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The Five K’s Of Cross Country

photo by Marcie Bolton

Monday September 5, 2011

By Marcie Bolton

  Emily Marquart is starting her second year as Head Coach of the Middlebury Union High School now.  She has strength in communicating with her runners, one that seemingly inspires them to run faster and with more volition.  As F.D. Roosevelt says, Physical strength can never permanently withstand the impact of spiritual force.  Emily leads the team with determination and a love for running.  Good luck this year team.Katharsis- the runners purge themselves of any tensions during their running sessions….

Marcie Bolton:  Describe your priorities as a coach and a person?
Emily Marquart- My priority as a coach is to provide the teams that I work the same kind of positive, growing opportunity that my participation in sports afforded me throughout high school and college.  
My goals as a coach are to help student athletes develop the capacity to push themselves to work as hard as they can, believe in themselves, take appropriate risks, and to be respectful and supportive of their teammates.  
I feel that a crucial element to participation in sports is for student athletes to develop a strong sense of understanding and responsibility for their commitment to the team and accountability for their behavior.  I believe that these are key life lessons for student athletes to learn - therefore my team policies and expectations reflect this belief.
Knowledge- Emily believes deeply in her sport of running.  She believes in her runners and is always learning more about them and what inspires them.

MB:  Describe your program’s overall philosophy?  Who is your Favorite coach and why?
EM:  My philosophy is to encourage and support all student athletes to always attempt to do the best that they can.  I believe that all student athletes are capable of experiencing personal success – regardless of their athletic abilities.  
I have been very fortunate to have had my father, Robert Devins, as both a coach and role model growing up.  He has been coaching cross country and track for over 35 yrs. at Franklin Academy in Malone, NY and was my coach throughout high school.  I admire my father's ability as a coach to always find a way to make working hard – fun, lead incredibly successful teams while also always making it a priority to build their character, and for creating life-long relationships with so many of his athletes.
Kismet-Two years ago when Emily Marquart started, it was the team’s fortune to run under her guidance.

MB:  What role do academics play in your program and in your role as a coach and how do you help ensure your players get the most out of their abilities as student-athletes?
EM:  Academics should be the first priority for student athletes but I also strongly believe that there are many core values – industriousness, cooperation, respect for others, etc. -  that student athletes can be learning through participation in sports.  I feel that there are just as many opportunities for teachable moments between student athletes and coaches as there are in the classroom.  
At both the high school and collegiate level, student athletes are shown to perform at a higher level in the classroom than non-athletes.  This is due not only to the core principles that student athletes are learning but also in part to the structure of their athletic programs and the necessity to develop effective time management skills.
My goal as a coach is to encourage student athletes to be as successful as possible in the classroom
while also providing as many opportunities for character development while with the team.
Keep on Keepin’ On (Allman Brothers Band)- The runners start training … well, many train year round in order to keep conditioned.

MB:  Last season we saw strong player leadership from Christine Artim and she has moved to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Who do you see providing that level of leadership this season?
EM:  I am really excited to see the answer to that question...
A concept that I learned while taking a certification course with USA Track & Field which I try to incorporate with the team each season is to “replace a captain.” This means that every season the captains and I  identify several emerging leaders that each captain can work with so that when the captains graduate there will be student athletes ready to take over this leadership role with the team each season.  
Kindred Spirits-  Runners all seem to have a collective energy, that comes from within. As Addison Bolton comments, “It is one of the great examples of camaraderie that exists.”  Team spirit and support for one another is part of the reason the team is so unified.  They have given each other nick-names and incoming freshman get theirs near the beginning of each season.  Coach Emily’s may be Muddy Chicken.  I am not certain, but I have heard that it is true.    

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