National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Week ending Oct. 26, 2013

Photos of Bozeman boys and girls state champs, and Coach May submitted by Nancy and Scott Creel

When the results of the Montana state meet rolled in last weekend, fans across the country immediately took notice of the 16:35 turned in by Big Fork’s Makena Morley in Class B, a time that has convinced many that if the two-time Foot Locker Finalist qualifies again next month, she should be on the short list of favorites to win.  Thus, maybe the big school team champions didn’t quite get their fair due.  After all, they just kept doing what they seem to do every year now: just win.  Or more fairly: just dominate.  The Bozeman boys and girls teams swept their 6th straight Class AA titles, with the girls actually capturing #7 in a row.  This has all been under Coach Clint May, who took over a successful program eight years ago, guided it to a new level and continues to do so, year after year.

Coach May’s roots are in this part of the country, having grown up and ran in Salmon, Idaho, and then moved on to Montana State, where he was part of MSU's first-ever Big Sky Conference champion XC team.  “The cool part about that team was that three of the seven of us came to MSU as walk-ons,” he says.  “I believe this had a big impact on my outlook as a coach for what can happen if you collect a modest group of kids, create a vision, and work very hard to be your best.” 

The Hawks may have been a little more than modest when Coach May took the reins, but there’s no question that his vision and the hard work have created something extraordinary.  As Bozeman XC Club, they have been very competitive at NXN, too, with the girls scoring three top-3 finishes in the Northwest Region, and the boys a best of 7th (2011) in three championship races.  In 2010, the girls were second in the NW and made the Finals, where they were 11th.  With the girls presently ranked #1 in the region (DyeStat.com), along with #8 (DS) and #12 (Milesplit.us) nationally, and the boys #5 in the NW, hopes are high for the rest of the fall.

A few thoughts from Coach May:

On building and sustaining this level of long-term success at Bozeman:  I had the opportunity to be an assistant coach for 12 years behind Mary Murphy.  She taught me a lot about a program built around shaping character, integrity and values.  We were always a top-half-in-the-state team, with several teams placing 2nd or 3rd.  I knew, however, that we simply were not giving the kids enough (physically) to maximize our potential.
So eight years ago, I got the chance to move into the head role.  Our biggest change right off the bat was to increase the summer mileage, and more-so, the coaching involvement in the summer.   We now have a summer camp each year.  I have really tried hard to remain a student of the sport, attending coaching clinics whenever and wherever possible.  I have also looked for mentors whom with I could have a personal, ongoing relationship.  I feel that I have learned so much from Paul Jorgensen (Flathead MT), Timo Mostert (American Fork UT), and Pat Tyson (Mead WA and others).  I am also blessed with several assistant coaches that have a passion for distance running.  Their presence has a huge impact on the kids; they buy into the habits of successful runners.

On shaping the two 2013 squads to achieve their ultimate goals:  Last fall in Boise (NXN NW), we were the last team to leave the park.  The boys went to the top of the hill, while the girls met on the beach.  Knowing that we had a lot of kids who would be returning, I asked them what they wanted for the next year.  The boys had just run well, and yet still were not a top 10 team.  The girls had run poorly and gotten 8th. 
I promised them that if they wanted to really put themselves in a position to make it to/back to NXN Finals, then I would do all I could to do my part.  It was a very emotional last look at Eagle Island State Park.  Within one month, I was sitting in Pat Tyson's office in Spokane, learning from the master.

On a new approach for Caroline Hardin, who was 2010 and 2011 AA champ, and 9th at NXN Finals in 2010 (she led the Hawks at state in 3rd):  Caroline has had a rough go the past 18 months.  Last fall, a femoral stress factor that showed up in mid October and, since then, a few other setbacks have beset her.  What I have seen over the past two months has been very gratifying.  I believe I've watched her drop her stress, see the team in a different light (not that it was bad before), and overall just find the purity of running, sport and being blessed to have health.

On how things unfolded last Saturday at state:  What a fun day!  The boys were awesome, running their best team day ever (along with individual champ Jason Holmes); perhaps the best team day I have ever coached in terms of “fastest.”  The girls were good, but not great.  Andie Creel, our #5 on the day, was 50 seconds slower than two weeks earlier.  Sickness and stress at school were likely key components (sisters Bridget and Andie Creel were 4th and 10th at state). 
With Andie running closer to 18:00 (where she has been often) the girls are impressive.  One of girls, Aja Starkey (5th at state), is a new move-in from Polson MT.  I had not foreseen her transfer, yet she obviously has helped our team to become stronger than ever.

On the weeks ahead:  Yes, the big goal is Nationals, for both boys and girls.  I love these teams with all my heart.  We are working hard and we'll see how it all shapes out in Boise.  I'd bet on Bozeman.