Neal Sharma of Summit, New Jersey, has been named the boys’ cross-country Coach of the Year. Sharma led Summit to its greatest season in school history this past fall, highlighted by its first state title ever when it captured the state Group 3 championship, the website said.
Summit also won its first Union County title since 2008, won the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 title, and placed eighth at the Meet of Champions, its highest finish ever. Summit averaged 16:42 at Holmdel Park at the Group 3 meet, a new school record for that course.
“This season was very rewarding and the result of a lot of hard work from the kids,” said Sharma, who took over as head coach in 2004.
“Coaching is fun. It’s exhilarating. It’s demanding. It’s rewarding.
It’s frustrating and exhausting. But being able to play some role in helping kids develop into successful people is a privilege. I value it immensely,” he added.
Sharma, a 1994 graduate of Westfield High where he ran cross-country and a 1998 graduate of the University of Michigan, said the success of his team this past was something he saw coming a long time ago.
“Believe it or not, this was a season we saw coming seven years ago,” said Sharma. “We’re fortunate to have a thriving middle school cross country and track program, and being a teacher in the middle school; I always get a glimpse of the future.