What we are all about Our running programs strive to be a part of the interscholastic experience for your child. Everyone competes in cross country/track & field for a variety of reasons. If the goal is running in college, making varsity or simply improving performance or fitness we strive to provide an environment that facilitates these goals. We strive to create a positive environment that creates a confident, healthy and balanced student/athlete through a fun environment and truly dedicated coaches. LCS cross country/track & field will be an experience that they will talk about for years.
What LCS Cross Country & Track Means to Us "My family has been involved with the Lincoln Charter Cross Country program for a total of twelve seasons. It has been a remarkable experience for both of my daughters. They have made friends, reaped the many benefits of being part of a team, and achieved much success on and off of the course. When you think of Lincoln Charter XC, you immediately think of Josh Williams. He coaches with all of his heart, attempting to instill a love for running and the will to succeed. The program has had much success and is well decorated, however; I consider the most valuable benefit of being a part of this wonderful program something bigger than running. My daughters have learned valuable life lessons, principles of leadership, and have been mentored into strong, independent women who are ready for the next phase of their lives. I will forever be grateful. It is good to be an Eagle!"
Angie Minaudo Mother of Ellen Minaudo LCS Class of 2014 & Megan Minaudo LCS Class of 2019
XCLCS XC/T&F Milestones 2002 - LCS has it's first co-ed middle school team. This was the beginning of LCS XC. 2004 - LCS begins it's first high school XC program. The team consisted of only four male runners. 2009 - LCS sends first men's and women's team to 1A West Regionals at Jackson Park, Hendersonville, NC 2009 - LCS has first two state qualifers in school history for XC, Christy Rhames and Kaycee Gass. 2012 - LCS women's XC team captures their first regional championship in dramatic fashion at Cherokee HS on a 6th place tie breaker! Sophia Bhalla wins individual regional title. 2012 - LCS women XC are the first in LCS history to qualify as a team for states. They went on to finish runner-up. 2012 - Sophomore Sophia Bhalla wins 1A XC state championship. She is the first state champion in any sport in LCS history. Sophia earned all South Region placing 3rd at Footlocker South Region Championship in the Sophomore division. 2012 - LCS competes in it's first track & field season. Women's 4x800m qualifies for states. Christy Rhames is first LCS woman to qualify for regionals in an individual event. 2013 - LCS women finish runner-up at XC states. Steven George becomes first male to qualify for T&F state championship in triple jump as well as the men's 4x400m relay 2014 - LCS sends first men's team to XC state championship. 2014 - Christina Famulari is first female T&F athlette to qualify for states in a field event (shot put) 2016 - LCS women win 1A west XC regionals, men runner-up LCS women finish runner-up at XC states, men finish top five Michaela Gammon wins XC state championship and 3200m in outdoor track. LCS women finish runner-up at XC states, men finish top five 2017 - LCS men win first ever XC regional championship, women repeat as regional champions. Drew Zink becomes first male XC regional champion Men and Women finish runner-up at state XC championship. Michaela Gammon wins T&F regionals in 1600m & 3200m 2018 - LCS men win 4x800m state title at T&F states. 2018 - LCS men win back to back XC regional championships, women repeat as regional champions third year in a row. LCS men win NCHSAA 1A State XC Championship. This is the first ever state championship for XC 2019 - LCS men three-year as XC regional champions, women repeat as regional champions fourth year in a row. LCS men win NCHSAA 1A State XC Championship. Back to back state champions 2020 - Outdoor Track Season Canceled due to Pandemic 2020 - Start of XC season delayed until November Men win SPAC 1A Conference Championship 2021 - LCS Men win third regional championship in a row in a first ever snow race in Bryson City (Elk too) LCS men win NCHSAA 1A State XC Championship. (2020/2021) Three Pete state champions - Dynasty is born 2021 - LCS moves to 2A Classification, joins new 1A/2A Catwaba Shores Athletic Conference LCS men win CSAC Cross Country Championship. Joel McClosky Conference Runner of the Year LCS men 2A Regional and State Runners up
Our Staff
Coach Williams 2023-2024 school year will be Coach Williams 21st at LCS. Coaches primary responsibility are mid-distance, distance and XC. Coach Williams was the first ever cross country coach at LCS in 2002 and helped with founding the track & field program in 2012. Coach Williams takes a great amount of pride in how far the program has come. Coach is most proud of his impact that he has made through the sport of running. Seeing his former runners succeed in life and become productive citizens is his greatest point of pride. Fostering a family environment between athletes, parents and administration is what he considers a key component to the programs success. Coach Williams is a native of Denver, NC (one of the few left) and went to East Lincoln high school where he competed in XC and swimming. He went on to Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA to earn his BS in Early Childhood Education in 2001 and his MS in Athletic Coaching Education from West Virginia University in 2009. Coach is also a USATF Level 1 certified coach, North Carolina Coaches Association, USA Track & Field and a member of the LCS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2019. Coach Williams was selected as the NC Cross Country Coach of the Year 2019 by USTFCCCA. Coach Williams teaches high school health and PE at LCS. Coach resides in Denver with his wife Jessica, daughter Harper and their dog Fitz.
"The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith." Billy Graham
Coach Schild 2023-2024 marks the start of Coach Mark Schild 19th year at LCS. Coach Schild has worked with various athletic programs at LCS at both the high school and middle school levels. In 2016 he restarted the indoor track and field program with the intent to strengthen the LCS running program. During the same year, he also took over the head coaching position for the outdoor track and field program. Coach Schild remains head coach of the indoor T&F program and is head coach of sprints, relays and hurdles for the T&F teams. Coach is also a USATF Level 1 certified coach and a member of the North Carolina Coaches Association and USA Track & Field.
Coach Schild hails from a small suburb of Chicago, Illinois, and moved to the Charlotte area in 1993. He settled in Denver, NC in 2000 where he resides with his wife, Patty. His son Kenny is currently attending Methodist University where he runs XC and Track & FIeld.
Coach Schild is very proud that he took the first indoor T&F team to the state meet in 2016, and, the first boys T&F conference championship in 2018. More importantly, he is honored to be working with Coach Williams to facilitate a running program that fosters a unity of coaches, athletes, parents and administration focused on the development of successful future leaders in the world.