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 Coach Bios |
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Chris Lewis
Chris Lewis came to Mercury in the spring of 2005. We are excited to add him to our distance staff for Track & Cross Country. Due to illness, Rick Riley will not be able to coach for us this season. So, Chris is our head distance coach. We hope and pray for the best for Rick and his family. And, hopefully we will return to us soon.
Chris graduated from Mead High School in 1989, (one of the perennially top distance running high schools in the nation). He ran cross country there from 1985-1989. He was Washington State Cross Country Champion in 1987 & 1988. State 1600m champion in 1988 & 1989. State 3200m in 1989. He had the nations top high school time in the 3200m at 8:50 and the 1600m at 4:04 in 1989. He was a Kinney Cross Country Finalist, and 2nd team All-American in 1987. He competed in the high school mile at the Millrose Games, New York City, and the Golden West 1600m Champion in 1989.
In College, Chris attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He was a member of the Big 10 Cross Country Championship teams in 1989 & 1990. He was Big 10 Freshman of the Year for Cross Country in 1989. He competed in the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 1989 & 1990. He was also a finalist in the NCAA indoor 3000m, placing 7th in 1990.
In addition to all of Chris' running success, he is wonderful with kids. Helping coach national qualifiers and Track City finalists: Katie R., Molly C., Steven K., Collin O., Leigh F., Cyra C. & Maja R., Ryan & Kyle W. Stevie G., Tyler & Nick T., Eric & Scott A., Andrew V., Spencer & Victory J., & Stephanie I. With his "kid at heart" attitude and his endless amounts of energy he has been a great addition to our staff.
Curt Ransford
Curt became our Head Coach in the spring of 2003. We are very excited to have him aboard. He brings a vast amount of athletic skills and coaching abilities. As an athlete he was the NWAACC champion for 2 years and in 1980 the NCAA National champion in the Javelin. He was national champion in the TAC and placed 5th in the 1984 U.S. Olympic trials. His coaching and officiating background is just as impressive. He has been a P.E. teacher, Head Coach of Track & Field as well as Cross Country at the college level. He was selected to coach the U.S. team at the World Youth Championships. As well as being on the USAT&F Youth Committee as a Field Referee. Curt was an official at the 2004 Olympic Trials,Congratulations, Curt!
Curt has coached three of our Mercury athletes to national recognition in the Javelin: Bryan B.(5th place-2004), Tanner C. (16th place-2005) and Justin G. (2nd place-2004 & 3rd place-2005). Our staff here at Spokane Mercury feel it a privilege to have him a part of this organization.
Chris Bertholf
Chris came to Spokane Mercury in the spring of 2004. He is a Mead High School graduate (1998), and a graduate from Pacific Lutheran University (2002). He ran for PLU from 1998 -2002. He was their team captain in 2001 & 2002. His events were the 110m High Hurdles, 400m Intermediate Hurdles, 400m, 4X100m relay & 4X400m relay. He was conference champion in the 400mIH in the years of 2001 & 2002. And placed 7th at the 2002 NCAA Div. III National Championships, gaining All-American status in the 400m IH. We are very excited to have Chris as a hurdle coach and sprint coach. He will also be a great addition to help with our relay teams.
Steve Kutsch
Steve is one of our original coaches from the first year we started Spokane Mercury. He has coaching experience in many different areas such as: sprints, relays, high jump, long jump and hurdles. His specialty is the Long Jump and High Jump. Steve works especially well with the younger kids (12 and under). He is a kid at heart, therefore the kids seem to flock to him. Every once in a while you can catch Steve at an all-comers meet or a master's meet doing the 100m and the high jump. He may be the only living human being that still does the Western Role over the high jump bar.
Steve has helped coach Mercury athletes Bo S. (Long Jump-25th place & Triple Jump-8th place), Justin G. (High Jump-7th place) & Bryce E. (High Jump-6th place) to National All-American status by placing in the top 8 at the National meet in Indianapolis in 2005. And, national qualifier Gunnar K.
Will Green
"Willie" came to our Track & Field club in the spring of 2003. You may see him in a number of different areas coaching, because of his vast amount of experience in Relays, sprints, hurdles, long jump and triple jump.
His predominate role is our Long Jump and Triple Jump coach and assists with our relay teams. He brings to us his own talents as an athlete, gaining state (Illinois) and national recognition in relays, sprints, jumps & hurdles. His 1600m relay team were State Champions in 1980 & 81. That relay team went on to a 6th place finish at the National Championships. He also placed 2nd in the 300m Low Hurdles at the state level and finishing 3rd in the National meet. In 1983 he was an Olympic Qualifier in the Triple Jump at the same time he was defending our country by being in the U.S. Army.
It is a honor to have "Willie" a part of our coaching staff.
Monday, May 14
Corissa Hutchinson
Corissa Hutchinson has come to us this summer from Spokane Falls Community College.
She is a Mead High School graduate of 2006. Her Personal Bests in the throwing events are: Shot Put: 45 Hammer: 1339 Discus: 1478½
Some of her achievements are: Finishing her high school career as a winner of two state championships, first in the shot put and then in the discus her senior year. She also was the 2005 USA Junior Champion in the discus in 2005. She was named Meads Most Valuable Track Athlete for three years and state track qualifier each season.
Wednesday, May 28
Jason Cash
Jason is our newest addition to our Mercury coaching staff.
He is the high jump coach at Spokane Falls Community College.
Bio. to come shortly.
Wednesday, May 28
Tyler Sutherland
Tyler is one of our newest members of our coaching staff.
He is the Pole Vault coach at North Central High School.
Bio. to come shortly.
Wednesday, May 28
Ben Gibbons
Ben was our first hurdle athlete to graduate from the Mercury program. He is now in college at SFCC. He is wonderful with kids and we are excited to have him back to assistant coach with Coach Chris in the hurdles.
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