The lady 'Hounds were the 2016 State Cross Country Team Champions and hope to repeat this year
MileSplit IN: This is your first season as the girl's team head coach. Do you have any expectations or major goals you hope to achieve?
Andy Dalton:
80% of runners set a PR
State Championship
Qualify for NXN
MileSplit IN: Why did you decide to step up and take on the role of head coach for this team?
Andy Dalton:First of all, I love developing young adults and I love running.
Most of my career has been spent leading teams of staff that serve either College or High School students, so this was a no brainer when the opportunity became available.
I believe that our coaching staff is one of the best assembled in the State and each of us are utilizing the unique talents and experiences that we bring to the program. My talents of leadership and administration are some of the ways that I can best contribute.
MileSplit IN: How long have you been coaching?
Andy Dalton: 4 years
MileSplit IN: Last season the Lady Hounds won the MIC, State and NXR Midwest. How confident are you that you can lead them to a repeat of that this year?
Andy Dalton: Those accomplishments are never easy in any year and this year will be as tough as any because some of the other terrific programs in the State and Midwest. I'm confident that our team has what it takes to do so, but it will take a number of our runners to gain the confidence to race like our coaching staff knows that they can. And like any year it will require things to be going in the right direction at the right time for our athletes and always a little luck.
MileSplit IN: Who do you expect to be your top 7 this season? State roster?
Andy Dalton: As you can imagine, with a team of our size, this is very tough to predict so I can only tell you based upon the results of our pre-season workouts.
Maddie Dalton
Phoebe Bates
Lily McAndrews
Roni Ledezma
Anna Morozov
Sydney Haines
Abby Parker
MileSplit IN: Out of the state group, the team lost 3. But it doesn't look like the loss of them will have much effect on you. What sticks out to you about this year's group of seniors?
Andy Dalton: We lost 3 of our top 7 from last year's State roster and they are definitely a big loss for us that will not be easy to replace.
Every senior class is different, but I can honestly say that this year, though the senior class may not be as dominant in terms of performance, they are one of the best group of leaders we have ever had. Our program doesn't select captains, but instead is led annually by our Senior runners. From the beginning of summer conditioning, in every practice and meet, all the way to the end of our season, the Seniors are in charge of team spirit and community building, warmups, stretching, and strength training. This year our team has close to 150 athletes and this Senior class has done a phenomenal job of making sure that everyone feels a part of the team and leading them by example.
MileSplit IN: This season Carmel really does have a big threat for that state title, Carroll. They have a really strong team this year, are you at all worried come tournament time that the Chargers could possibly overtake the 'Hounds?
Andy Dalton: Absolutely, the pre-season favorite, Fort Wayne Carroll, is a terrific program that is loaded with fabulous talent this year. We definitely have our work cut out for us and I look forward to doing our best to compete with them.
MileSplit IN: Who are your team captains this year and why them?
Andy Dalton: See above
MileSplit IN: What does a typical training week look like?
Mon - Long Run
Tue - Recovery
Wed - Workout
Thu - Recovery or XT
Fri - Mileage or Pre-Race
Sat - Race or Aerobic run
Sun - Off
MileSplit IN: What would you like the rest of the country to know about the Lady Greyhounds?
Andy Dalton: The strength of the HOUND is the pack and the strength of the pack are the HOUNDS.
MileSplit IN: Anything else you would like to add?
Andy Dalton: The success of the Carmel program is very much a result of the Team Culture that has been in place for many years. Initially built by the Hall of Fame Coach, Chuck Koeppen, and carried on by his successor, Coach Mark Ellington, the Carmel Program is built upon a culture of competition and inclusion. There are close to 150 runners in the program this year and the coaching staff strives to make sure that every single runner feels included and is being challenged to develop both on and off the course. At the same time, our athletes compete day in and day out with many of the top runners in the State, if not the Midwest. Sometimes against the wishes of the coaching staff, our runners feel that every training session they are competing against the best of the best.
The Carmel Greyhounds will send their boys to the Terre Haute State Preview meet at Lavern Gibson this Saturday 9/2 and the girls will compete at the Marion Invitational at Indiana Wesleyan University. Follow along on here and @MileSplitIN for updates of all the action. Both teams will also be in action Tuesday at the Hamilton County Meet at White River Elementary.