North High School Cross country Season Preview

Offseason Focus This offseason, our primary focus was on building depth and helping our younger athletes take the next step in their development. We aimed to raise the overall level of our team by ensuring our newcomers got meaningful opportunities to grow. Special Offseason Events We kept our athletes engaged with multiple free and development-oriented opportunities: Wednesday Night Runs with Runners Den Track Meet at Mesa Community College (focused on forming a 4x800 relay team) Arizona Road Racers Summer Series – a five-race series offering competitive experience Friday Night Long Runs – some of our kids joined a runners group that trained with an Olympic Marathon Qualifier These events not only built endurance and competition readiness but also helped strengthen team bonds. Notable Additions & Departures We’re entering a transitional period. I (Coach Kohm) will be stepping down in search of a coaching opportunity closer to home or potentially as a college assistant. We’re also graduating Griffin Good, our team captain. Griffin had several college offers but opted to attend the University of Arizona for Biomedical studies, supported by an academic scholarship. An IB student, Griffin was a standout runner, finishing 2nd in our district and 5th in our section, narrowly missing a state medal by two spots. Players to Watch Alex Wilson – Our future captain and an incredible leader. This offseason, Alex ran his first marathon in 3:22 and recently broke the 5-minute mark in the 1600m. He’s shaved 20 seconds off his time from last season and is expected to improve even more. Alice Santa Cruz – A rising star on the girls' side, Alice finished 3rd in the district in her debut season. She’s now breaking the 6-minute barrier in track and is already on the radar for college scouts. Weight Lifting & Fitness Our athletes have significantly increased their strength training during the track season by lifting with the football coach, which has added to their overall conditioning and performance. Nutrition This remains an area where we hope to improve. We currently don’t have a formal nutrition program, but we recognize its importance for future development. Coaching Preparation With the coaching change ahead, our main goal has been to create a strong foundation for the incoming staff. The hope is that the systems and culture we’ve built will ease the transition. Fan Engagement & Community Impact This past season, we had the highest level of parental involvement I’ve seen in 20 years. Our races were well attended not only by families but also by former athletes, some of whom came from other schools just to support the team. The community backing has been incredible. Biggest Challenges Ahead The biggest hurdle will be adjusting to new leadership while continuing to grow the team. We’ve built a unique connection with the ROTC program, where students move between both groups. Maintaining that relationship will be key to keeping participation strong.