XC Coaching Summit

Join AARC, Earl Wenk, Human Performance Collective and Jason Hartmann, Saginaw Valley State University XC/Track & Field coach on Monday, August 6th at 6:00pm for a discussion on the development of youth runners. Jason's unique experience as a former competitive runner and now collegiate coach will give high school cross-country coaches a chance to reflect on their current coaching philosophies. Earl Wenk, Human Performance Collective will cover some common running related injuries (shin splints, ITB, etc) that new runners see and provide some simple exercises to help keep them from happening.

Jason Hartmann joined SVSU as a distance cross country coach in August of 2014. Before coaching at SVSU, Jason Hartmann was coaching high school athletes to optimize their potential and representing American distance running as a top competitor since 1997. Hartmann’s professional running and his coaching successes come on all levels: state, regional, national, the Olympic trials, and the world-stage.

Hartmann’s coaching accomplishments include leading Niwot High School (Niwot, Colorado) to their first ever regional championship title on the women’s side (2011), and producing the state mile champion on the Niwot High School men’s side (2013), and recruiting for a top ten NCAA Division 1 cross country and track program at University of Oregon (2004-2005). During his three-year coaching tenure at Niwot High School, both the men’s and women’s cross country 5k records were broken three times and bested each year. He has sent numerous high school athletes that he has coached on the team as well as privately to strong collegiate running programs, with many on athletic scholarships, with his most notable accomplishment being the success of female athlete Elise Cranny, who will join the Stanford Cardinals this upcoming fall.

As Elise Cranny’s coach for all four years, Hartmann progressed Elise from a 21:30 5k her first race out of the gate (at altitude) as a freshman in high school to the USA Junior 6k Cross Country National Championship Title her senior year. He developed her from a 5:12 mile her first track meet her freshman season to a 4:10 1500m, the third fastest all-time female high school 1500m performance ever. Her accomplishments under Jason’s guidance also include punching a ticket to the world junior national championships in the 1500m, winning the New Balance High School indoor 800m (2:06) track and field championships title (2014), winning the New Balance High School indoor mile (4:40) track and field championship title (2013), the runner-up title at Nike Cross Country National Championships (2013), and six Colorado State Track and Field Individual Championship Titles (1600m, 3200m, 800m). He led Cranny to break the 22-year-old Colorado state mile record from 4:49 to 4:47 and 3200m record from 10:21 to 10:17 her senior year as well.

A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, this 3-time All American for Rockford High School secured state titles in the 800, 1600, and 3200m, finished fourth at Footlocker Championships, and became the Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year Honoree in 1998. The 6-time All American for NCAA Division I’s University of Oregon was a two-time recipient of the Bill Dellinger most- valuable-person MVP award in cross country in 2000 and 2002, and Harry Ritchie Award Recipient for the highest points in track and field in 2003. He’s represented the USA singlet at World Cross Country championships and was the champion of the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon. He’s qualified for US Olympic trials four times (track 10k and in the men’s marathon). His sponsorships ranged from Nike, Strands, Powerbar, RallySport and the Boulder Running Company, and he’s appreciative of their support during various stages of his career. Jason was the top-American finisher at three major marathons on US soil (Chicago in 2010 with a 2:12 and twice he placed 4th at Boston marathon in 2012 and in 2013).

A graduate of the University of Oregon (Eugene, Oregon), Hartmann double-majored in education and sociology. Hartmann has been a member of the USATF long distance running committee since 2012, and provides input and feedback as both a coach and former competitor in order to better the sport as a whole. He loves dogs, scenic drives, and values his family and friends above all else.