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It's time to give credit where credit it due.
Each week, Coaching Distance will shine the spotlight on an exceptional high school distance program. This week's featured team is The Woodlands HS out of The Woodlands, Texas.
THE WOODLANDS HS
Texas 6A
THE COACH
Juris Green
Head Boys & Girls Cross Country Coach
Head Boys & girls Track & Field Coach
ABOUT COACH GREEN
Coach Green has spent the last 18 years as either an Assistant or the Head Coach at The Woodlands High School in Texas. He was also a Middle School Coach for six years.
When asked what he enjoys most about coaching, Juris replied, "The greatest pleasure for me is the front-row seat in watching young boys and girls become invested in this sport, and (over the four years) transform into young men and women with a direction they want to go in their lives."
THE PROGRAM
BACKGROUND
The Woodlands is one of the top programs in the country.
The boys have won 21 State Cross Country championships and three State Track & Field titles. The Woodlands is the only large school to win both Cross Country and Track & Field state titles in the same school year, and they did it two years in a row (2017-2018).
The Woodlands is home to some of the best High School Track and Field performances in US history.
US All-Time Rankings
Other elite program performaces include an 800 Meter school record of 1:49.5 by Joshua English and a Shot Put school record of 74-11.5 by Adrian Piperi.
CROSS COUNTRY
2021 HIGHLIGHTS
Boys 6A State Runner-Up
Girls 6A State Third Place
Only large school with both teams on the podium (2020 & 2021)
TRACK & FIELD
2021 HIGHLIGHTS
Turey Stoudemire: State Runner-up in the High Jump
Joshua English: State Champion in the 800m (* English broke 1:50 in 800m at the Brooks PR meet, running a 1:49.5)
Kyle Easton: 9th in the 800m
Mitchell Blakeslee: 9th in the Discus
Kennedy Doakes: State Champion in the High Jump and 3rd place Triple Jump.
THE WORKOUTS
CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING
"Our week looks very similar to other programs, I am sure. Long run early in the week (Sun/Mon), long intervals, medium intervals, tempo runs, speed work, weight room and rest all stacked in the week." Coach Green noted that the weekly structure changes depending on the time of the year and the competition schedule.
TRACK & FIELD TRAINING
"Our Track season will incorporate all of those elements mentioned in the Cross Country typical week, because those are foundational pieces to building stronger runners year-round. We focus more on quality speed or speed/endurance sessions in-tune with the time of year, and getting my athletes ready for 800m-3200m challenges."
FAVORITE WORKOUTS
Coach Green wrote:
"In the fall, I like our long run when we do a progression run throughout, or a tempo run in the middle of it. This was new for us this year, and I enjoyed watching the mental adaptation the team took as the season progressed. We had some fast progressions towards the end of the season! Big strength work!"
"In the spring, I am a sucker for a good ladder workout: 1600 down, 1000m down and 800m down. No matter the group I am working with, we'll hit ladders every couple of weeks. I like the pace increases and the flow of the workout going from slower to faster; it's good for wiring the mind to finish strong."
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