After a successful 2023 season for the cross country team, there is a lot of anticipation built around this year’s team and new coach, Jennifer Fishman. Fishman, an avid runner, has been running for around 20 years. During her highschool years, she contributed to a cross country state championship with her team during her junior and senior season. Fishman’s running career continued into college, where she ran for Virginia Tech for three seasons.
Her time as an athlete has influenced her coaching style. “I didn’t know how to self advocate and did not have a great relationship with my college coach, in that there wasn’t much in terms of communication…but as a coach myself, I really have realized how important establishing trust and communication is with athletes,” said Fishman. Her college career was able to shape her into the coach she is today. She makes sure to establish a relationship with each of her players so they feel comfortable sharing how they are feeling.
Prior to landing the coaching job at Eaton, Fishman had the title of head coach of Severance Middle School track. With cross country being a passion of hers, she was waiting for the right coaching job in the Northern Colorado area to appear. Fishman knew that Eaton was a great community and was also convenient to where she lived. She said, “When the coaching opportunity came up, I figured I would throw my hat in.”
Fishman has the opportunity to coach stand-out runner, Delaney Reuter(27). She is a returning runner for the team, and is expected to make huge waves this year. Last year as a freshman, Reuter placed sixth at state, and has aspirations to place even higher this year. Reuter spent her summer training and staying in shape. “I ran a lot, trained, and ran a half marathon,” said Reuter.
Reuter is already a highly motivated runner, so Fishman has to take a different approach when coaching the sophomore. She explains that highly motivated runners like Reuter, struggle with overdoing it, so her job is to find a balance of pushing Reuter, while also preventing her from “overcooking” herself. She also knows that she can help Reuter’s running strategies while she is in a race. “When you have an incredibly talented athlete, like Delaney, they likely will perform well without any strategy or plan, but having a plan will make them that much better,” said Fishman.
Reuter has big goals for this season, and has already began accomplishing them. She wanted to break 18 minutes in the 5k, and did this at the first meet of the season when she ran a 17:58 at the Rocky Mountain Lobo Invitational. She thanks her early accomplishments to directing her focus on cross country alone. Reuter is no longer playing volleyball this season like she did last, allowing for more practice time. Reuter is ecstatic for the season to get into full swing, as she is chasing after her ultimate goal: a higher finish at the state competition.
Reuter believes the coaching change will positively impact her journey this season. “I can tell Coach Fishman is really knowledgeable, and I can tell she knows a lot about running,” said Reuter. She also knows she can’t accomplish her goals without the help of her teammates. She takes her training very seriously, but her teammates help her remember to have fun. Reuter said, “They are always there to lighten the mood, and to make sure we are having a good time.”
All 10 runners of Eaton cross country are capable of great things, and are going to be exciting to watch this season. Under the guidance of coach Fishman, this small but mighty team is determined to dominate and break records.
