Hunter High School has named one of its assistant coaches as its new head cross country coach. Anna Robbins-Ek took over the position in early June and has her team focused this summer on becoming better people and runners.

“I think that these student-athletes have so much great potential,” Robbins-Ek said. “A lot of these kids play multiple sports or do other activities. I have learned that wherever they put in the effort is where they are going to succeed. They learn what they can be, through running.”

Robbins-Ek has coached track and cross country for over 10 years. She has worked and schools in Washington, D.C. and Virginia and in Utah at American Prep. Her experience in running competitions include top five finishes in the Arizona 3A state track meet. She specialized in the 100, 200 and 400 meters.

“I have a long history of running track and cross country. I have participated starting in junior high. Then in high school and in college. I then started coaching quite a few years ago,” she said.

Last season the Wolverines girls team finished fourth in Region 4 and the boys finished fifth. This is something the team would like to improve on. 

Cross country competition is scored differently. The runners earn points by where they finish. The teams with runners that finish toward the front of the pack are rewarded. The team with the lowest point total wins the event. Ideally, the team should try to finish fast and together to limit their opponents scoring opportunities.

“We are a young team. I love coaching them because they have so much potential to learn and grow,” Robbins-Ek said. 

Hunter junior Anthony Martinez scored 19 team points at the boys region finals last season. The boys varsity team lost only one senior from that team—Evan Jensen. They are scheduled to return three seniors to compete for spots on the team: Samuel Breeze, Paiten Rodeback and Jack Chapman. 

The girls team lost two seniors to graduation—Riana Chen and Victoria Fallis. Junior Madeline Taylor, sophomores Jasemin Walden and Genevieve Callister, and seniors Jessa Freeman and Patricia Jennings could be important parts of this year’s team. 

“This is a dedicated group of kids. In the summer they come to the school at 7 a.m. to run. Running is a full body sport. We do strength training and conditioning. We have been working on technique. Learning the mechanisms of running, breathing correctly and even how to swing their arms. If they apply themselves and learn these things they will become faster,” the coach said.

Runners this year will be using Hunter High School’s brand new six-lane track. 

“We are excited, we will have the things we need. We can host events. We hope to get so many people involved,” she said.

Robbins-Ek was also named by Utah Business as an emerging leader and one of 30 women to watch in 2024.

“As an owner of a child care business it has been important to me. I have taken a role to help other women and elevate child care workers into a more important place,” Robbins-Ek said.

She owns and operates Mom Pod Co., a company helping to provide child care services with flexible drop off and learning opportunities for children. She said her love for running and for children has helped her throughout her career. λ