The start of a new era

After 38 years with Ed Driskill at the helm, there may have been a little uncertainty about Waynesboro’s new cross country coach Julie Stevens. This is a new era for her and the Little Giants — but the start of the year could not have been sweeter.
The season kicked off on Sept. 2 with a solid performance against Stuarts Draft and Riverheads.
“I am very excited to see what they have done. I expect them to continue to do well,” Stevens said. “The first match shows what they can do and what they need to work on.”
Despite the transition of having a new coach, the Giants are carving a solid path in the Southern Valley District.
“We have to get our fifth, sixth and seventh runners stronger, and I think that we are going to have a very good team, both boys and girls,” Stevens said. “If we can compete with Draft like we did, we are going to do well.”
Stevens empathizes with the Little Giants’ struggle to adjust.
“I know how passionate these kids were about coach Driskill. I think it was tougher on them, than it was for me,” Stevens said. “I told them just to work hard and practice everyday. I knew coming into the season that it would be an adjustment for all of us.”
Stevens has been part of the running community for years — she used to coach track at Page County High School — but it’s at Waynesboro where her abilities shine through.
“I just love cross country so much more,” Stevens said. “It’s nice to coach everyone the same, not like track where there are different events. In cross country it’s not hard to adjust the schedule when everyone is running the same distance.”
She’s a tough coach and more than willing to push her team to the limit.
“I’ve been impressed with both teams, they’ve been practicing hard,” Stevens said. “These are tough practices, it’s more mileage than what they’re used to.”
The hard-hitting practices have paid off.
“I saw the results from practices in the meets. They are really starting to see improvements individually, the times are coming down in minutes,” Stevens said.
Stevens remembered how she introduced herself to her new team.
“I told them I wanted them to have fun. I told them that I am here to see them succeed,” Stevens said.
Yet, the first-year coach is no stranger to some of her runners.
“A lot of these kids know my style because they were in my classroom,” she said. “I expect them to be committed and to give their all.”
With the element of a new coach, Waynesboro is riding a successful start to its cross country season.
“I’m proud of these kids. They have shown that they are just as competitive as anyone else,” Stevens said.
TNV Correspondent Dana Jones Contributed to this report.