Lauren Peacock takes over duties as Albany cross country coach

By Sam Waller

Lauren Peacock has been named to coach Albany’s cross country program in the wake of Donnie Hart’s sudden resignation.

Albany ISD athletic director Ryder Peacock said the appointment is just for the season, and the school district will continue to search for a new coach for girls basketball, which Hart was also supposed to coach.

Lauren Peacock conducted her first workout with the team Friday, Aug. 11.

“We’ve been running every morning since then,” said Lauren Peacock, who returned to the school district this semester after a year away to begin a second stint as girls track coach. “Our entire girls program is doing the strength and conditioning, so I’d already been with the girls. I’ve seen the girls already working and grinding, and they’ve been doing everything with a smile on their faces.”

The coach said a positive attitude will play a large part in making the season a success.

“Cross country is not a sport everyone wants to come out and do,” she said. “It’s really difficult, and it takes a pretty tough mindset to be able to compete. The girls have been responding well.”

Albany will compete Saturday, Aug. 19 at Jim Ned’s Warpath Invitational as planned, but Ryder Peacock said there will be changes to the schedule.

“I have a different philosophy on cross country meets than a lot of people do,” he said. “Some people think you have to run every week, but I’m more the college philosophy of skipping a week. You build up, train, then compete.”

He said the approach allows runners to get more work done in practice.

“I think Lauren buys into it because she saw the same thing when we were in college,” he said.

Lauren Peacock will be handling the assignment in addition to her role with junior high volleyball.