New Camas High School cross country coach Laurie Porter aspires to share her knowledge of running with current and future Papermakers.
“If you want to continue to run for a long time, you have to enjoy it,” Porter said. “I still enjoy running all the time at the age of 51. I want these kids to develop a lifelong passion for this like I have.”
Porter takes over for Mike Hickey, who is now the head cross country and track and field coach at Clark College. She is stepping into a program with a girls team that won its second straight state championship and a boys team that cracked into the top 10 at state in 2012.
“The girls are primed to win state again. I really want to see the boys move up to the next level,” she said. “I know that they can. I see a lot of dedication and motivation in them, and I know they will succeed.”
Porter raised four children in Hockinson before discovering her passion for running. She began coaching cross country and track at Hockinson High School in 2003. After Georgia, Sarah, Matt and Shannon grew up and left home, Porter and her husband, George, moved to Washougal two years ago.