The boys’ cross country team welcomes Julie Tisone as the new head coach for the 2016 season. Tisone has been running for over 20 years and has competed in running events of every speed, such as the 60-meter sprint and the 5000-meter race. Before coming to coach at RCHS she taught a Pilates class at Washington and Lee University and was a substitute teacher at Shenandoah Pre-School.

The boys’ cross country team found themselves without a coach after last season. Luckily Tisone was able to fill the position and coach the boys.

Tisone’s daughter, Faerin Dick, runs with the girls’ cross country team so she knew about the problems with the program.

“I had to make sure that these kids were able to have a team and were able to keep competing,” said Tisone.

She plans on improving the team by emphasizing the importance of hard work in every aspect of their practices and meets. Tisone aims to make the program more fun for the runners. She wants the team to do more than just running around the high school and has already instituted some new practice techniques.

The boys have run on trails behind Washington and Lee University, climbed the university’s Alpine Tower, and completed a scavenger hunt that ended with ice cream.

“The boys have already come up with their own goals. First we want to make it to regionals, and eventually states,” said Tisone.

She is letting her runners help in much of the decision making for the team in an effort to make them feel more involved in the program.

Tisone’s team appreciates the work she has done for them and thinks she is doing a great job.

“Coach Julie Tisone is doing a great job leading the team and keeping her runner’s healthy,” said Sophomore runner Tieran McClure.

Tisone hopes that she will be a good fit for the ‘Cats’ boys’ cross country team and that she can help stabilize the program.

Head Coach Julie Tisone does planks with her team.