Team Cook History (2005 - 2011)
The Training Group - "Team Cook"
"Keeping the Circle Small" - One of Coach John Cook's favorite expressions or "Cookisms" as they are more fondly referred to, defines the nature and structure of this training group: A small, select group of elite athletes supported by a well respected and gifted team of professionals.
Team Cook was formed in 2005 when former University of North Carolina Tar Heel, Erin Donohue, began training under the guidance of Coach John Cook on the Nike Campus in Beaverton, Oregon. Erin's college teammate, Shalane Flanagan, packed up and moved to Oregon later that year to join the group. Duke University Alum, Shannon Rowbury, signed on with Team Cook in 2007, after her collegiate running career abruptly ended due to a femoral neck stress fracture.
2008 was an exciting year for this dynamic group. All three Team Cook athletes earned berths on the Beijing Olympic team. Shalane went on to win a bronze medal in the 10K while Shannon made the Olympic final race at 1500 meters, placing 7th - the highest finish ever by an American woman in the Olympics at that distance.
2009 saw some major changes to the Team Cook players. Both Shalane and Erin left Cook's tutelage to pursue other training opportunities. At the same time, Leo Manzano, one of the USA's best male runners at 1500 meters, joined the team as did Ryan Ponsonby, a bright, young coach who in 2009 oversaw the workouts of the athletes while they were on the road.
In 2010, Team Cook became bigger and better when it took on four new athletes. Joining Rowbury and Manzano were middle distance specialists Treneire Clement Moser, David Torrence, Jacob Hernandez and long distance runner Alex Ruiz. Coach Ponsonby (more fondly known as Coach "Poncho") continued to work closely with Coach Cook and the athletes.
2010 included a training stint at altitude in Mexico, USATF National Championships, racing at domestic meets in the spring and throughout Europe in the summer. This group of hard working and talented athletes had a very bright and successful 2010 track campaign.
2011 is shaping up to be another banner year. With the formation of the newly founded Austin Track Club, Coach Ponsonby and Team Cook are taking on two new middle distance specialists including Kyle Miller and Pablo Solares Legorreta, the Mexican National Record Holder at three distances (800, 1500 and Mile).
Plans for Team Cook athletes in 2011 include a training stint at altitude in early spring, followed by domestic races, USATF Nationals in Eugene, World Championships in Daegu, a European racing circuit and the Pan American Games in October in Mexico.