Camp Activities and Logistics

Our Camp Staff...

Our staff is composed of very competent high school and college distance coaches who have trained some of the best runners in their area, their district, state and the country! See these impressive bios.

Chris Smith - coach Camp Director Chris Smith - Chris is entering his first year as director after 15 years as Assistant Camp Director. Chris is a veteran teacher in Brookline, Massachusetts as well as an accomplished runner, competing at Colorado and Vanderbilt. He, too, has coached champions at every level, at Emory and Vanderbilt and Brookline High where his teams won two state XC titles. Among his credits are the Pike's Peak Assent--14.5 miles up to 14,200 ft elevation.; 35th in the prestigious Philadelphia Marathon, winner of many local road races and competitor in the Boston, Chicago and New York marathons. Chris has developed into a cyclist in the past few years and enjoys all endurance sports. His enthusiasm for competitive running inspires runners of all ages and abilities to achieve their personal bests.
Jim Smith - Director

President/Logistics

Jim Smith retired from coaching in 2023, after 40+ seasons working with high school and college distance runners, including 15 years directing the Rocky Mountain Cross Country Camp. His teams won 11 league championships. Jim is an experienced teacher, detailed oriented, and his logistical expertise will enable RMXCC to continue from behind the scenes. He is happy to connect with campers and their families via email and answer any questions they may have!

Assistant Director Tonya McDonough - Tonya is among the most decorated of all our coaches here at Rocky Mountain XC Camp--we are indeed honored to have her share her coaching skills with our runners! Tonya has been selected as "Coach of the Year" in XC 11 times in Iowa (at the city-wide level, conference and state levels)! A veteran teacher in North Liberty, Iowa, Tonya is a fantastic coach who gets things done while being beloved by her runners--and, four teams of hers won State Championships in Cross Country.Welcome back, Coach Tonya!

Assistant Camp Director Dan Mortimer - Dan has been a camper or on staff here at RMXCC for 7 of the past 9 years. Dan led his high school XC team to 3rd place in the Massachusetts State XC Championships and was selected as a League All-Star numerous times in XC and Track. He recently graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he captained (twice) the cross country teams. Dan is extremely skilled at the details in coaching fine runners to reach their potential helping to make all our staff and campers better runners! He is the distance coach at Shrewsbury High School and a working engineer in Westboro, MA. Welcome back, Coach Dan!
Andrew Kaye--Andrew was one of the most outstanding distance runners ever to come out of Shrewsbury High School cross country and track programs.  He won Leagues in all events and XC, at Districts he was close to winning, competed at States every year, and outdoor Nationals, too, in the 2 mile. Clocking times of 4:26 and 9:27 as well as 15:57 for 5K at the illustrious Brown Invitational in 2016, Captain Kaye led his teams to half a dozen League Championships during his four years at SHS.  Presently, Andrew is attending the Colorado School of Mines Graduate School. Andrew has been selected as a USTFA All-Academic All-American for his 29:25 10K at Mount Sac Relays in April 2021. Andrew was on the 2022 XC National Championship team as first alternate having run 29:25!