“Middle School Cross-Country should be about camaraderie,” Coach John Fixx states, “in an encouraging atmosphere that helps young runners discover that their physical limits are beyond where they think they are.” Coach Fixx (who also happens to be Chase’s Headmaster) adds, “I am proud that so many of our Middle School runners have gone on to success on the Upper School team. I am as proud of the student who works to be able to run three miles without stopping as I am of the Middle Schooler who sets a new course record.”
Chase’s Middle School Cross Country Team annually competes in the Junior Olympics, the Connecticut State Championships and various invitational races and dual races throughout the season. Students are welcomed to miss a day or two here and there for their other outside activities, as well as being invited to run in Upper School races both to help the Upper School Team and for their own development.
Middle School cross-country practices take place after school until 4:45 or so and adopt a hard/easy rhythm, stressing the runners physically one day either through speed work or distance or both, and then providing a planned recovery day or two to bring them back to soundness for more rigor. Difficult? Yes. Made more fun by Crazy Socks Days and workouts on the jungle gyms and cider and cookies after practices? Yes!
Coach Fixx has been running cross-country, track and road races since he was eight years old. A coach since 1983 of 4th graders up through seniors in high school, Mr. Fixx tailors work-outs to what each runner can endure and what each runner needs to keep developing. A captain of all his school and college teams, Mr. Fixx tries to develop leadership in his young harriers. Having run marathons, short races and even up the Empire State Building, Mr. Fixx tries to convey his love of running and teamwork to the next generation.
The Middle School Cross Country team is a program for all students in grades 6-8. Both boys and girls participate on this team and the team runs their meets on weekdays with the end-of-season championship meets mostly on Saturdays and Sundays in late-October and early-November.
If you have questions or want to learn more about the Middle School Cross Country program, please feel free to contact Director of Athletics, Bill Bianchi at 203-236-9483 or email at bbianchi@chasemail.org.
© 2013 Chase Collegiate School