Tom Martin led the Walter Johnson boys team to four consecutive state titles between 2008 and 2011. The Walter Johnson girls team won five consecutive state titles between 2013 and 2017, which was a state record for a Maryland girls team. Also during the decade, the boys and girls combined for eight 4A West Region titles and six Montgomery County titles. Martin's 2010 boys team missed an NXN bid by a tiebreaker. Their third place finish that year was the highest ever by a Montgomery County team. Martin also coached Montgomery County's only two individual Footlocker Nationals qualifiers during the decade, Abigail Green and Jenna Goldberg.
"Coach Martin gets great efforts out of his runners year after year, all while having fun. He never seems to take himself or coaching too seriously and he always has a way to get his runners to buy into the program and to the training." -Chad Young, B-CC High School
"Not sure how he can't be the coach of the decade. Especially when you realize that winning five girls' titles in a row means that he won the first and the last with entirely different crews." -Scott Silverstein, Churchill High School
"Reloads every year. Just when you think they are vulnerable the programs builds back up again." -Kellie Redmond, Wootton High School
"I don't know how he does it, but Tom's teams always do well. His teams always come on at the end of the season. The WJ teams always have an esprit that carries them to great heights." -Dan Reeks, Sherwood High School
"As a fellow coach and as a parent of one of his former runners I admire how he balances good training with good humor to produce wildly successful athletes and teams." -Angelique Bosse, Blair High School
"Each year Marty constantly fields both girls and boys teams that excell at the state level. He is consistently creating a girls' team that is competitive. He always does so with humor, passion, and understanding." -Greg Dunston, Georgetown Prep School
"What he has done with the men's and women's teams over the decade is amazing." -Herbt Tolbert, Gaithersburg High School
"He very much enjoys watching his kids compete. Dedicated to the success of his students. Great mentor for young coaches." -Bryant Adams, Gaithersburg High School
"His teams won consecutive state titles for both sexes. He coached multiple individual champions. His kids develop as runners and seem to love being Wildcat runners." -Eric Da Silva, Einstein High School
"Tom has consistently coached runners to and/or above their potential. I hold him in the highest regard as a coach and am constantly impressed by both the ability and depth of his teams." -Elrid Cason, Damascus High School
"Regardless of what WJ teams look like at the beginning of the season, you know they are going to be at their best at the end of that season. Coach Martin seems to have his teams ready to peak like clockwork at the perfect time of the season." -Seann Pelkey, Quince Orchard High School
All-Decade Coaching Leadership Award - Herb Tolbert
Herb Tolbert and the Gaithersburg High School staff hosted and directed the Montgomery County Championship Meet for the last two decades. When asked which coach expanded opportunities for athletes to excel in the past decade, fellow coaches universally thought of Tolbert for his commitment to the sport and leadership in organizing the county meet. Gaithersburg High School also won the MPSSAA Class 4A Sportsmanship Award for two out of the first four years since the award was created in 2016.
"Has done a phenomenal job on the county meet for many years. Runs divisional meets in a first class manner. Always puts the kids first." -Gary Frace, Springbrook High School
"He is Herb, the man, the myth, the legend and has been an exemplar and icon in MoCo seemingly forever." -Tom Arnold, Good Counsel High School
"No ego, just takes care of everything year after year for MoCo Championships plus just a really good person." -Kellie Redmond, Wootton High School
"Herb takes the time to make sure the County Meet is the best meet in the state year in and year out." -Steve Hays, Whitman High School
"The man worked with Pacers, the Montgomery Country Road Runners, and the City of Gaithersburg to make the County Championship Meet the best possible event we could have. He listens to all of us when we have ideas or suggestions to make championships better. He goes above and beyond what a coach needs to do for the sport." -Eric Da Silva, Einstein High School
"Coach Tolbert's efforts directing the MCPS Championship meet have made this meet the best meet of the year. The meet has grown in the years he has directed and coaches know the hard part is already taken care of by the time they arrive." -Seann Pelkey, Quince Orchard High School
Coach of the Decade Finalists
Coach of the Decade Finalist - Stephen Hays, Walt Whitman
Stephen Hays's Whitman teams gobbled up 25% of the Montgomery County and 4A West Region titles from 2010 to 2019. Whitman's 2010 girls team swept county, region, and state titles with the lowest score (45) at the Montgomery County Championship Meet in the era of 25 schools.
"Steve has created a program I always need to look at first when determining my teams chances for success in the county." -Tom Martin, Walter Johnson High School
"Steve has contributed in many ways to MoCo running. He has been involved in "growing" runners from middle school up. He has also been instrumental in the development of the timing of county meets and the dissemination of meet results when meet directors of non-MCPS meets weren't so cooperative." -Dan Reeks, Sherwood High School
Coach of the Decade Finalist - Chad Young, Bethesda Chevy Chase
B-CC's two MPSSAA state titles during the decade ranks second behind only Walter Johnson among Montgomery County schools. B-CC joins Whitman and WJ as the only programs to win county titles by its boys and girls teams during the decade.
"BCC consistently has a top tier boys and girls team. Their teams are always prepared, show great sportsmanship, and hold each other accountable." -Seann Pelkey, Quince Orchard High School
"Chad's BCC program has consistently finished at the top of the county. The athletes he has coached are always tenacious, intelligent competitors." -Dan Reeks, Sherwood High School
Coach of the Decade Finalist - Tom Arnold, Good Counsel
Tom Arnold's Good Counsel boys teams won four out of five private school state titles from 2011 to 2015 and five out of six WCAC boys titles from 2011 to 2016. Arnold led two completely different boys squads to top ten finishes at the NXN Southeast Regional in 2011 and 2015. The 2015 team recorded an average top 5 time of 15:55.3, which was the lowest ever by a Montgomery County, MD team at the NXN Regional Meet.
"Coach Arnold's standard of excellence is uncompromising and apparent in every Good Counsel team he coached. His teams were always ready to compete from day one due to a dedicated system of summer training. Every team member is held to the same standard and the GC teams are always strong because of that." -Seann Pelkey, Quince Orchard High School
"Tom was more involved with the teams and athletes he coached than many suspect. His training plans, based for the most part on the "Daniels Running Formula" were developed for each individual on his teams. GC athletes were consistent because of his planning, his intensity, and his caring." -Dan Reeks, Sherwood High School
Coaching Leadership Award Finalists
Coaching Leadership Award Finalist - Greg Dunston, Georgetown Prep
After the 2016 season, Greg Dunston of Georgetown Prep School in coordination with Addison Hunt of Landon saved the Maryland State Championship Meet for private schools after the Washington DC schools pulled out of the DC-MD State Championship Meet. Dunston executed the organizational duties for the new format MD State Championship Meet from 2017 to 2019 while also continuing to host the Georgetown Prep Classic and Woodward Relays.
"Greg Dunston has been a mentor to me and to many other Moco Coaches. He has helped to grow the sport of cross country in Moco by providing many opportunities for runners of all abilities to compete in his meets. He works hard to make sure all of his meets are extremely well organized and athlete-centered." -Chad Young, B-CC High School
"No one has done more for the running sports than Greg. He was my mentor." -Thomas Martin, Walter Johnson High School
Coaching Leadership Award Finalist - Chad Young, Bethesda Chevy Chase
Chad Young served as Montgomery County sports director for cross country from 2017 to 2019. Among other administrative duties, he coordinated and compiled all MCPS dual meet scores and standings during that period.
"Chad does all the little things that other coaches don't want to be bothered with to make a season work." -Seann Pelkey, Quince Orchard.
Coaching Leadership Award Finalist - Eric Da Silva, Albert Einstein
Eric Da Silva served as region meet director for the 3A West Regional Meet or the 4A West Regional Meet for the majority of the decade. He also attended seeding meetings representing District 2 (Montgomery County) in preparation for the State Championship Meet.
"Great promoter of the sport. Always willing to give a hand." -Prasad Gerard, Poolesville High School
Athlete of the Decade Rohann Asfaw, Richard Montgomery 2017
High School Personal Bests: 15:15.0 5k (NXR Southeast)
Title Count: 2 County, 2 Region, 1 State
Notes: NXN qualifier and two time top ten finisher at NXR Southeast. Finished 4th at NXR and 94th at NXN as a senior. Finished 6th at NXR as a junior to miss qualifying for NXN by one spot. His 15:15.0 was the fastest 5k by a Montgomery County athlete of the decade (2010 to 2019). State champion, two time county champion, and winner of the Oatlands Invitational. Competes for the University of Virginia.
TFRRS Bio | College XC Stats: 24:19.7 8k, 31:02.5 10k
Notes: 2017 4A state champion and 2016 4A state runner-up. 15:50.63 3 mile is the fifth fastest Montgomery County performance recorded at the Hereford state championship course according to the MPSSAA record book. Recorded three 5k performances under 15:45 including 4th at the DCXC Invitational (15:44) and 2nd at the Montgomery County Championship Meet (15:35.6). Competes for Carleton College
TFRRS Bio | College XC Stats: 26:00.9 8k, 22:49.4 6k
High School Personal Bests: 15:25.30 5k (NXN Southeast)
Title Count: 1 Region
Notes: 8th at NXN Southeast in personal best 15:25.3. 4A West Regional champion and Montgomery County Championship Meet runner-up. Contributed to three consecutive state champion Walter Johnson teams.
High School Personal Bests: 15:22.1 5k (Brunswick), 15:02.9 3M (Keyser)
Title Count: 2 County, 1 Region, 1 State
Notes: Highest placing Montgomery County finisher at Footlocker Northeast Regional this decade, 11th, just 0.3 seconds behind the 10th place national qualifier. Montgomery County Championship Meet course record holder (Bohrer Park format) at 15:24.99. Margin of victory in winning second county title was 28 seconds. Margin of victory in winning 2013 state title was 30 seconds. Competed for the University of Virginia.
TFRRS Bio | College XC Stats: 23:32.5 8k, 29:39.4 10k, 55th at NCAA Division I Championships (best of four appearances), 8th at ACC Championships
Notes: Second fastest winning performer ever on the old Montgomery County Championship Meet course at Gaithersburg, 15:37.31. 4A state champion and winner of the Glory Days Invitational seeded race in personal best 15:35. Competed for the U.S. Naval Academy.
High School Personal Bests: 15:31.90 5k (William Tennent), 15:23.6 3M (Keyser)
Title Count: 2 WCAC
Notes: Two time WCAC champion. Three time top ten finisher at the DC-MD Private Schools State Championship Meet. Three time top 50 finisher at the NXN Southeast Regional. Competed for St. Joseph's University.
High School Personal Bests: 15:26.11 5k (4A West at High Point)
Title Count: 1 County, 1 Region
Notes: Montgomery County and 4A West Region champion. Won ten consecutive XC races in 2014 including a section of the Manhattan Invitational in the fastest 2.5 mile time by a Montgomery County athlete this decade, 12:37.7. Competes for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
TFRRS Bio | College XC Stats: 23:53.9 8k, 30:11.3 10k, 105th at NCAA Division I Championship, 7th at ACC Championships
High School Personal Bests: 15:44.29 3 Mile (State), 15:15.5 5k (NXR Southeast)
Notes: Fastest and highest placing Montgomery County finisher ever at NXN (15:38.7, 38th). 15:15.5 5k at NXR Southeast is the second fastest Montgomery County 5k of the decade. 15:44.29 3 mile is third fastest Montgomery County performance recorded at the Hereford state championship course according to the MPSSAA record book. Consortia, County, Region, and State runner-up in 2018. Competes for Iowa Central Community College.
TFRRS Bio | College XC Stats: 25:24.2 8k, 34th at NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championships
High School Personal Bests: 15:51.00 5k (NXN Southeast)
Title Count: 1 County
Notes: 2011 Montgomery County champion. 4A West regional and 4A state runner-up. Won unseeded race at NXN Southeast Regional in personal best time of 15:51. Competed for La Salle University and Appalachian State University.
Notes: 4A state champion with 15:49 performance at Hereford. 15:20 at DCXC Invitational ranks as fourth fastest Montgomery County 5k of the decade. Runner-up at Oatlands, Montgomery County Championship Meet, and 4A West Regional. Won 4A West title as junior. Competed for the College of William & Mary.
TFRRS Bio | College XC Stats: 24:51.9 8k, 7th at CAA Championships
High School Personal Bests: 15:16.0 5k (Great American)
Title Count: 1 County, 1 Region
Notes: Montgomery County and 4A West Regional champion. 15:16.0 5k is the third fastest Montgomery County 5k of the decade. Oatlands Invitational runner-up and winner of the Interstate Classic. Four time top fifteen finisher at the Montgomery County Championship Meet. Committed to competed for the University of Alabama.
High School Personal Bests: 15:22.3 5k (NXR Southeast)
Title Count: 1 County (Independent), 2 WCAC, 1 State (Independent)
Notes: DC-MD Private Schools State Champion and two time WCAC champion. Missed qualifying for NXN by two positions (7th) in 2015. Winner of the Chancellor Invitational and runner-up at the Glory Days Invitational, Great Meadow Invitational, and Mercersburg Invitational.
High School Personal Bests: 15:30.0 3 Mile (Frank Keyser), 15:39.0 5k (County)
Title Count: 1 Region
Notes: 2018 4A West Region Champion. Three time top ten finisher at the 4A West Regional. Four time top five finisher at the DCXC Invitational and three time top ten finisher at the Track and Trail Invitational.
High School Personal Bests: 15:40.6 5k (Third Battle)
Title Count: 2 State (Independent), 1 IAC
Notes: Only two-time independent schools state champion of the decade. Completed five 5k's under 16:00 in senior season. First IAC champion from Bullis since 1987.
High School Personal Bests: 15:28.50 5k (NXN Southeast)
Notes: 4A West Regional and 4A State runner-up in 2010. 9th at NXN Southeast Regional in personal best 15:28.5. Contributed to three consecutive state champion WJ teams. Competed for American University.
TFRRS Bio | College XC Stats: 25:32.8 8k, 30:57.3 10k, 7th in Patriot League
High School Personal Bests: 15:20.1 5k (NXR Southeast)
Title Count: 3 Consortia, 1 County, 2 Region, 1 State
Notes: NXN qualifier after 8th place NXR finish in 15:20.1. County, region, and state champion. Consortia Championship Meet course record holder (16:03.58) and three time individual Consortia champion. 15:44.05 3 mile is second fastest Montgomery County performance recorded at the Hereford state championship course according to the MPSSAA record book. Competes for Miami of Ohio University.
Notes: Only Montgomery County two time public school state champion of the decade. Missed Footlocker National qualification by two positions (12th). Winner of Glory Days Invitational. Ranks #4 all-time on the Bohrer Park County Championship Meet course (15:32.0). Four time top ten finisher at the DCXC Invitational including freshman year champion. Competes for the University of Virginia.
Notes: Winner of the 4A North Regional. Two time top ten finisher at the State Championship Meet. Three time top ten finisher at the 4A North Regional and the Consortia Championships.
High School Personal Bests: 15:25.33 5k (Counties), 15:01.3 3M (Keyser)
Title Count: 1 Region, 1 State
Notes: 2012 4A state champion in 16:02.7, the second fastest time recorded by a Montgomery County athlete on the old Hereford course between 1995 and 2013. 4A West regional champion and Montgomery County Championship Meet runner-up. 12th at Footlocker Northeast Regional. Competed for Princeton University.
TFRRS Bio | College XC Stats: 24:01.1 8k, 30:47.7 10k, 6th at Ivy League Championships
High School Personal Bests: 15:42.70 5k (NXN Southeast)
Title Count: 1 Region
Notes: 4A West Region champion and Montgomery County Championship Meet runner-up. Three time top ten finisher at the state championship meet and two time top ten finisher at the Montgomery County Championship Meet. 18th at the NXN Southeast Regional. Competed for Brown University.
Mocorunning's Coaches of the Decade were selected through two rounds of voting. Montgomery County cross country coaches of 8+ years were invited to nominate up to five coaches in two categories: Coach of the Decade and Coaching Leadership. For the first category, coaches were asked to nominate coaches who maximized the performance of their athletes and excelled at the highest level of high school cross country. For the leadership category, coaches were asked to nominate coaches who rose above and beyond the typical duties of coaching, served in leadership roles on the local and state level, and contributed to the sport in meaningful ways that created or expanded opportunities for athletes to excel. The first round of voting narrowed the field to four finalists in each category. The second round of voting required coaches to vote for one single winner in each category.
The following coaches voted for the coaches of the decade.
Angelique Bosse - Blair
Chad Young - B-CC
David Warren - Richard Montgomery
Elrid Cason - Damascus
Gary Frace - Springbrook
Greg Dunston - Georgetown Prep
Jason Belinkie - Jewish Day School
Karl Kraus - Rockville
Mark Anderson - Paint Branch
Mike Davila - St. Andrews Episcopal
Peter Rook - Stone Ridge
Scott Silverstein - Churchill
Stan Pawlowski - Magruder
Tom Arnold - Good Counsel
Bryant Adams - Gaitehrsburg
Dan Reeks - Sherwood
Dessalyn Dillard - Paint Branch
Eric Da Silva - Einstein
Giovanni Reumante - Northwood
Herb Tolbert - Gaithersburg
Jason Bozicevich - Damascus
Kellie Redmond - Wootton
Michael Trumbull - Clarksburg
Paul Jacobson - Churchill
Prasad Gerard - Poolesville
Seann Pelkey - Quince Orchard
Steve Hays - Whitman
Tom Martin - Walter Johnson
This All-Decade Team article is the compilation of the half-decade teams with the promotion of one boy to bring the total All-Decade Team size to 20. Mocorunning named four cross country half-decade teams: two in 2014 and two in 2019. Read more about the selection process of each half-decade team in the individual half-decade team articles: Boys 2014Girls 2014Boys 2019Girls 2019. Coaches voted for the Athlete of the Decade.
All-time state championship meet rankings are courtesy of the MPSSAA record books. All other high school statistics and rankings came from Mocorunning's records except where noted otherwise. Collegiate and post-collegiate performances had no bearing on selections to this All-Decade Team. Collegiate statistics are from TFRRS.org. Performances in track & field had no bearing on selections to this All-Decade Team.
Please send corrections to webmaster@mocorunning.com to make this the most complete record of a decade of Montgomery County cross country.
All-Decade Team Awards Reception
Mocorunning invited all of its All-Decade honorees to attend an All-Decade Team reception on December 26, 2019. Photos by RFDCPhotos.
Rohann Asfaw returned from the University of Virginia to accept the cross country athlete of the decade award
Coach Herb Tolbert accepted congratulations from the Coaching Leadership Award Finalists, Greg Dunston, Chad Young, and Eric Da Silva
Click to enlarge. From Top Left: Evan Woods, Rohann Asfaw, Adam Nakasaka, Obsaa Feda, Eldad Mulugeta, John Riker. Bottom Left: Chris Miller, Diego Zarate, Will Conway, Surafel Mengist, Garrett Suhr, Nicholas Karayianis. Not pictured: Alex Willett, Chase Weaverling, Collin Crilly, Evan Laratta, Jack Wavering, Nick Regan, Ryan Lockett, Will Bertrand.
Name
Comments
The mice of 8809
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 02:56:02 PM
The 8809 bois having a strong showing in this ranking
Jah
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 07:27:43 PM
Gio best mock coach of all time
Bo
Thursday, December 12, 2019 05:35:03 AM
Where is Danniel Belay??
Bo
Thursday, December 12, 2019 05:35:33 AM
Where is Danniel Belay??
Coach Charles
Thursday, December 12, 2019 06:40:32 AM
That's a good point Bo.
Belay finished 2nd at the 4A State XC Championships and the top Moco finisher. Also ran a top 10 time at the Frank Keyser Invite of 15:14. Placed 2nd in the Region and 3rd at the Moco Championships. He has beaten a few names on this list as well... but I guess the same could be said about other individuals in the Honorable mention that didn't make the list... but I guess sometimes the votes don't pan out.
Like who?
Thursday, December 12, 2019 05:40:39 PM
Except for the parts where you embellish his 5k time, make a misleading generalization about who he beat, and fail to observe the superior accomplishments of everybody selected to the first team, spot on.
Bofa
Thursday, December 12, 2019 08:12:19 PM
I definitely can see an argument for Danniel to be on this list, he had a very good career, not to say everyone mentioned did not.
A runner up finish to Forsyth at mcdaniel, 3rd at counties and regions in very strong year. Wins at Spiked Shoe and Keyser impressive because he showed ability to win on fast and slow courses. He also ran under 17:10 twice on the old hereford course which is a bit harder than the current format. Probably gets underlooked since he never was a factor in the team races.
On top of the running accolades, I always found him to be humble and supportive of his fellow competitors.
20 Spots 10 Years
Friday, December 13, 2019 11:51:10 AM
Honestly, the half decade idea is flawed. I really think it was harder to make this list out of the early years, both th first team and honorable mention. Honorable mention guys from 2012-2014 for example are state champs, state runners-up, county runners-up etc. The more recent guys were 5th, 6th, 7th at counties and not any better at states. Treating the two eras as equals left some really good guys off the list.
Comp
Friday, December 13, 2019 01:28:48 PM
The state and county were much faster generally in the second half of the decade than the first half of the decade. The competition was generally stronger
20 Spots 10 Years
Friday, December 13, 2019 02:37:14 PM
What is your evidence for that? Severna Park was an NXN team in 2013 and 2014. The state was pretty good back then too. Are you suggesting state runner-up in 2013 is equivalent to 5th place now?
Bofa
Friday, December 13, 2019 09:14:25 PM
Well counties times from this year were very fast. Almost as if they cut a corner or something, oh wait
Bofa
Friday, December 13, 2019 09:19:16 PM
I do believe the overall composition of the county was tougher at the start of the decade. A certain level of dominance between regan willet miller conway ellis chase bertrand and trezciak and others, followed soon after by zarate woods and company. Team battles were always closely contested. Counties in 2012 was a thrilling cross country battle for the individual title
Kyle Gaffney
Saturday, December 28, 2019 02:57:28 PM
I always think it is interesting to see what happens to all of these runners after high school. Working at Concord Running Camp, I got to run with a lot of these runners, and it is sometimes shocking to see who excelled in college and who became a normal student.
