James DeMarco

Academy Director

James DeMarco has been involved in every aspect of running. He was a member of five state championship teams in high school (two in cross and three in track), a member of the 1996 NCAA Div. II National Championship Cross Country running team in college and an All American. He has directed more than ten races (including road races and large invitational cross country meets) and five running camps for high school athletes and adults. James was also an Alaska Region IV and State Meet track and field official, awarded adidas/ USATrack and Field travel grant and TDA grant, coached individual and team state champions, a high school All American, coached athletes from ages 10-81, a certified coach by USA Track and Field and taken college courses in Exercise Physiology, Human Anatomy, Nutrition and Performance, Mamillian Physiology, Prevention and Care of Athletic Injuries, Coaching Track and Field, etc. James was also invited as a coach with one of his athletes to an elite distance camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.  His athletes have been invited to the prestigious Golden West Invite, AOC, and USATF Junior Nationals. James also owns RUNabout Sports, a running specialty store.

In Alaska's harsh and challenging climate James was able to motivate his athletes to look past their obstacles and achieve great success. "Alaska has no indoor tracks so creativity in training is very important. The seasons are very short (nine weeks for cross and nine for track) so we would focus on the things we could do. Distance running is pretty simple in that we don't need much for training purposes. Billy Mills, Jim Ryun, Prefontaine, the great Africans and Flying Finns prove that. It really comes down to believing what your doing, working hard, and enjoying the process."

- Track & Field team won state title in 1999, 2000 (girls)

- Track & Field team runner-up in 1999, 2000 (boys)

- Coached State Champions in 4x400 (girls), 4x800 (girls), 800 meter state record holder (girls), 1600 (boys), 3200 (boys and girls)

- Coach athletes that broke school records in 300 hurdles, 800, 1600,   

   3200, 4x400, and 4x800 at Bartlett H.S.

- Coached athlete that broke 800, 1600, 3200 school records at Chugiak     H.S.

- Started with cross country team and help guide them to the state meet for the first time in ten years. Team finished fourth and the following year third for large school. Boys qualified for first time in several years and shocked the field with a runner up finish. Boys' team won Sportsmanship Award and the girls won the Team Academic Award.

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