Fran Cusick
Fran Cusick is a USATF Level 1 certified track and field coach as well as a USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning coach who has a wealth of experience on the roads and the track. Since 2015, Coach Cusick has been part of the staff of the Tewksbury girls and boys track program. During this stretch, Tewksbury has been one of the more successful programs in the state. The girls outdoor track team won the Massachusetts State championship in spring 2016, the first All-State Championship in the history of the school. In 2017, the girls finished in 2nd place in Massachusetts and Coach Cusick was named 2017 Boston Globe Coach of the Year. In addition to team success, Cusick has coached a number of athletes to successful careers, including Rachel Sessa, who won a Massachusetts All-State title in the mile and currently attends Georgetown University, and Makayla Paige, who set the New England Record in the 600 meter run and attends UNC-Chapel Hill.
Cusick attended Lesley University, where he was a three sport-athlete in cross country, basketball, and track. He is an accomplished post-collegiate runner who has competed for Battle Road Track Club since 2015. He has been a scoring runner on the BRTC team that finished in 13th of 60 teams at the US Club Cross Country National Championships in 2015. In 2014 he ran the Boston Marathon in a time of 2:32:58, (5:50 pace for 26.2 miles). He has PR’s of 1:09:39 in the half marathon (5:19 pace for 13.1 miles), 15:08 in the 5k and 31:40 for the 10k.
In addition to coaching, Coach Cusick has been a History teacher at Tewksbury Memorial High School for the past nine years. He is also the director of Stowe Running Camp, a highly successful and popular running camp. His coaching philosophy centers around patience and long-term aerobic development. His coaching influences include Jack Daniels, Arthur Lydiard, and Steve Magness.
Alexandra “Sasha” Mindel
As a member of New Balance Boston Sasha (Varanka) Mindel qualified for the 2016 Team USA Olympic Marathon Trials on February 13, 2016 out in Los Angeles. Sasha’s time of 2:43.19 from the 2014 Chicago Marathon earned her a qualifying spot for the United States’ Olympics Trials. Sasha is a seasoned elite runner with experience on the roads and track.
(Sasha at the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials)