Laura Conner probably would be embarrassed if she were labeled a “miracle-worker’’ for the way she’s improved the cross-country and track programs at Millis High. But, the 29-year-old coach does deserve a great deal of credit for the Mohawks’ uptick in cross-country and girls track.
Cross-country at Millis was dormant for 20 years, but was resurrected three years ago, when a group of boys and girls expressed an interest to revive it. At that time, Conner was added to the faculty to teach art. When asked if she had a desire to coach, the former Ashland High track star jumped at the opportunity, taking the reins of the boys and girls cross-country teams and the girls indoor and outdoor track squads.
Last year was a prime example of how well Conner elevated the two sports after three campaigns as head coach in both venues.
“The girls cross-country team had a 3-2 record and the girls were 4-1 in the indoor track season and 5-1 outdoors,’’ Conner recalled. “The boys cross-country team, however, has been struggling because of our low numbers. They didn’t win a meet primarily because there were only three boys on the squad.’’
The Mohawks have added a few trophies to their case since Conner took the coaching reins and their representation at post-season meets continues to improve (five girls competed in the post-season last spring). The Middle School girls on the varsity finished third in the State Middle School Track Meet in 2015 and the girls outdoor 4x400 relay team broke the school record and won the Division 4 Meet last spring. That squad became the first Millis team to compete in an All-State Meet.
What Conner, who now works as an art teacher at the Medway Middle School, has focused on in her first three years is word-of-mouth recruiting — for both programs.
“I’m no longer teaching at Millis, but when I was, I asked every student who wasn’t involved with a sport to try cross-country or track,’’ she noted. “Now, the kids who run for me are doing some recruiting. They ask their friends to try out or stress how good it is to be part of a successful program. We’ve found that getting boys out for cross-country is tougher, because they have the option of soccer and football.’’
Once out for cross-country, Conner says girls tend to continue on to indoor and outdoor track. “My sprinters in track go out for cross-country, and they find it sharpens their overall ability and helps with injury prevention,’’ Conner said.
Three girls who’ll be very effective in cross-country this fall are junior Lucy Clayton and senior captains Stephanie O’Reilly and Parousia Cruz. Clayton runs the mile and two-mile in track while O’Reilly focuses on distance events and Cruz competes in middle-distance runs.
“Lucy will be one of the top runners in the league this fall,’’ Conner said. “She’s a great competitor who is a very serious runner. Stephanie and Parousia are good leaders who rely on endurance and speed.’’
Conner’s goals for cross-country and track differ a bit. For the boys’ cross-country team, she’s hoping to get more Middle School competitors on the varsity to have a competitive team. “They’d get a feeling of what it’s like to possibly finish 1-5 and score points,’’ she emphasized. “For girls’ cross-country, I’d like to see us place higher in the league meet, learn to run closer in a pack and be more consistent. In girls’ track, I just want us to keep improving and send more kids to the state and all-state meets. Last spring, Theresa Cerullo qualified for the national meet in the javelin.’’
Participation numbers are up on the girls’ side, and that’s creating success in both sports. Conner, however, prefers to deflect the credit to a supportive athletic director, a highly supportive principal and superintendent, parents and a very capable volunteer coach (Liz Schildwachter).
Conner and her cross-country teams had to run all their meets on the road three years ago. In her second year, she was able to map out a 3.1-mile course, so her runners could compete in town. Her outdoor track team, however, continues to compete on the road, because Millis’ track is gravel and doesn’t meet the required standards.
In spite of that drawback, Conner has settled nicely into her niche as a coach for all seasons. She’s a recruiter who’s getting results and she also knows how to implement a variety of routines while creating an enjoyable setting that stresses a family atmosphere.
“One beautiful aspect of cross-country and track is that they offer runners a chance to star as individuals while also helping the team achieve success,’’ Conner emphasized. “I’m always trying to impress the kids to perform well and go all out for the team.’’
A graduate of Fitchburg State, Conner now is working on a masters at Framingham State in art education. A former miler at Ashland High where she was a Tri Valley League all-star, she knows and understands track.
“Laura has done a masterful job of connecting the dots with the three programs and has truly built upon the previous season’s success,’’ said Athletic Director Chuck Grant. “The steady improvement of all three programs is a credit to her knack for consistently bringing out the best in everyone’s ability.’’
Issue Date:
September, 2016
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