SD Prep Sports: Cross Country
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Metro Conference/South Bay League preview
Mar Vista cross country teams sets hopes on league banner -- and beyond
By Jacob Reed
Posted Sept. 16, 2002
IMPERIAL BEACH -- The Mar Vista High boys cross country team has set its hopes on taking a championship banner home this season as the Mariners return some key runners and add some young talent.
Last year, Mar Vista tied Eastlake for the South Bay League banner. This year, the league is a little different as an increase in student enrollment has caused Eastlake to be bumped up into the Mesa League. The Mariners’ hopes for another shot at a banner are strong with such experienced runners, but nothing is for certain. Both Hilltop and Southwest will offer sturdy competition and should keep Mar Vista at its sharpest competitive edge.
Coach Benny Holt has been coaching cross country for 31 years and spent 18 of those training the Mariners. Holt was also part of Mar Vista’s class of 1961,so there definitely is something special about being able to coach and be a success for his alma mater and lead his troops to what he hopes will be another shot at the South Bay League banner.
The Mariners return a strong selection of athletes including seniors Mahta Yemane, Ryan Agte, Kevin Knox and Mike Garcia, and up and coming sophomore Alfredo Torres. The team however, is anchored by the success of junior Troy Swier who has opened the season by setting course records in his first two invitational meets – Sept. 6 at the Wolf Pack Invitational at West Hills High and then Sept. 13 at the Baron Invitational at Rohr Park. Holt feels Swier is the best raw talent he has ever worked with and that’s saying a lot considering the caliber of cross country athletes the Mariners have had in the past.
Holt, however, does not work his athletes any more than any other team in the San Diego Section, and perhaps, even less. During the summer, typical training has the boys running about 50 miles each week. Throughout the season, the number of miles drops to about 30 as they get into weekly competition.
Holt stresses the importance of strategic resting and using smart training. This involves knowing when to rest his runners and when that extra push is needed to bring out their very best. The last thing he wants to do is burn out a runner and have a runner not perform during a race, which is what really counts.
The very thing that makes the Mariners such competitors however, isn’t something that Holt feels he can teach. Their dedication and desire to improve are not things that can be found in every athlete, but Holt feels his team is definitely in possession of such. While Holt may make all the right coaching decisions, there is still something missing in the equation and that is something that has to come from the individual athlete. What has to come is the desire to improve every week and steadily make progress toward a goal.
While winning races and taking the league banner are of importance for the team, Holt also issues a challenge to individuals. A lot of preparation is made with hopes of performing well at the divisional finals and the qualifying for state championship meet. The Mariners have definitely set some high standards for the 2002 season.