Biography:

Coach Lee has served as the Head Cross Country Coach since 2020, as well as the Distance Coach for Patriot Indoor Track since 2020. Previously, Coach Lee served as an Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field coach at Battlefield High School from 2014 to 2017 and at Blacksburg High School from 2019 to 2020.

Coach Lee has nearly 15 years of competitive running experience, earning All-State honors in cross country at Battlefield High School before competing for the Virginia Tech Club Cross Country/Track program where he earned NIRCA 1^st Team All-American honors in both Cross Country (2018) and Track (3000m Steeplechase) in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Coach Lee has a Bachelor of Arts in Physics, a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise, and a Master's in Education all from Virginia Tech. He currently teaches Math at Gainesville High School.

Biography:

Biography:

Coach Lee has served as the Head Cross Country Coach since 2020, as well as the Distance Coach for Patriot Indoor Track since 2020. Previously, Coach Lee served as an Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field coach at Battlefield High School from 2014 to 2017 and at Blacksburg High School from 2019 to 2020.

Coach Lee has nearly 15 years of competitive running experience, earning All-State honors in cross country at Battlefield High School before competing for the Virginia Tech Club Cross Country/Track program where he earned NIRCA 1^st Team All-American honors in both Cross Country (2018) and Track (3000m Steeplechase) in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Coach Lee has a Bachelor of Arts in Physics, a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Foods & Exercise, and a Master's in Education all from Virginia Tech. He currently teaches Math at Gainesville High School.

Biography:

Coach James DeMarco was an All-American cross-country runner for South Dakota State University and a member of the 1996 NCAA Div II National Champions in cross country. He was an All-Conference performer in the 1500 meters and steeple chase. He started coaching in 1998 in Anchorage, Alaska with cross country and track & field at Bartlett High School as an assistant coach. He was a volunteer assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 2002-2003 and then coached at Blacksburg High School from 2003-2015, becoming head coach of boys and girls cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field in 2005. In 2016 he coached the girls at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin from 2016-2020 as head cross country and assistant track & field coach. From 2021-22 he was an assistant coach at Patriot H.S. for cross country and track & field. In 2022 he was named boys and girls head coach of cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. The Patriot boys won the 2023 outdoor Track & Field State Championship!

James has been named the 2013 Southeast, United States Coach of the Year for girls' cross country, and was a national finalist. Named Virginia Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2023 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Virginia Coaches Association named Coach DeMarco Coach of the Year in 2009 (Girls Indoor Track), 2010 (Boys Indoor Track), and 2012 (Girls Cross Country). He has coached 24 state championship teams and 14 state runner-up teams. 51 distance runners represented their college in NCAA collegiate competition. 

Coach DeMarco has coached 20 athletes to 50 state track titles and 26 state champion relay teams. Three relay teams won Nike or New Balance National titles. His girls' DMR team broke the Penn Relays and US National High School record in 2010. His boys' 2014 4x800 squad ran the second-fastest time in the United States that year. The track at Blacksburg H.S. is named the James DeMarco Track of Dreams.  

Coach DeMarco lives in Bristow with his wife Mina and their three children, Dean, Chloe, and Brielle. 

Biography:

I have proudly worked with athletes at all levels (youth, high school, collegiate) for more than 25 years. As a coach, I firmly believe that my role is to support the athlete in whatever they hope to accomplish. By sharing my knowledge and providing positive encouragement, we work together to achieve the athlete's goals. Track athletes compete everyday against each other, but ultimately, the real competition in track and field is with ourselves -- the competition to be the best we can be.

Biography:

Biography:

Biography:

Coach James DeMarco was an All-American cross-country runner for South Dakota State University and a member of the 1996 NCAA Div II National Champions in cross country. He was an All-Conference performer in the 1500 meters and steeple chase. He started coaching in 1998 in Anchorage, Alaska with cross country and track & field at Bartlett High School as an assistant coach. He was a volunteer assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 2002-2003 and then coached at Blacksburg High School from 2003-2015, becoming head coach of boys and girls cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field in 2005. In 2016 he coached the girls at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin from 2016-2020 as head cross country and assistant track & field coach. From 2021-22 he was an assistant coach at Patriot H.S. for cross country and track & field. In 2022 he was named boys and girls head coach of cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. The Patriot boys won the 2023 outdoor Track & Field State Championship!

James has been named the 2013 Southeast, United States Coach of the Year for girls' cross country, and was a national finalist. Named Virginia Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2023 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Virginia Coaches Association named Coach DeMarco Coach of the Year in 2009 (Girls Indoor Track), 2010 (Boys Indoor Track), and 2012 (Girls Cross Country). He has coached 24 state championship teams and 14 state runner-up teams. 51 distance runners represented their college in NCAA collegiate competition. 

Coach DeMarco has coached 20 athletes to 50 state track titles and 26 state champion relay teams. Three relay teams won Nike or New Balance National titles. His girls' DMR team broke the Penn Relays and US National High School record in 2010. His boys' 2014 4x800 squad ran the second-fastest time in the United States that year. The track at Blacksburg H.S. is named the James DeMarco Track of Dreams.  

Coach DeMarco lives in Bristow with his wife Mina and their three children, Dean, Chloe, and Brielle. 

Biography:

ian.connor@therunningstoreteam.com

Biography:

Biography:

Coach James DeMarco was an All-American cross-country runner for South Dakota State University and a member of the 1996 NCAA Div II National Champions in cross country. He was an All-Conference performer in the 1500 meters and steeple chase. He started coaching in 1998 in Anchorage, Alaska with cross country and track & field at Bartlett High School as an assistant coach. He was a volunteer assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 2002-2003 and then coached at Blacksburg High School from 2003-2015, becoming head coach of boys and girls cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field in 2005. In 2016 he coached the girls at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin from 2016-2020 as head cross country and assistant track & field coach. From 2021-22 he was an assistant coach at Patriot H.S. for cross country and track & field. In 2022 he was named boys and girls head coach of cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. The Patriot boys won the 2023 outdoor Track & Field State Championship!

James has been named the 2013 Southeast, United States Coach of the Year for girls' cross country, and was a national finalist. Named Virginia Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2023 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Virginia Coaches Association named Coach DeMarco Coach of the Year in 2009 (Girls Indoor Track), 2010 (Boys Indoor Track), and 2012 (Girls Cross Country). He has coached 24 state championship teams and 14 state runner-up teams. 51 distance runners represented their college in NCAA collegiate competition. 

Coach DeMarco has coached 20 athletes to 50 state track titles and 26 state champion relay teams. Three relay teams won Nike or New Balance National titles. His girls' DMR team broke the Penn Relays and US National High School record in 2010. His boys' 2014 4x800 squad ran the second-fastest time in the United States that year. The track at Blacksburg H.S. is named the James DeMarco Track of Dreams.  

Coach DeMarco lives in Bristow with his wife Mina and their three children, Dean, Chloe, and Brielle. 

Biography:

Coach James DeMarco was an All-American cross-country runner for South Dakota State University and a member of the 1996 NCAA Div II National Champions in cross country. He was an All-Conference performer in the 1500 meters and steeple chase. He started coaching in 1998 in Anchorage, Alaska with cross country and track & field at Bartlett High School as an assistant coach. He was a volunteer assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 2002-2003 and then coached at Blacksburg High School from 2003-2015, becoming head coach of boys and girls cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field in 2005. In 2016 he coached the girls at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin from 2016-2020 as head cross country and assistant track & field coach. From 2021-22 he was an assistant coach at Patriot H.S. for cross country and track & field. In 2022 he was named boys and girls head coach of cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. The Patriot boys won the 2023 outdoor Track & Field State Championship!

James has been named the 2013 Southeast, United States Coach of the Year for girls' cross country, and was a national finalist. Named Virginia Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2023 by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Virginia Coaches Association named Coach DeMarco Coach of the Year in 2009 (Girls Indoor Track), 2010 (Boys Indoor Track), and 2012 (Girls Cross Country). He has coached 24 state championship teams and 14 state runner-up teams. 51 distance runners represented their college in NCAA collegiate competition. 

Coach DeMarco has coached 20 athletes to 50 state track titles and 26 state champion relay teams. Three relay teams won Nike or New Balance National titles. His girls' DMR team broke the Penn Relays and US National High School record in 2010. His boys' 2014 4x800 squad ran the second-fastest time in the United States that year. The track at Blacksburg H.S. is named the James DeMarco Track of Dreams.  

Coach DeMarco lives in Bristow with his wife Mina and their three children, Dean, Chloe, and Brielle. 

Biography:

Biography:

Biography:

Emily Stevenson, or "Coach Chef" as she is more commonly known, is an original faculty member and coach at Patriot High School. She was hired to create and teach the culinary arts specialty program in 2011, as well as coach field hockey.

Throughout her years at Patriot, she has coached field hockey, softball, cross country, and was on the coaching staff of the Pioneer men's state champion swim team in 2017. Her culinary teams are repeatedly successful in international competition, and her focus on success for all has proven effective in her teaching and coaching endeavors.

Coach Chef was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. She graduated from Reading High School and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she studied Elementary Education with a concentration in Health and Physical Education. She was also a 4 year member of the Crimson Hawk field hockey team and earned Academic All-American honors as a goalkeeper her senior year.

Culinary school, secondary education certification and gifted education certification came next, and she is very proud to get to use everything she's learned during her tenure at Patriot.

Love of running came later in life for Coach Chef, and boy does she love it! She completed her first full marathon in January, 2020, which has been her hardest yet most favorite race to date.

Biography:

Coach Carla is a Patriot alumnus excited to be back to help coach cross country this season! She is super happy to give back to the school and team that shaped her teenage years. She played soccer and ran XC and track growing up. Carla just recently graduated with her Master’s degree from George Mason, and before that, graduated from Virginia Tech in 2020. Carla lives and works in Bristow and continues to run in her free time. She is passionate about sports and the positive impact they have on kids in the short and long term. Carla would love to leave this piece of advice for the team: 

“It takes an immense level of grit, strength, and patience to excel in the sport of running. I believe every single athlete on the team has what it takes. It’s the little things day in and day out when no one is around that will set you apart. Success will come as long as you set goals and create a plan to achieve them. You will be surprised at what you can accomplish!”

Biography:

Biography:

Coach Spangler is in his first year at Patriot High School. We are very fortunate to have Coach Spangler on staff. Coach Spangler will also teach at Patriot and comes to us following a coaching career at Boston University, where he served as Head Coach Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, leading the Terriers to their first team title since 2014, as well as being named the 2019 and 2021 Patriot League Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Coach Spangler has also coached 3 Olympians in the 800m, 1500m, and 3000mSC.

Prior to Boston University, Coach Spangler led the University of Florida Women’s Cross Country team to an SEC Championship, becoming the first coach in school history to win a league title in their debut season. Coach Spangler spent almost a decade coaching at the Virginia Military Academy, where he was recognized as the Big South Conference Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, and prior to VMI, began his college coaching career at Florida State University.

Coach Spangler graduated from the University of Alabama, where he was a two-time NCAA XC Qualifier, as well as being named an All-NCAA South Region and All-SEC honoree for the Crimson Tide. Coach Spangler also holds a master’s degree in Sports Management from Florida State University.

Biography:

Emily Stevenson, or "Coach Chef" as she is more commonly known, is an original faculty member and coach at Patriot High School. She was hired to create and teach the culinary arts specialty program in 2011, as well as coach field hockey.

Throughout her years at Patriot, she has coached field hockey, softball, cross country, and was on the coaching staff of the Pioneer men's state champion swim team in 2017. Her culinary teams are repeatedly successful in international competition, and her focus on success for all has proven effective in her teaching and coaching endeavors.

Coach Chef was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. She graduated from Reading High School and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she studied Elementary Education with a concentration in Health and Physical Education. She was also a 4 year member of the Crimson Hawk field hockey team and earned Academic All-American honors as a goalkeeper her senior year.

Culinary school, secondary education certification and gifted education certification came next, and she is very proud to get to use everything she's learned during her tenure at Patriot.

Love of running came later in life for Coach Chef, and boy does she love it! She completed her first full marathon in January, 2020, which has been her hardest yet most favorite race to date.

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Biography:

Coach Maday is in his second year of coaching cross country, indoor, and the outdoor track & field team. He primarily coaches the middle and long-distance runners. 

Biography:

Coach Connor Trexel is excited to be an assistant coach at Patriot High School. Coach Trexel begins his career as a coach in 2022 with Patriot High School. He ran competitively for 7 years, starting with his time at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, Virginia. He graduated in 2017 where he ran cross country and track and field with his time there. His running career continued at Virginia Tech where he ran with the Virginia Tech Running Club from 2017-2021. Coach Trexel has a Bachelor of Science in Fish Conservation with a concentration in Marine Fisheries from Virginia Tech. He is excited to coach the runners at Patriot High School.

Biography:

Coach Stevenson was an assistant cross country coach at Patriot High School in 2019 where he enjoyed interacting and instructing a great group of runners and passed along his love of running as a coach. He was also a head coach for the Gainesville Grizzly flag football organization for two years leading his 2012 13 to 14 year age group team to an undefeated season and age group championship.

Kevin attended Virginia Tech for his undergraduate and graduate programs, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Coach Stevenson has enjoyed running and competing in distances from 5k to marathons over the last four years and has always been an avid runner. In high school, he played varsity tennis every year and was named team MVP twice.

Biography:

Coach Stevenson was an assistant cross country coach at Patriot High School in 2019 where he enjoyed interacting and instructing a great group of runners and passed along his love of running as a coach. He was also a head coach for the Gainesville Grizzly flag football organization for two years leading his 2012 13 to 14 year age group team to an undefeated season and age group championship.

Kevin attended Virginia Tech for his undergraduate and graduate programs, earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering.

Coach Stevenson has enjoyed running and competing in distances from 5k to marathons over the last four years and has always been an avid runner. In high school, he played varsity tennis every year and was named team MVP twice.

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Biography:

I have proudly worked with athletes at all levels (youth, high school, collegiate) for more than 25 years. As a coach, I firmly believe that my role is to support the athlete in whatever they hope to accomplish. By sharing my knowledge and providing positive encouragement, we work together to achieve the athlete's goals. Track athletes compete everyday against each other, but ultimately, the real competition in track and field is with ourselves -- the competition to be the best we can be.

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Coach Venturella is a new assistant coach for Patriot Cross Country this year. She ran back in high school and loves that running is a sport you can practice your whole life.  A goal of hers is to complete a Disney half-marathon!  She currently teaches Spanish 1 and 2 at Patriot High School. 

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