See how they win

NEWTON - His message, on the eve of another cross-country season, his 19th with the Newton South High School girls’ squad, was a familiar one.

His runners listening intently while seated on the school gym’s floor, Steve McChesney spelled out his philosophy, one centered around teamwork and support. He spoke of gratitude, humility, and having fun.

“I tell them two things before every season starts,’’ McChesney said later. “Number one: I love our sport. Number two: I love working with kids. There are so many things a coach does; you’re an educator in a voluntary classroom. I also want the kids to have fun. I was rewarded with a lot of great experiences as a student-athlete and I try to give that to them.’’

A cross-country program that struggled to win dual meets upon his arrival two decades ago is now a perennial contender for state, New England, and national titles, produces high school All-Americans annually, and, most importantly, does so with class and integrity.

The Newton South girls are the defending Division 1 and All-State champions, but their 53-year-old coach said he values a team sportsmanship award just as much, and his Lions have collected plenty of hardware over the years for being good sports.

He points to his job interview in 1990 with Newton South’s athletic director at the time, Bob Chrusz, for helping to shape his viewpoint.

Emphasizing that athletes are people first, and high school students should be treated as such, Chrusz sold McChesney on the program.

The move across the country for the job was not taken lightly, not for a member of the McChesney clan, a family that has earned legendary status in the running community far beyond their home base in Eugene, Ore.

But it was Chrusz’s attitude of encouragement and support, mirroring the outlook that McChesney had learned from his parents, Bill and Marcia, and his coach at South Eugene High School, Harry Johnson, that made the decision to head to Newton South easy.

“It was such a unique interview. At that point, my resume was pretty well established, and I had a good amount of programs to choose from,’’ said McChesney, who had coached at his alma mater. “But Bob was all about sportsmanship and ethics. He seemed so supportive of the teams and he made me so comfortable; he really reminded me of my own coaches and I decided this was the right place for me.’’

Chrusz, who stepped down as AD in 2003, said McChesney was “exactly what the program needed. He came in here with a stellar career, and I knew if he had the same vision I did, good things could really happen.’’

The move to the East Coast was the perfect fit.

McChesney, who also coaches the boys’ cross-country squad, and the indoor and outdoor track and field teams at Newton South, has developed one of the top programs in the state. His first cross-country team had eight girls and 15 boys. This fall, 70 girls and 50 boys are taking part.

Under his leadership, the Lions have combined for 56 league championships, 48 All-Americans, 32 undefeated regular seasons, six state records, four New England records, and two national championships.

He has guided the boys’ programs to a 271-88 record; the South girls are 343-68. His overall career mark, covering 940 meets, is an astonishing 735-205.

“We have an alumni reunion every year, the day before Thanksgiving. It’s usually always packed with former runners,’’ said McChesney, who hosts the dinner at his Hyde Park home with his wife, Marianne. “But the talk is not really about national championships or winning meets; it’s mostly about the experiences and the friendships they made and kept.’’

Henry Finch ran for Newton South more than 40 years ago, graduating in 1967. His two sons, Ben and Kelton, were coached by McChesney, and now run for Carnegie Mellon University. Finch, who stays involved with the program as its unofficial photographer, recalls the difference between his and his sons’ running days.

“It’s night and day,’’ he said. “When we were here, first off we weren’t winning anything. We were only running 10 to 12 miles a week, which is barely anything. And our coach wasn’t as competitive as Steve. He’s very competitive, but he holds it back very well. He knows his stuff, he lives and breathes running. He understands they’re high school kids and not college kids.’’

What McChesney has mastered over the years, observers say, is the proper balance between acting as a nurturing mentor and a competitive coach.

A four-year runner and team captain at Newton South this fall, Elizabeth May has experienced this firsthand.

“He’s so good at getting the best out of you without yelling at you or pushing you,’’ said May. “He’s got this way of recognizing someone’s potential from day one and then he just gets it out of you. You see how much he loves the sport, how much it’s given him, and how much he gives to it. You want to work hard and be as passionate about it as he is.’’

McChesney points to his family life, as the second of four sons. “There were four boys in the house. We competed in how many pieces of chicken you could eat at dinner.’’

Tom McChesney, the eldest, was the first to head to the University of Oregon and run for the Ducks, a program with a rich history that has also featured the likes of Steve Prefontaine and Wayland High graduate Alberto Salazar. He ran with brother Steve for two years. Bill followed Steve and Tom to Oregon before making the 1980 Olympic team that boycotted the Summer Games in Moscow. McChesney coached his youngest brother, Ken, at South Eugene.

The McChesneys have been dubbed “The Greatest American Running Family’’ by Runners World magazine.

Through running, McChesney met his wife; they were introduced by Chrusz years ago. Marianne, who played lacrosse and ran at Duke University, coached alongside her husband at Newton South for 15 years.

And, through running, McChesney finds his favorite memories with their 4-year-old twins, William Thomas and Stevie.

“I’ve yet to beat them in a race,’’ said McChesney. “It’s funny because I now look at my dad, who’s 81 and still runs five miles a day, and my sons, and the common thread is this love of running. It’s just a simple love for the sport that makes you want to work hard, and if the talent is there, it’ll surface. Teaching that was my mission when I first came here.’’

So far, mission accomplished

Sapna Pathak can be reached at sportsgalsp@gmail.com.