LYNN — The Lynn Tech boys and girls track and field teams delivered outstanding seasons, led by boys coach John Hogan and girls coach James Runner, who were both named Commonwealth Athletic Conference (CAC) Coaches of the Year.

Hogan and Runner guided their teams to CAC dual-meet championships and CAC league meet championships while also repeating as Lynn All-City champions.

“Coach Runner and I both started coaching more than 13 years ago. At that time, the team was small, but with success, more kids came out and wanted to join,” Hogan said. “We help each other, but we also have coaches helping us. Coach Runner has Skyla McGough, who helps with the sprints, and I have Jen van Campen, who helps with the jumps and throws. We all have our specialties, but we work together with the kids. We’ve been coaching together a long time, and we feed off each other. We all have a passion for coaching and bring different strengths, but when you put it all together, we make a great team.”

Runner said it was an honor to win the award alongside Hogan after working together for so many years and noted that coaching has never been about accolades. 

“Coach Hogan has been one of the better coaches in the city. He has a drive that’s different. He pushes sports like cross country, swimming and track that don’t get the hype they deserve,” Runner said. “For him to win the award, too, I think it was a good moment for both of us. We don’t do this work to get praised. We do this to keep kids off the streets. It was a great moment for both of us. Whenever he’s done coaching, his legacy will be recognized as that of a hardworking coach. I’m fortunate to still be working with him.”

The boys and girls teams captured the Lynn All-City track and field titles last month, marking another milestone for the program.

“It’s only the second time one school has won both the boys and girls All-City meet, and the other time was last year, which was also won by Lynn Tech,” Hogan said. “Both of our programs have grown over the years, and we’re continuing to improve. Our boys won in 2019, and now our girls have won the last four or five city meets.”

Runner said Lynn Tech’s success is rooted in a culture of pride, preparation and performance.

“I’m all about Tiger Pride. The City of Lynn has so many athletes, and many of them continue their athletic careers in college,” Runner said. “I thought it was important that our school be one of the fastest in the city. We take pride in preparation and performance. I told the girls that when they get to the starting line, they’re not just racing for themselves, they’re racing for the school. We wanted to win the conference, the dual meet and the city meet, and they did it. They completed the trilogy two years in a row.”

Runner said the foundation for this year’s success was built years ago when many of the team’s seniors were in eighth grade.

“I’ve been working with some of these girls for five years. They really took ownership of everything,” Runner said. “During their eighth-grade and freshman years, they were part of two of the best teams I’ve ever coached. They carried that resiliency into their sophomore and junior years, and coming into this season, I told them this was their last chance to leave their legacy. They took full advantage of it.

“They practiced on Saturday mornings, and we’d work two or three hours just to make sure they were ready to go. I’m hoping they take the work ethic they learned from us and apply it to life.”