| John Hrones is
Manager of Corporate Training at a major Boston based insurance firm.
He has directed the Needham Track Program for 11 years and is responsible
for the basic format of the summer program as it exists today. He
also founded the Needham Youth Classic for
which he has been the event organizer each year, and the Great
Bear Run which he directed for its first four runnings.
John's two college aged daughters, Emily and Pamela, have been active
on and off the field with the NTC for many years, including conducting the
Pink/Green pre-school programs. His wife, Cynthia, has been the club's
photographer, and has assembled the remarkable result booklets for the Summer
Season, Classic and the Great Bear Run. John graduated from MIT.
He and Cynthia have made their vacation home on Nantucket a primary hobby
away from the track. |
| John Normant
is a teacher at Boston College High. He has been involved with
Track and Field for many years, coaching at BC High. He was
a high school and college hurdler (at Boston College). He has
three sons, two of whom have progressed through the NTC. The
older (Jeff) is now a hurdler at BC, while the younger (Keith) is following
in the same footsteps at BC High. Both are summer CITs.
You will see John helping to organize heats and firing the starter's
pistol in most of our major events such as the Bear Run, the Classic,
and the State Hersey meets. |
| Dave Johnson
works as a product developer at a high tech startup company in Westwood.
He has organized and directed the Great Bear Run
for the past eight runnings. In high school, he was a
jumper / sprinter, and he's been hitting the road race circuit in recent
years. Daughter Natalie (who hurdles, jumps and throws for NHS track)
and son Curtis are both active in the summer program, while his wife Caryl
keeps things running smoothly at the Great Bear Run. You will find
Dave officiating the finish line of many of our major events including the
Youth Classic. Dave also actively coaches with the Needham
Soccer Club, and has been involved with youth programs in his church.
He has a degree in electrical engineering from Brown.
He is this site's web designer. |
| Brian Hall joined
the Needham Track Club in 1999 and began as a parent coach for his daughters
age-groups. He coached the Pollard middle school XC team in 2003 and coaches
track at Ursuline Academy in Dedham. In 2002, he founded the popular NeedhamTC
girls cross country program which has grown into a competitive option for
local runners. In 2003, the team won the BAA Mayor's Cup event and fell
just short of qualifying for the Junior Olympic Nationals. In track, 3 of
these runners qualified for and competed in the Junior O. Nationals in Miami.
Brian has run 20 marathons and was part of a winning National Championship
Masters team in 1998. He has a BA in management from Hartwick College and
captained Track and XC teams there. He says "My racing days have been
winding down but filling that void is the pleasure I get from helping our
young runners develop. It's been rewarding for me to see their measurable
year to year improvement. The runners can do the math and our sport teaches
a great lesson - that participating and applying youself produces these
results." Brian, his wife Kathy, daughters Danielle & Lindsay live
in Dover. |
| Dan Mantell joined the Needham
Track Club in 1997. Starting as a parent volunteer, his involvement has
grown to include general volunteer duties at special events and several
years as Summer Program Director. He is currently the Club's Treasurer and
CIT Director. He comments, "The Track Club is made of great people who like
to have fun and be athletic. Children, parents and coaches all have a great
time. It's a blast - I love it." Dan recently graduated from Bentley College
with a Master of Science in Financial Planning. He provides fee-only personal
financial planning and investment advisory services for clients in Northern
New England. Dan has a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Minnesota,
a B.S. from University of Rochester and attended University of Virginia
Darden School's Executive Education Program. He has two school age daughters
who are growing up in the track program. He and his wife, Marcia, have lived
in Needham since 1991. |
