Our Coaches

The Flyers coaching staff is comprised of a variety of coaches both male and female with a wide variety of track & field and/or cross country experience. Many of the coaches are USATF-certified coaches and some are USATF-certified officials. The coaches are always seeking to learn more about the sport to better guide the athletes. While the Flyers have more than 20 coaches, here is some information about the lead coaching and administrative staff:

Michelle Almeida (Head Coach/Throws Coach)

Michelle joined the flyers program in summer of 2019. Michelle threw for Governor Livingston High school, then went on to compete collegiately at Georgian Court University in New Jersey as a Division 2 athlete. She acquired an Exercise Science and Wellness degree and has since become an NASM-Certified Personal Trainer and a USATF-Certified Level 1 Track & Field Coach. As an athlete, Michelle competed in all throwing events, with a focus on the hammer throw in college. At the Westfield Area Y, she oversees the Flyers program, is the Flyers throws coach, head strength and conditioning coach for the Flyers and Devilfish Swim team, and is an Associate Director of Physcial Programs. She loves being to share her love of the sport with the next generation. In her free time, Michelle enjoys weightlifting, powerlifting, and Crossfit training. 
 

Distance Coaches:

Will Smith (Head Distance Coach)

Wayne Baker

 Wayne has a long history with cross country and track & field.  He first fell in love with the sport watching ABC’s Wide W

orld of Sports in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  The Marathon at the 1972 Olympics in Munich fascinated him and he vowed at that time to run the Boston Marathon.  In high school, he specialized in the two-mile and has raced at distances from 1600 meters to the marathon and also competed in ultras.  In 2005, by running a 3:29:22 at the Long Island Marathon, he achieved his goal of qualifying to run Boston, which he did in 2006.  Wayne has numerous age-group placings to his credit.  Also recognized as a historian of the sport, Wayne regularly assists authors about the 1908 Olympic Marathon and has been acknowledged in two books for this.  He was certified by USATF as a coach in 2003 and has been working with the Flyers since that time.  His coaching focuses on distance running and racewalk events.  Wayne is also a USATF certified official. 

Brian Osborn

Brian ran track at Westfield High School.  In College he ran cross country and was captain his senior year at Centenary University in NJ where he earned a B.A. in Sports Management.  Brian coaches distance running as well as long jump and sprints.  In 2017 Brian became a USATF-Certified Level 1 Coach.  Brian enjoys running in his spare time and competes in distance races in the area.

Christine Licata

Christine has a long-standing passion for running and has been competing for nearly 30 years.  A Cranford mother of two daughters, she believes running is a natural activity that brings balance and joy from an early age.  Through her coaching, she hopes to guide athletes toward a healthy and rewarding running career that fosters a love for the sport. Christine enjoyed success in middle distance at Bentley University, a DII university in Massachusetts. She has experience across a wide range of disciplines having competed in everything from the 200m up to the NYC marathon.  Currently an elite, world-ranked masters athlete for Garden State Track Club, Christine now holds two USATF National Champion titles in the 800m W40-44.    

Sprint Coaches:

Jolene Hatzisavvas (Head Sprints Coach)

Jolene is the head coach of the Flyers program and has been with the team since 2010.  She is a USATF-Certified Level 1 Track & Field Coach and a USATF-Certified Official.  As an athlete, Jolene competed in sprints, hurdles, relays, shot put, and high jump.  Currently she runs longer distances, including half-marathons, but her love is still with her core events.  She believes there is an athlete in everyone and an event for every athlete in track & field.  She enjoys helping each Flyer find their event, meet goals, and reach their full potential throughout the seasons.  In addition to her coaching, Jolene is also a certified group fitness instructor.

Peter Cronrath (Long Jump/Throws Coach)​​

Peter joined the Flyers in 2016 to share his experience and love for track and field with the athletes.  As an athlete, Peter competed for Rutgers University track and field team as a thrower.  Later he was the assistant men’s coach and head women's coach at Montclair State University for three years, where he coached two National Champions (women's shot and women's 400m hurdles), over 20 All-Americans, three Penn Relay champions (women's shot, men's javelin, and men's triple jump), and helped guide the men’s team to a third place finish at the Indoor DIII National Championships.  At the same time, Peter completed USATF Level 2 Coaching Certifications in Endurance, Level 2 in Jumps, and Level 2 in Throwing Events.  Peter was then a head girls coach at the high school level for three years guiding two state champions (800 meters and long/triple jump).  Having a ten-year hiatus from coaching to become a college professor of management and economics, he is happy to be back on the field with the Flyers.  Peter is currently a psychology coach to two Olympic athletes, mentally preparing them for the biggest competition of their lives.  Peter is also a USATF certified official.

David Scheck (Hurdles Coach)

David Scheck joined the Westfield Flyers coaching staff in 2022 to help youth overcome obstacles (primarily hurdles). He has been a track and field and cross-country coach at the high school level and also works with athletes on an individual basis. He has earned his Track & Field Technical Certification from USTFCCCA and has also completed certificate work for coaching the hurdles, short sprints, and pole vault. David competed for a Division I university and during that time qualified for the USATF U20 Outdoor National Championship. He was a finalist in the Junior Olympic National Championships as a high school-aged athlete and is bookending his athletics career by continuing to compete at the masters level.

Joey Morrone

Greg Hatzisavvas

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