Middle School Cross Country
Head Coach Contact Information
Email: mbaldwin@blracademy.org
Phone: (719) 570-0075
Season/Practice Dates
Off Season: June 2nd – August 10th
Main Season: August 11th – October 9th
Championship Season: October 10th – October 22nd
Team Mission/Vision Statement
The purpose of training is to build each athlete’s mental and physical toughness with the philosophy that they can do anything they set their mind to. Running is a metaphor for life. Success comes from practice and determination whether running, school, career, or anything attempted. Each athlete will experience a level of failure during practice and likely during a meet. Failure is not the end. Failure is the beginning of a learning opportunity. Athletes will be given opportunities to fail and be educated about, and encouraged during recovery. We will build ability in mental and physical flexibility, strength, and speed and endurance through varied training methods. Training is intended to push athletes as hard as possible while maintaining safety. As an athlete pushes their limits and becomes familiar with the feeling of exhaustion, they will be better able to push themselves during a meet and in their life with any challenges presented their way.
COACHES BIOGRAPHY’S
Head Coach – Maria Baldwin
Maria Baldwin was born and raised in Toluca, Illinois and now resides in Colorado Springs. She started running track in middle school at Fieldcrest, where she was an IESA 2A state qualifier and medalist in the 1600m and 800m runs. As a high school athlete, she was a 15 time state qualifier, and 8 time all-state athlete, medaling at the IHSA 1A state championships between cross country and various distance events in track and field. At the NCAA level, she attended Eastern Illinois University where she was a 4x All-Conference medalist, and school record holder in cross country, a 4x All-conference medalist in Track & Field, and was the OVC Champion in the 10,000m. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations & Broadcast Journalism in 2018, and graduated with her Master’s in Communication in 2020. Upon graduating she received the Athletic Director’s award, and the Distinguished Senior Award.
Baldwin is a 5th grade teacher at Banning Lewis Academy, and also coaches Girls on the Run. She is the Head Cross Country and assistant Track and Field coach, in which she has worked with both programs for 2 years now. She is certified through USATF as Level 1 Endurance Specialist Coaching certification through the United States Track and Field Association.
