By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Brian Harshman believes that continuity is an important part of track and field, particularly with distance running, and the Allentown High School boys and girls will have continuity with him stepping in as the new spring head coach.
Harshman was an assistant coach who focused on the distance runners last spring, and he comes off his second season as boys winter track and field coach. He is hoping to coach cross country next fall.
”I see everything as beginning with cross country,” Harshman said. “It’s a yearlong process. It’s very important to have consistency, and it’s important to have, if not the same coach, the same philosophy. Aaron Oldfield at Hopewell, (Robbinsville’s Mike) Walker, (Princeton’s John) Woodside, (West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Brian) Gould, they see the program through from cross country to spring track.”
Harshman is moving in that direction. A terrific distance runner in his own right, Harshman has enjoyed the chance to get into coaching.
”I was in law enforcement, and I retired at the end of 2010,” Harshman said. “I always wanted to coach. I’ve always been very close to running. The timing just worked out perfect. I retired one day and met with the indoor track team pretty much the next day over at Allentown.
”It was one of those things I always wanted to do,” he added. “I knew one of the coaches over there who has coached track and cross country for almost 30 years, Doug Hunt. I saw him somewhere along the line and mentioned I was interested. I got the opportunity to go there and help out. I’m really pleased with the way the kids have responded to what I’m trying to do with them.”
Harshman, who ran at Bucknell University, has been trying to use his running background to help strengthen the Redbirds program.
”It’s very rewarding,” he said. “I’ve coached youth sports. I have three kids of my own. I’ve coached them in basketball, baseball and soccer. I never coached the sport that I really know and I’m really passionate about, which is track and field, and specifically distance running. It has been very rewarding. I guess I should have learned something over the 35 years of running or whatever it has been and running a thousand races. I’d like to think I have something to pass on to the kids so they can improve.”
Harshman is still adjusting to the administrative demands of the job, but he’s gotten more comfortable with each season. This spring, the challenge is to manage about 115 athletes. He has help with a pair of sprint coaches, a jumps coach and throws coach.
”We have a great group of kids,” Harshman said. “If anything, we kind of joke about it as coaches, if it’s possible, the kids are sometimes too nice. You want them to be tough and compete hard, which I think they’re getting. They really are a good group of kids and fun to work with and very receptive.”
On the girls side, the Redbirds are led by some standouts who are coming off encouraging winter campaigns. Brianna Corlette is a junior who qualified for the state meet, and she qualified for states last outdoor season in the 100 and 200 meters. Carly Dubroski is a sophomore who qualified for states in the high hurdles, and senior Kristen Chiafullo is a strong 800-meter runner. In addition, the Redbird girls add senior Karlee Corvasce, a top basketball player, who comes into the spring to strengthen the throws and provide team leadership.
”It’s going to be interesting,” Harshman said. “There’s a strong core with the girls.”
The boys didn’t advance as many athletes into states in the winter season, but they have a solid core to lead them as well. Nick Caruso, the MVP of the indoor season, does sprints, hurdles and jumps. Stephen Haines is a senior as well who focuses on shot put and discus. Normal Williams, a junior, has looked promising in the preseason. Jason Rosenstein and Ian Herrighty are the veterans for the distance corps, while sophomores Alex Byrnes and Michael Diecidue are up-and-coming distance runners. Harshman will see his team in action when it opens the season Saturday.
”You’re not really sure who’s going to shine when it comes time to run meets,” Harshman said. “The kids all seem to be serious about getting better. That’s the goal. We compete against (West Windsor-Plainsboro) North and South, Princeton, Robbinsville. They’re programs that have really been built up over the years. We’re really hoping to be able to compete and hold our own.”

