JD Mac Invitational 2011

Jay, FL
Hosted by Jay HS

Meet Information

We run this Saturday the J.D. Mac Invitational at the park starting Varsity Girls at 8am, Varsity Boy's at 8:45, and at 9:30 there is an Open 5K race (JV runners & all ages are welcome to run). The course is a nice flat course with about 80% asphalt and 20% grass making it a fast course. 10:30 will be the awards ceremony featuring top individuals receiving plaques 1st girl and 1st boy finishing both varsity races. Trophies for 1st and 2nd place teams.

Coach James McDaniel story. (Story by: Teresa Hendricks)

I decided back in 2003 once I transferred from coaching at Milton HS to Jay it was perfect timing with Coach Mac retiring the year I started at Jay to host a meet in his honor every year. He is very special to me. He was the reason behind us winning 4 straight state championships in 1-A Cross-country back when I ran in high school for him. In fact, we were the all-area team beating out many large schools those years in most races. He owned the recipe for success, with the right workouts and the talent that was on the team for those years it was an amazing feat. Coach Mac not only was a coach, he was like a father to so many of us. Taught us that winning was the end result, but giving all we had as an individual counted the most. His team motto was "I CAN! I WILL!! I WANT TO!!!" and today I carry that same motto with our teams, teaching them that first it starts with believing you can, then putting it on the line with the will to finish the race, and wanting to run our best. That's the real recipe for success, in not only running but in anything you try to achieve.