THE LINDY BAIN LOOP IN CROZET, VIRGINIA

New cross country trail honors WAHS coach

Credit: Submitted photo

Western Albemarle High School cross-county team members and others gather near the sign for the school's new course in Old Trail Village. The course, which was unveiled on Sunday and is open to the public, is dedicated to the WAHS boys cross-country coach, Lindy Bain (third from left).

By TASHA KATES 
Published: June 05, 2011

» 0 Comments | Post a Comment

Lindy Bain didn’t see his name right away after the wrapping was pulled from the sign for the new Western Albemarle High School cross country course in Old Trail Village.

As the audience of more than 70 people began to clap, the boys cross country coach looked up a few more inches. The new 3.1-mile course, which is open to the public, was dedicated on Sunday as the Lindy Bain Loop.

Kim Connolly, president of the Friends of Western Albemarle Cross Country, said the people who donated money for the new cross country course kept suggesting a name for it.

“They said, ‘you have to name it for Coach Bain,’” Connolly told the crowd.

Present and past colleagues and students said Bain deserved to be honored for the work he has done with students over the years. Bain, who is in his 24th year of coaching at Western Albemarle, said after the reveal that he had no idea that the Old Trail Course would be dedicated to him.

“It’s probably a good thing they didn’t tell me or I would have tried to talk them out of it,” Bain said, laughing.

The course will give Western Albemarle cross country athletes a place to practice and hold meets.

Gaylon Beights, Old Trail’s developer, joked that part of the reason he agreed to have the course in Old Trailis to prevent the students from running in the road.

Student-athletes said the trail at the high school is a bit treacherous. Calvin Wheat, who ran with the team for four years before graduating on Friday, said the newer trail appears to be less steep.

“Our times might be better,” Wheat said.

Katie Farina, a junior and a girls cross country team member, said she is hoping that the new course will allow the team to host an invitational at home next school year.

William Tillery, a 1982 Western Albemarle graduate and a former assistant track coach, said the addition of the course will be a benefit for the students, the residents of Old Trail Village and the greater community.

Tillery said Bain has been his mentor for 11 years.

“The opportunity to work under him is something I will never forget,” Tillery said.