About Fernando Braz
After many years as a competitive runner on the national and international stage, Fernando Braz began coaching in 1992. He and those he coached quickly discovered his gift for guiding runners at all levels to reach their potential -- whether that potential is breaking five hours in a marathon, qualifying for the Olympic Trials, or gaining scholastic and/or national recognition.
His coaching philosophy is to develop the --
==> Average Runner into a Good Runner
==> Good Runner into a Great One
==> Great Runner into a Champion
His coaching programs have resulted in dramatic racing improvements and personal bests for his athletes.
Coaching Milestones
- Peabody High School Coordinator for Boys/Girls Cross-Country and Track & Field, 2019 -
- Peabody High School Indoor and Outdoor Track Boys Head Coach, 1998 - 2019
- Peabody High School Cross-Country Boys Head Coach, 2017 - 2019
- Lawrence High School Head Coach, Cross Country, 1993-98
- Merrimack Valley Striders Head Coach, 1992-2009
- U.S.A. Coach for Women's Ekiden Team in Japan, 2005
- Going the Distance Head Coach, 2009 - present
- Coached multiple scholastic state champions and 8 All-Americans
- Has 97% success rate of qualifying individuals for the Boston Marathon
- Coach of the Year, named by Salem News, Lynn Item, Eagle Tribune and New England Runner Magazine.
- Named by the Boston Globe as the Massachusetts Division 1 High School Cross Country Coach of the Year
- Eagle Tribune Sportsman of the Year
- Northeast Conference (NEC) Coach of the Year (multiple times)
- Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association (MSTCA) Coach of the Year, 2012
- MSTCA Coaches Hall of Fame (2015)
- MSTCA Athletes Hall of Fame (2020)
- Coached teams to over 30 league titles (MVC, GBL, NEC)
- MSTCA Peabody Team Sportsmanship, 2011
- MIAA Indoor Coach of the Year, 2017
- Eastern Massacnusetts Indoor Track Coach of the Year, 2011
- High school coaching record, 22 years -- 242 wins, 6 losses, 1 tie (updated 2015)
- TREK-USA -- ran from San Francisco to Boston to raise money for youth health, fitness, and cancer research for DMSE, Doug Flutie Foundation, Dana Farber, and Children's Hospital (2003)
- Coached 11 women to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials between 2000 and 2012
- Coached a women's open team to 1st place in USA Track & Field (New England) Grand Prix Race Series in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008
- Coached a women's masters team to 1st place in the USATF-NE Grand Prix Race Series in 2005 and 2007, and a women's seniors team to 1st place in 2004, 2005, and 2006
- Coached runners to 1st place in the open women's division of the Grand Prix Series in 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2007.
- Coached a runner to 1st place in the women's master's division of the Grand Prix Series in 2002 and 2003.
- Coached runners to 1st place in the women's senior's division in the Grand Prix Series in 2004 and 2006
- Coached four High School All-Americans
Professional Career, Nike Boston
- 5K - 13:59
- 10K - 29:02
- 10 miles - 48:36
- half-marathon - 1:06:10
- marathon - 2:18:26
- Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier in 1988 and 1992
Boston College Career
- New England and Big East 10K Champion
- First Boston College distance runner to qualify for the NCAA championships in both cross-country and track
- All Big-East 6 times
- All New England 11 times
- Twice was the New England winner in both the 5,000 indoors and 10,000 outdoors (1981-82)
- BC Cross-Country MVP three times
- Named to the all-New England team 12 times (cross country and track)
- 2001 Boston College Hall of Fame
Peabody High School Career
- Won 12 individual state titles in cross-country and track
- 15th at Kinney Cross Country National, 1979
- Ranked 2nd in the country at 10,000 meters with 30:42
- All-American in cross-country and spring track
- First athlete to win back-to-back All-State titles in cross-country in history of Mass.
- 1999 Peabody High Hall of Fame
- Held all-time New England Indoor 5000 meters record, 14:52.3 (January, 1980), for 28 years, and the Massachusetts Indoor 5000 meter record for 36 years
