On the right track: Langehennig takes the helm for Lovejoy

Networking is important in any field of business and high school athletics is no different.

After all, it was a chance meeting at a track clinic in Addison a couple years ago that set the stage for Stefani Langehennig to take over as Lovejoy's new track and field head coach.

Langehennig steps in for former head coach Greg Christensen, who stepped down to focus on the distance kids and continue his role as cross country head coach.

"The numbers for the distance team have been going up for a while now and some of the kids were maybe getting shortchanged in terms of their development," Christensen said. "I had been thinking about that for awhile and now just seemed like a good time to make a change."

Christensen, who has led his cross country teams to three state titles at Lovejoy, didn't have to look far for his replacement as Langehennig has been the Leopards track assistant since February.

"Stefani is experienced and she has great enthusiasm for and knowledge about the sport," Christensen said. "Plus she is good with kids, so I know she will do a good job."

Langehennig, who is also a highly-ranked duathalete (running, cycling, running), knows firsthand what it takes to win a state championship as she did so as a runner at Hereford. After participating in track and cross country in college at Texas for two years, Langehennig returned to Hereford to coach in 2010 and then went to Tomball in 2011 to run the cross country program and be the assistant track coach.

During that time, Langehennig met Christensen.

"I've known Greg for awhile now," she said. "We met at a track clinic and I had a great admiration for him being the head coach of the boys and girls cross country and track teams because something like that is almost unheard of."

The admiration was mutual.

"We kept in contact and Greg has nothing but good things to say about Lovejoy," Langehennig said. "The more he talked about Lovejoy, the more I liked their program and school."

Christensen convinced Langehennig to come over as assistant track coach in February and his description lived up to the hype.

"It's been everything he said and more," Langehennig noted.

With Christensen already considering stepping down as head track coach, the move to bring Langehennig in made sense for a couple different reasons.

"We have a lot of the same philosophies, especially when it comes to distance" Langehennig said. "We both believe in building a good base and adding progression of miles. You want to make sure the kids don't peak too early in the season."

Langehennig is no doubt hoping similar philosophies lead to similar results as Lovejoy brought home multiple individual medals at the Class 3A State Championship Meet in 2010 and 2011, including several of the gold variety.

"There is definitely pressure because I've got some big shoes to fill," Langehennig said. "And I know it is going to be more difficult for us with the move to 4A, but I think we've got the kids and coaches to do well. I went to and coached at a 4A school, so I think it's an exciting time to be involved in this program."

And if Lovejoy's new track coach runs into trouble, she'll have the old one to consult.

"Oh, I'll still be around," Christensen said with a chuckle. "I'm sure I'll be in all those meetings and I'm ready to help however I can."

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