Biography:
Courtney Baker-Williams is a sixth grade science teacher at HMS and the head coach of the HMS coed cross country program and co-head coach of the HMS coed track and field program. This will be her 12th year coaching with the HMS track and xc programs and 18th year teaching. Her involvement in the program has come full circle: she was a student-athlete of HMS and HMHS XC and track and field, and today she is passionate about creating a positive introduction to the sport of running for Haddonfield student-athletes.
XC Program Philosophy: The middle school cross country program exposes the team members to distance training and racing at the 1.5 mile distance. Students will be challenged to steadily progress in their training and improve in their individual performances. Students of all ability levels and experience are encouraged to become part of the program - we have a team of 125+ runners. The students should be rewarded by seeing their personal growth in the events and by working hard as a member of the larger team.
Track and Field Program Philosophy: The middle school track level program includes: sprints, distance events, long jump, high jump, shot put, and discus. The program exposes the athletes to the various events and training principles. The team members will be guided to find events that match their interests and potential. They will be challenged to steadily progress in their training and improve in their performances. The students should find their experience successful and fun! With a team of 150+ athletes, we will be utilizing grade/event specific practices to best meet the needs of our athletes.
Michelle Cannaday.
Co-Head Coach
Biography:
Michelle Cannaday is an eighth grade math teacher at HMS, co-head coach of the HMS coed track and field program, and assistant coach of the HMS coed cross country program. Michelle has been coaching with the HMS running programs for over 15 years.
Tina Papa.
Assistant Coach
Biography:
Biography:
Dave Stewart has served as a volunteer assistant with the HMHS cross country and track programs since 2015, and as Assistant Cross Country Coach under Nick Baker since 2017.He is USATF certified as a Level 1 track coach and as a cross country specialist, as well as Certified as an interscholastic coach by the NFHS.
He previously served for three years as the Head Cross Country and Assistant Track Coach at Johns Hopkins University and as a volunteer assistant at Ferris High School in Jersey City. He is a graduate of Cherry Hill East, where was named Most Valuable Runner, and of Johns Hopkins, where he was a Captain of the Cross Country team, an individual qualifier for Division III Nationals and Middle Atlantic Conference medalist in the 1500.
He has continued to compete in open and masters competition, running times such as 8:30 for the indoor 3k and 14:50 for 5k on the track as open competitor, and times ranging from 19:28 for four miles to 1:50 for 20 on the roads. As a masters competitor he has won age group awards in races such as the Philadelphia Marathon, Broad Street 10-Miler, Bridge Run and the MAUSATF 1500. He has also served as an NJSIAA track official, as President of the South Jersey Athletic Club and as race director of the Pennypacker Park Open cross country meet.
All three of his children, Veronica, Miranda and Matt, attended HMHS and competed for either Nick or Maureen Baker. Matt, Class of 2014, was a varsity member of the 2013 State Championship team and a State qualifier in the 3200. He went on to run at RPI, where he was a varsity member of two National Championship qualifying teams.