coaching staff
Head Coach: Jane Wheeler
Hometown: Traer, IA
School: North Tama HS; Luther College (BA); Western Illinois University (MA)
Athletic highlights: 1997 1A State cross-country champion; 1997 1A state runner-up in the 1500 and 3000m events at Iowa state meet; 3 time National Qualifier in DIII Cross Country; Member of 2000 3rd Place Team @ DIII National Cross Country; 2-time National Qualifier in DIII Track; 2001 IIAC Champion in 10K
Coaching Highlights:
CROSS COUNTRY: Named MAC Coach of the Year in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Led her varsity squad to ten consecutive MAC team titles from 2005-2014. Has coached her team to 13 consecutive appearances at the state meet, including a 5th place finish in 2008, a 4th place finish in 2010, a 3rd place finish in 2011, state champions in 2012, a 3rd place finish in 2013, and a runner-up team finish in 2014. Has coached 12 all-state athletes, including 2013 and 2015 individual state champion, McKenzie Yanek. Served as a volunteer assistant at Iowa City High in 2002 when the team won the state title. Named Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2012 and At-Large Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2013.
TRACK & FIELD: Served 3 years as junior high track coach, 1 year as high school varsity assistant track coach, and begins her 10th year as head track and field coach in 2017. Named 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016 MAC Coach of the Year and led team to conference and district titles in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Works primarily with middle distance and distance runners and shares co-head coaching duties with husband, Kenny Wheeler. Guided McKenzie Yanek to a 2016 Drake Relays title in the 3000m and a runner-up finish and school record in the same event at the 2016 State meet. Led team to a runner-up team finish at the state meet in 2013, a Class 4A team state championship in 2015, and another state runner-up finish in 2016. Named IATC Class 4A At-Large Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and IATC Class 4A Coach of the Year for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Was named recipient of high school state coach of the year for Iowa by US Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) in 2015. Jane is a USATF Level I Certified Coach.
School: North Tama HS; Luther College (BA); Western Illinois University (MA)
Athletic highlights: 1997 1A State cross-country champion; 1997 1A state runner-up in the 1500 and 3000m events at Iowa state meet; 3 time National Qualifier in DIII Cross Country; Member of 2000 3rd Place Team @ DIII National Cross Country; 2-time National Qualifier in DIII Track; 2001 IIAC Champion in 10K
Coaching Highlights:
CROSS COUNTRY: Named MAC Coach of the Year in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Led her varsity squad to ten consecutive MAC team titles from 2005-2014. Has coached her team to 13 consecutive appearances at the state meet, including a 5th place finish in 2008, a 4th place finish in 2010, a 3rd place finish in 2011, state champions in 2012, a 3rd place finish in 2013, and a runner-up team finish in 2014. Has coached 12 all-state athletes, including 2013 and 2015 individual state champion, McKenzie Yanek. Served as a volunteer assistant at Iowa City High in 2002 when the team won the state title. Named Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2012 and At-Large Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2013.
TRACK & FIELD: Served 3 years as junior high track coach, 1 year as high school varsity assistant track coach, and begins her 10th year as head track and field coach in 2017. Named 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016 MAC Coach of the Year and led team to conference and district titles in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Works primarily with middle distance and distance runners and shares co-head coaching duties with husband, Kenny Wheeler. Guided McKenzie Yanek to a 2016 Drake Relays title in the 3000m and a runner-up finish and school record in the same event at the 2016 State meet. Led team to a runner-up team finish at the state meet in 2013, a Class 4A team state championship in 2015, and another state runner-up finish in 2016. Named IATC Class 4A At-Large Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and IATC Class 4A Coach of the Year for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Was named recipient of high school state coach of the year for Iowa by US Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) in 2015. Jane is a USATF Level I Certified Coach.
ASSISTANT CoacH - Melissa Martinez
Hometown: Marion, IA
School: Linn-Mar High School; University of Northern Iowa (BA, MA)
Running Highlights: I developed a love for distance running during college, learning and running with my dad and did my first marathon with him in 2004. Since then I have trained for and completed 21 Marathons and 54 Half- Marathons in 10 states. (Marathon PR of 3:42, Half Marathon PR of 1:42). I ran in high school all 4 years as a sprinter and two years as a high jumper.
Coaching Highlights: Melissa spent 8 years as the Assistant Women's Cross Country Coach and Assistant Women's Track & Field Coach at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. She coached sprints for 2 years and then coached middle and distance runners for 6 years. She is a USATF Certified Level 1 and Level 2 (Endurance and Sprints/Hurdles/Relays) coach. After being a volunteer assistant in 2016 and 2017, this will be her first season as a full-time assistant coach with the Pleasant Valley Girls Cross Country team. She is also an assistant coach with the girls track & field team focusing on distance and throws.
School: Linn-Mar High School; University of Northern Iowa (BA, MA)
Running Highlights: I developed a love for distance running during college, learning and running with my dad and did my first marathon with him in 2004. Since then I have trained for and completed 21 Marathons and 54 Half- Marathons in 10 states. (Marathon PR of 3:42, Half Marathon PR of 1:42). I ran in high school all 4 years as a sprinter and two years as a high jumper.
Coaching Highlights: Melissa spent 8 years as the Assistant Women's Cross Country Coach and Assistant Women's Track & Field Coach at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. She coached sprints for 2 years and then coached middle and distance runners for 6 years. She is a USATF Certified Level 1 and Level 2 (Endurance and Sprints/Hurdles/Relays) coach. After being a volunteer assistant in 2016 and 2017, this will be her first season as a full-time assistant coach with the Pleasant Valley Girls Cross Country team. She is also an assistant coach with the girls track & field team focusing on distance and throws.
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