bring out the excitement and passion they have for running and instill it into the GHCA squad.
“My expectations are your normal coach’s expectations,” said Ewings. “I want them to come out of the season and appreciate running.”
Goodrich added, “Running has taught me a lot about life, as well as myself, and I hope to pass this along. Running can be a lifetime sport that can be enjoyed despite the aging process. I’ve met and run with some great people, many who are still running strong into their 60s, 70s and 80s.”
The coaches are impressed with their squad, considering them very coachable and hoping with the right motivation they can do well.
(Whitney Cote) “When I met some of the team, I shared with them that it’s not always about the destination, although you want to reach the finish line, it’s also about the journey along the way,” Goodrich said. “The people you meet, the things you see and the lessons you learn. There have been many blessings for me as a result of running and this opportunity to coach is a way of passing these blessings along to others. I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone and working together with Angela, and there is a part of me that knows I’ll still be learning from everyone as they share this road with me.”
(Ryan Campbell)
