Often times in post-season coverage, we tend to direct our focus towards the state's top teams and talent while forgetting those mid-level teams to whom just a trip to the state meet is a huge accomplishment. In a new series called Last One In, we look at teams whose goal was to make it to the state meet, not place on the podium.
Coach Alex Shaw had a history of producing successful runners at Miami's Sunset High School. Coaching talent such as Nick Diaz (a 2013 NXN qualifier and 2014 Foot Locker National qualifier), Shaw put in a place a record of success at Sunset, but after nine years, decided to leave Sunset take over the program at Braddock High School. In cross country, the girls' team hadn't qualified since 2007, and the boys' team had not qualified since 1993, not even making it to regionals in 2014. Both teams placed sixth at last Thursday's 4A-4 meet at Larry & Penny Thompson Park, earning the last spot to Tallahassee.
Flrunners: First, you just took over the program this year after a nine-year career at Sunset, where you made 15 trips to state meets and 2 national championship trips. What was the transition to taking over a program like Braddock who didn't have that record of success?
Coach Shaw: After 9 amazing years at Sunset, it was time for a change and a new challenge. I wanted to be around an Athletic Staff that put winning & competing as one of their top priorities. The high academics of the school also helps attract lots of future runners that will only make our program bigger and more competitive as time goes on. Other than missing one of my best friends (Coach C. which is still at Sunset) this has been the best decision I made for my coaching career.
FLR: What was it like to have both the boys and girls teams qualify for states in your first year coaching, the girls for the first time in 8 years and the boys for the first time since 1993?
CS: It was one of the best accomplishments I was a part of. Although I will treasure the 15 state trips (Cross & Track) I had with my runners at Sunset, this one felt a little different. We knew we would play the "underdog" card the entire season and considering last years the boys didn't even make it to Regionals. On June 1st we started this journey and promised each other that we would out work the competition each and everyday. 172 days later we are heading to the State Championship.