Under the early-morning sun on Aug. 26, 2017, the Trinity Prep cross country team participated in its first meet of the season. This meet, however, was different than normal cross country meets: it set the scene for the dedication of the new campus trail.
The creation of a cross campus trail has been on Trinity’s bucket list for years and can finally be checked off. Students spent the majority of the 2016-2017 school year with the beautiful sounds of power tools as background music in their math classes. This year, all that construction has paid off by transforming the once-marshy land behind Holloway and Stuart into a scenic boardwalk.
During the ceremony, the Salas family dedicated the trail to Chaplain Kenneth Vinal, affectionately known as Chappy. It has been named “Chappy’s Cross Campus Trail.” Mr. Salas explained that not only has Vinal served as a cross country coach, but also that “he has helped students mature on the cross country track, in the classroom, and in life.”
Mr. and Mrs. Salas present Vinal with his award and shake Mr. Lawson’s hand. Photographer: Bella Lundy.
When he arrived at Trinity in 2002, Vinal had very little experience in coaching runners. Regardless, he accepted the coaching position and has grown to be an extremely successful coach.
In recent history, the Trinity Prep cross country team has had a number of accomplishments. Over the last 15 years, they have won 13 district championships and 11 regional championships. They have won the state championships seven times in the last 10 years. In the last eight years, they were named Small School National Champions four times. They were one of only four Florida teams to qualify to the Nike Cross Nationals meet, and they were the smallest school to ever qualify to that prestigious competition.
Vinal has had his fair share of recognition as well. He has been named Florida’s Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year seven times by the Florida Dairy Farmers, twice by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and he has also been named the National Small School Coach of the Year four times. In short, Vinal has come a long way since 2002.
Vinal admires his award standing alongside Mr. Lawson and Ms. Trammell. Photographer: Bella Lundy.
The cross country team is excited to have a new trail on which it can practice and continue its growth. Mr. Salas explained that the trail will be a testament to “the positive impact [Vinal] has had on so many runners.” But as impactful as Vinal has been to the runners, they have also been influential to him.
The Salas family and Vinal celebrate the official opening of the cross campus trail. Photographer: Bella Lundy.
“Cross country has taught me about the importance of love and caring for one another,” Vinal said. “I’ve watched teams and families come together and that’s been the greatest part of coaching. The guys grow to love each other, I grow to love them and they grow to love me.”
This kind of mentality has benefited Vinal and made him an effective and memorable coach. He adds that the cross campus trail is a step forward for the team as a whole.
“The cross campus trail will significantly impact practice as we use it more,” Vinal said. “Right now, we can do mile repeats on the course using the mile markers. That’s just one example, but it’s a work in progress. Doing things on a consistent course will help to measure progress and compare times from former years.”
For the team, this trail will bring the experience of running on a full cross country course to every practice. But its importance extends past just the cross country team; it will always remind Trinity of Vinal’s commitment to growing the cross country program and transforming the team into a family.
