OUR COACHES
Missy Henshaw-Gaidis
Head Coach
Coach Missy began her track career in high school finishing 2nd place in the 400m at the NJ State Champion Meet as a Freshman. She had the good fortune to work with Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, Larry James, for 8 years following her state meet finish. In addition, Missy acted as an assistant coach and counselor at the Mighty Burner Speed Camp for 4 years, run by Larry James and his 4x400 Olympic and World Record setting team. Missy is a 4-time NJ State Champion, an All-American, and ran one of the 10 fastest HS times in the United States in the 800m at 2:14 in 1991. Coach Missy is also an All-State field hockey player.
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Coach Missy received full athletic scholarships to both the University of North Carolina - Charlotte and Saint Joseph's University. She is a 7-time Metro and Atlantic 10 Conference Champion in the 1,000m (x2), 400, 4x400m, 4x800m, and cross country, and was collegiately rank on the east coast of the US. She is a 4th, 5th, and 6th place finisher in the 4x800m and 1,000m in the Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC) Championships and holds records at the high school, county and collegiate levels and had the opportunity to run against Olympic and professional athletes while competing in college.
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Coach Missy has a Doctorate in Psychology in Clinical Psychology and practices sports psychology. She has been coaching for more than 15 years in track and field, field hockey, and soccer. Her philosophy of coaching is that every athlete receives personalized coaching and that workouts should be athlete specific and tailored to meet the needs and goals of the athlete. It is her hope that as an athlete's confidence grows on the track it translates into a confidence off the track. Coach Missy is an AAU and USA TF Certified Coach and has undergone training Positive Coaching, Safesport Training, and USA TF Level 1 Coaching. Missy is a wife and mother of two and resides in Medford, NJ.
Kristin Aiken
Hurdle Coach
Coach Kristin began running track her sophomore year of high school. She is a 3-time state champion and a high school, county, and collegiate record holder in the 400-meter hurdles and in 4x400m. She has been coaching for more than 18 years in track and field and field hockey. Coach Kristin worked with Mays Landing Express Track Club, Mays Landing Association Field Hockey Team, and at the age of 49, she currently plays for "Stick it to You" at Total Turf in the adult women's field hockey league. She also works as a physical therapy assistant.
Coach Kristin's philosophy is positivity in coaching and speak softly while imparting knowledge of the sport and specialty events. Coach Kristin is a wife and mother of two and resides in Mays Landing.
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Fred Mansell
Head Coach
Coach Fred is a husband and father of two and resides in Mount Laurel, NJ. Coach Fred competed at Stevens Institute of Technology and matriculated with the class of 2000. He was a 4-year varsity sprinter on both the indoor and outdoor men's track and field teams. He is USATF Safesport, USATF Level 1 Coaching, and Basic Science of Sprinting Certified. He maintains, "I know enough to know that I don't know everything and am never ashamed to seek advice from other coaches and about specific challenges."
Coach Fred believes that running is foundational and applicable to a wide array of activities and sports. Both of his children struggle with asthma, and he introduced them to track and field at an early age to lay a foundation of healthy lifestyles. They don’t have to love track and field but should understand how running can help them in other athletic pursuits.
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He believes that all sprinters are not created equal, but each individual has a certain speed system within them that coaches and the athletes must work together to maximize. Sprinting requires a unique focus and trust to execute a strategy. Speed endurance allows for event versatility, but balance and explosion (plyometric and isometric) help athletes become more competitive within their events. Coach Fred believes that technique and strategy are just as important as variability in workouts. Sprinters do not blossom overnight no matter how simple it appears.
Some favorite quotes:
“God made me for a purpose… He also made me fast; and when I run, I feel his pleasure.” – Eric Liddell
“In the dust of defeat as well as the laurels of victory there is glory to be found if one has done his best.” – Eric Liddell
Coach Raph Tanes
Throwing Coach
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Coach Raphael "Raph" Tanes is our throwing coach and a Medford native. Coach Raph competed in the shotput, Javelin and discus at Shawnee High School and was a New Balance National Qualifier in the discus, which is one of the most elite track meets in the country for high school and middle school athletes. Raph threw 164 feet and 2 inches in the discus, finished 16th in the state of New Jersey and still maintains the second furthest throw in Shawnee High School History.
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Coach Raph is currently earning his nursing degree at Lincoln Technical Institute. Raph's skills and positivity are a great addition to our team.