Viking Cross Country
The Coaches
| Erik Anderson (2006-present) |
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| Brian Olsen (2003-2005) |
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Charles Janke (Boys: 1966-2002, Girls: 1981-2002) Boy's team's ranked 5th best in the state for the 70's Boy's team's won Regional title's in '74, '76, '77, '78, '79 & '80 MITCA President: 1967, Secretary: 1966 Jackson County CC Coach-of-the-Year: 1971, '74, '76 Nominated: MITCA's Men's Track Coach of the Year: 1976 MITCA's Charles Sweeney Award: 1983 Jensen Dedication Award: 1983 Michigan High School Coaches' Association Hall of Fame: 1994 A Detroit native, was a football and track standout at Detroit Redford High School and lettered in football at Central Michigan University before graduating in 1958. He began his coaching career as an assistant track and football coach at Southfield High School in 1958 and took over as head track coach in 1962. Served as track coach at Milford High School from 1963 to 1965 before landing in Jackson. |
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J. Chris Jensen (1943-1965) Chris Jensen was known throughout the state as a leader in education as well as an excellent coach. His teams won 5 league championships (1943, 47, 48, 49, 52), were league runner-up's 10 times and won 3 straight State tiles (1947, 48, 49) and finish no worse than 6th at State from 1943-1958. His dual meet record was 86-40-4 and posted only four losings seasons. The Jackson County meet and banquet which started in 1969 was named in his honor. |
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Coach Hills (1941-42) 1941 team was 2nd in the 5-A League Meet and 3rd in the State Meet behind Kalamazoo Central and 5-A champs Ann Arbor. In 1942 his team won the 5-A Conference and finished 2nd in the State Meet. |
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Malcolm Mackay (1936-39) 14-7 in dual meets, Coach Mackay's teams finished 2nd in the 5-A League twice and brought home two 5th place finishes at State. |
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Howard Chanter (1932-35) A Jackson High and Michigan State Normal College (Eastern Michigan) graduate, Coach Chanter's teams were 17-4 in dual meets, back to back 5-A Conference Champions (1934-35) and 1934 Lower and Upper Peninsula State Champions. |
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Richard E. Holtz (1927-?) Physical Education Director, Cross Country, Basketball and Track Coach and Assistant Football Coach. Graduated from Michigan State Normal College (Eastern Michigan). Formerly coached at Charlotte. |
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Ron Clark (Girls: 1979-1980) |
Jerry Ries, Todd Elliott, Brian Olsen, Martha (Alles) Olsen
Alumni Coaches
| Paul Robinson '72 Jackson Northwest Cross Country, 1981 |
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| Michael White '78 Michigan Center? Revived the Jr. High program at Parkside. |
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| Marc Devereaux '78 Jackson Christian, present coach |
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| Brian Olsen '79 Jackson High, assistant to the distance program. Jackson High Head Coach, 2003-present |
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| James Martin '81 Sault High Boys Track & Cross Country Coach 1999, 2000, 2001 U.P. Class A-B/Div. I Boys CC Champs 2001 Upper Peninsula Boys Track and Field Champions |
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| Martha Alles Olsen '82 Jackson High, assistant to the distance program. |
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| John Cross '82 Concord High School Cross Country |
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| David Swarts '83 Ann Arbor Lawton Elem. School Track, 1988 (Team 2nd in city - lost by 2 points) Ann Arbor Greenhills HS & MS Cross Country, 1988 (had Soph 5th in "D" State) Paragon Charter Academy (Jackson) Middle School Cross Country, 2002-03 |