Eckert takes the lead
The new Bearden High School cross country coach is no stranger to the school or its athletes. He’s been with the Bulldogs for five years.
Matt Eckert, who has been Bearden’s head track and field coach for the past five seasons, now will have another opportunity to impact Bearden’s athletes as he was recently tapped to take the reins for the school’s cross country team.
The new challenge is one to which Eckert is looking forward.
“I love to develop athletes and this gives me another opportunity to do that,” Eckert said. “We’ve had good workouts during our first days of practice and I’m excited to see how we do when we get to the district and the region (championships).
“I love to develop athletes mentally and physically.”
Many cross country runners compete in both indoor track (in the winter) and outdoor track in the spring and the sports have their similarities, but they’re also quite different.
“There are some similarities in cross country and distance running (on the track),” he said. “But the biggest difference is that in cross country, it’s 3.1 miles and in track, the most you run is two miles, so you want to try to stay consistent or get better mile after mile after mile and you really be pushing yourself,
“And in cross country, you get to see some different scenery. That’s for sure.”
When Eckert had his first summer workout, he was greeted by some passionate runners, which made him even more excited about his new job,
“These kids just really love to run,” Eckert said. “That’s why they’re out here.”
