Elle Purrier, Liane Farber, Mark Coogan, Katrina Coogan & Jeff Benjamin in Staten Island in 2019, photo by Jeff Benjamin
The 2021 New Balance Indoor Gran Prix Live At Ocean Breeze, Staten Island
All According To Coach Coogan’s Plan!
By Jeff Benjamin
In sports there’s an old adage that a great athlete does not necessarily make a great coach.
1996 Olympic Marathoner Mark Coogan has definitely broken that mold.
Coogan’s New Balance Boston Elite Club is one of the top teams in the Sport. With patience and long term planning Coogan (whose wife Gwynn was a 1992 Olympian at 10K) has produced some of the top middle and long distance runners not only nationally, but worldwide as well.
And Coogan and his charges are quite familiar with Ocean Breeze’s fast indoor track.
Elle Purrier, Liane Farber, Mark Coogan, Katrina Coogan & Jeff Benjamin in Staten Island in 2019, photo by Jeff Benjamin
Back in 2019, Elle Purrier came down to Staten Island and competed well, finishing 3rd in the 2-Mile and 6th in the mile. But 2020 started off explosively for Purrier, as she broke through to the top of the Sport, beating a world-class field in winning the Millrose Games Mile with a time of 4:16.85, shattering Mary Decker’s 38 year old American record.
Elle Purrier sets amazing American indoor mile record! photo by Mike Deering / The Shoe Addicts
Meanwhile, Coogan’s daughter Katrina, finished 5th in the2019 2-Mile as well and is progressing also.
“The team is doing great,” said Coogan, whose team has been training in the thin-air high altitude of Flagstaff for the last 5 weeks.
“Everyone is healthy and hungry to race,” said Coogan. “Elle keeps on improving and the sky is the limit for her… She is going to try to run fast in the 2 mile possibly getting the American Record.
Heather MacLean, ATL #2, photo by Kathy Camara via ESPN TV
Coogan’s other top runner Heather MacLean is going for the win in the mile.
“She’s leading the world right now.”
Daughter Katrina will also be in the 2-Mile with Purrier. “She is focusing on a 10k in the spring.”
“All in all,” said Coogan, “We are in very good shape for working towards the June USA Olympic Trials.”
Sounds like a solid plan from a solid planner!
Bell Lap
Although no live spectators are allowed, the 2021 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix will be shown live on NBC from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13. The event is the only gold-level U.S. stop on the World Athletics Indoor Tour.
For further information check out https://www.nbindoorgrandprix.com
