LYNN — St. Mary’s cross country team has added experience — and a Swampscott High Athletic Hall of Famer — to its coaching staff.
Local running legend W.F. Newhall, of Marblehead, has joined the Spartans’ coaching staff for the upcoming fall season. Despite his new role alongside St. Mary’s Head Coach Tristan Smith, Newhall will remain a track and field coach at Swampscott High during the winter and spring seasons.
“It’s a great academic and athletic school. I’ve heard nothing but great things about Athletic Director Jeff Newhall (no relation),” he said. “I reached out to Tristan to see if he needed any help this season, and he was open to that.”
Newhall is a member of the Swampscott High and Springfield College Halls of Fame. He hopes to provide perspective and experience with St. Mary’s.
“Tristan’s already done a great job. I’m just going to learn and see what they’re doing,” said Newhall, a member of the 100,000-mile running club. “There’s always room for improvement, so I’m going to see what they’re up to and try to add or improve on what they’ve already been doing.
“I’ve looked at some of Tristan’s training and what he’s done with the kids over the last year or so, and we’re on the same page. It’s going to be more fine-tuning. Training distance runners, in my opinion, doesn’t have to be complicated, and we’ll try to simplify things as much as possible.”
Newhall said he already knows a few members of the team and is excited to meet the others.
“I’ve met a couple of them. I’ve been over to the school a couple of times. I met some runners during the Division 5 state meet when I was there with the Swampscott outdoor track team,” he said. “I know Kelsey (Kwiatek) and have been following her the last couple of years. I’ve gotten to know Lucian (Paula) a little bit. I was at the track the other day with Annabelle (Averett), getting her ready for Nationals, and there were four or five St. Mary’s kids up there.”
When asked what he enjoys most about coaching, Newhall pointed to the growth of athletes, and helping them reach their full potential.
“Watching the boys and girls develop and grow. We had a great year in Swampscott in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track,” Newhall said. “I had some kids I’d been with for the last four years, and to reflect on them coming in as freshmen — when they started, they may not even have been runners, or had only run a little — and seeing them improve, not just as athletes but as students, has been great. Collette Heil is going to run at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, which is Division I, and Carson Lau will run at Salve Regina University.”
Even after they graduate, Newhall said he tries to stay in touch with former runners.
“I’m still friendly with some kids I coached at Swampscott in 1983, 1984, and 1985,” he said. “To watch them grow up, get a job, get married, and have kids of their own is great to see.”
