Atkinson brings Olympic spirit to Palos Verdes High School Cross Country
Former Olympic runner Jeff Atkinson coaches cross country and track at Palos Verdes High School. Photo by David RosenfeldFormer Olympian Jeff Atkinson stood before the team of cross-country athletes he coaches on a recent afternoon at Malaga Cove Plaza. “How many of you are planning on watching the Olympics this week,” asked the Palos Verdes High School coach, wearing the same outfit as the students – red shorts and a white T-shirt. A show of hands went up. “When you’re watching the games I want you to remember that without the drive and hard work, none of those athletes would be there,” Atkinson said. “It’s that same drive I want you to take to your own training.” Then the coach, without a mention of his own accomplishments, ran off with the team down the street. That’s the way it is with Atkinson, who says most of the younger students don’t even know he ran in the Seoul Olympics in 1988, that 25 years ago he was one of the world’s fastest runners. “If they find out it’s only because someone told them,” Atkinson said. “It’s not that I want it to be a secret, I just don’t want any of the younger runners to feel intimidated.” In 1989, Atkinson was ranked the nation’s fastest runner…
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