CHS XC Coaches On Post-Season Goals

Jenn and Travis Shope are bringing their love of running to Cookeville High’s cross country program and both said they are confident in state championship bids for their boys and girls.

The married couple are in their first season as Cookeville’s cross country coaches after being coaches for Livingston Middle School for years. Travis said going into the season they expected an all senior girl’s lineup to make it to state, but a younger boys lineup was surrounded with question marks.

“We knew that if we put the right training in place, we tried to get the buy-in from them and we did some good, hard summer training, we knew they’d be more than capable of making state,” Travis said. “And right now they are right on the edge. We think they can get at least third in the region.”

Jenn said the fact that both of them are longtime, dedicated runners separates them from other cross country coaches. The couple said they work well together and have a tried and true coaching philosophy.

“She is more of the administrative type, emotional leader on the team,” Travis said. “I kind of offset that by being the more hard headed, technical leader on the team. I’m the one that usually comes up with most of the training plans.”

For about six years, Travis has been helping adults come up with training plans to complete long form races. And for the past year he has been a certified Road Runners Club of America coach.

He said coming up with specific plans catered towards specific individuals is a passion of his. He noted that the program is coming up on their hardest week of the season as coaches.

“We have a fall break which makes it very difficult in terms of making sure people are training,” Travis said. “We continue to work with the kids during that time but, it’s still one of those things where you have to make sure to follow up with them.”