Track and Field
Gary Holda
- Title:
- Distance
- Email:
- raske@siu.edu
- Phone:
- 618-453-8375
- Alma Mater:
- Southern Illinois, 1975
After graduating from Southern Illinois University in 1975, Gary Holda began coaching cross country, track and field and wrestling at Carbondale Community High School. He later accepted a teaching position at the school, where he taught physical education for 33 years before retiring in 2012.
During his 35-plus years as the cross country coach at Carbondale, Holda often ran alongside his athletes, and mentored two of the best runners in CCHS history in Jenny Koster and Caitlin Chrisman. Koster twice finished in the top-25 at the IHSA Class AA state meet, including coming in 21st at the 1988-89 meet. She went on to run at the University of Virginia. Chrisman flourished under Holda's tutelage, as she was the runner-up in the 3200m at the IHSA state meet in 2008 and earned a track and field/cross country scholarship to Wake Forest University. Chrisman set the Wake Forest record for fastest 5K by a freshman and, after graduating from Wake Forest in 2008, has since twice qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon. Holda also coached current Southern Methodist University track and field head coach, and Carbondale native, Cathy (Hamilton) Casey.
An accomplished marathoner, Holda has won four St. Louis Marathons and run five Boston Marathons, most recently completing the race in 2015.
During his 35-plus years as the cross country coach at Carbondale, Holda often ran alongside his athletes, and mentored two of the best runners in CCHS history in Jenny Koster and Caitlin Chrisman. Koster twice finished in the top-25 at the IHSA Class AA state meet, including coming in 21st at the 1988-89 meet. She went on to run at the University of Virginia. Chrisman flourished under Holda's tutelage, as she was the runner-up in the 3200m at the IHSA state meet in 2008 and earned a track and field/cross country scholarship to Wake Forest University. Chrisman set the Wake Forest record for fastest 5K by a freshman and, after graduating from Wake Forest in 2008, has since twice qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials marathon. Holda also coached current Southern Methodist University track and field head coach, and Carbondale native, Cathy (Hamilton) Casey.
An accomplished marathoner, Holda has won four St. Louis Marathons and run five Boston Marathons, most recently completing the race in 2015.
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