Harrison Named Fellowship Varsity Cross Country Head Coach

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Submitted by John Heid, sports information director at Fellowshipo Christian School

It’s hard to argue with the success of the Fellowship Christian School cross country and track & field programs during the 2014-15 school year.

During the 2014-15 school year, Tom Harrison mentored and coached 10 athletes who represented FCS at the GHSA Cross Country and Boys and Girls Track & Field Championship meets. Rising senior Emma Grace Hurley actually qualified for state tournaments in both sports, and won state titles in each.

Harrison, who served as the co-head coach for cross country last fall and was also head coach for the varsity track & field squad this spring, has been elevated to cross country head coach for the 2015-16 school year.

“Not only did the girls’ team post solid results and reach the state meet, but Tom also served as a mentor for Emma Grace Hurley, who became the first athlete in school history to win a state title during her undefeated cross country season,” Athletic Director Bryan Lindner said. “The results of the Paladin squads this season are undeniable as Emma Grace won another state title in track. Tom has had a great impact on our student athletes.”

Harrison has served as a teacher and community coach for many years at FCS.

“He really leads our student-athletes by example,” Lindner said. “He has that ‘team first’ mentality that benefits our boys and girls. Under his direction, our athletes all improved their personal record times in 2014 and helped the teams succeed in both cross country and track.”

Of the 118 runners from 34 schools who competed in state cross country meet in November 2014, FCS placed two runners in the top 28, including Hurley and rising sophomore Caroline Keim (28th). Hurley won with a time of 19:06.78, beating the second-place finisher by over 23 seconds. FCS’ seven-member girls’ team competed in the meet.

While last year’s cross country squad set the bar pretty high, Harrison is expected to help the squad build on the success of last year’s program.

“We feel Tom is the right man for the job,” Lindner said. “He has a proven track record of helping our athletes improve and developing the necessary skills to succeed on the course, and on the track. Tom is a true leader who helps our athletes grow both on and off the course and track. He is a terrific Christian example for them, and our school is fortunate to have him lead our program.”

Harrison guided four athletes who advanced to the GHSA Boys’ and Girls’ Track & Field meets in May. The group competed in seven different events total.

Hurley won her second state championship in record time in the 3,200-meter run with a state record time of 10:38.01 on May 7 at the GHSA Girls’ Track & Field Championships. On May 8, Paladin rising sophomore Cameron Swartz placed fourth in the long jump and set a new personal record and a school record during the second day of the meet. Hurley placed second in the 1,600 that day.

On May 14, Fellowship rising seniors Mitchell Keim and Reed Kroeber both competed in the GHSA Boys’ Track & Field Championships. Kroeber claimed third in the shot put to post the top performance for the Paladin duo. Kroeber also claimed fourth in the discus. Keim placed seventh in both the long jump and the triple jump.

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