HUNTINGTON – There is a brand new coach at the helm this season for Gateway Girls Cross Country. Entering her ninth year as a physical education teacher in the Gateway school system for kindergarten through fifth grade, Denae Dostal will be spending her late afternoons coaching her new team.
As Dostal is no stranger to teaching several Gateway students over the years, the transition to being the girls cross country coach has already been a fun one.
“It’s been really exciting, having taught in the district for nine years,” said Dostal. “ I’ve watched these girls grow up.”
Dostal’s experience brings a different yet impressive set of knowledge to her team. Besides being a physical education teacher, Dostal is a fitness instructor and trainer in the local area.
“I think having a fitness background is to my benefit,” said Dostal.
Although she didn’t run for a team in high school or college, Dostal took up running three years ago and has certainly proved to be a fast learner.
Members of the Gateway Girls Cross Country team running in a race in Southwick during the 2014 season. (WNG File Photo)
In 2013, Dostal ran in the Hot Chocolate Run in Northampton, a 5k race. Once Dostal logged in more miles and became more comfortable, she was able to enter into her first full marathon last fall, running at the Bay State Marathon in Lowell, Mass. Dostal is now preparing to run in the New York City Marathon in November.
“Running for me has been a recent endeavor,” said Dostal. “It became a passion for me.”
Having the ability to quickly pick up on the sport of running and having success with it, just might translate to future success for her team.
The Gateway Girls Cross Country team will feature a number of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders that feature 10 newcomers.
Being able to coach a lot of younger girls is a part to the early-coaching gig that Dostal is looking forward to.
“I think there’s definitely going to be a learning curve there for the younger girls,” said Dostal. “It gives us (coaching staff) a lot of opportunity to develop them.”
Dostal will lean on upperclassmen to provide the leadership. Meghan Crane, who has been on the team since seventh grade, is now a sophomore and will be expected to be a key contributor. Junior Ryley Carleton is another important part of the team as she suffered an injury last season and is now looking healthy and ready to start the season.
Despite the fact that Dostal has yet to coach a cross country meet at the high school level, Dostal is already set on the potential for her team.
“I have some really high hopes for this team since were so versatile,” said Dostal. “I think we have a lot of potential to build over the next couple of years.”
