Mission Statement
We develop runners of all ages — on the track, trails, roads, and beyond.
Our training adapts to you, not the other way around. Your goals. Your schedule. Your journey.
Running builds more than fitness. It builds character, discipline, and resilience. Whether you're chasing your first finish line or your next PR, we meet you where you are and help you get where you want to go.
Bears Track Club
Summer Coaching Staff
Meet the coaches supporting Bears, Cubs, middle school, and high school runners this season.
Luke Rodriguez
Program Director
Luke is a USATF-certified coach, former UCCS runner, and Bears Track Club Program Director. His coaching centers on discipline, data-driven training, and team culture.
Kristi Steeger
Head Cubs Coach
Kristi is in her 9th year coaching Monument Academy's Cross Country and Track & Field teams, helping athletes earn state championships and several top state rankings. Her goal is to help young runners build confidence, feel supported and valued, compete well, and develop a love for running that lasts beyond the season.
Marcela Lopez
Middle / High School Coach
Marcela brings 20 years in the school district and 10 years of coaching to Bears Track Club. She loves helping athletes build character, stretch their capabilities, and feel confident being themselves on the course, on the track, and within the team. Her first priority is the well-being of each athlete.
Maura Paradise
Middle / High School Coach
Maura brings a wealth of experience, having coached at the middle school, club, and high school levels. She is a passionate advocate for cultivating a lifelong love of running and fitness, and she is deeply committed to helping young female athletes become their strongest, fastest, and happiest selves. A graduate of Lehigh University, she holds multiple school records and top performances in distance events.
Grant Hohne
Middle / High School Coach
Grant is an Exercise Science + Athletic Training Prep major at UCCS, a member of the UCCS Cross Country and Track team, and an assistant coach for Monument Academy Middle School.
Laura Sturgeon
Cubs Coach
Laura is an avid runner and is immersed in the sport with three kids who also run. She has experience coaching youth in both running and gymnastics. She enjoys the strong running community and is passionate about helping kids grow in confidence and ability so they can develop a lifelong love for running and all that comes with it.
Meet the Coaches
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![Two male runners participating in an outdoor race along a lakeside trail, with one wearing a gray shirt and pink shorts, and the other in a blue shirt and orange shorts, both carrying hydration packs.]()
Luke Rodriguez
Luke Rodriguez is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and USATF-certified coach with 7 years of coaching experience. He currently serves as Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track Coach at Palmer Ridge High School.
Coaching Highlights:
- 2025 Nike Southwest All-Regional coaching honor
- Colorado State 3200m Runner-Up
- Individually-qualified Colorado state athletes in 400m, 800m, 1600m, and 3200m
- National Qualifier individuals and relays, All-American athletes, and USATF Junior Olympic Team podium finishers
- Numerous top-10 state finishes across events
Athletes Developed:
- Girls 5K: Sub-17:45
- Boys 5K: Sub-15:30 (several)
- Boys Mile: Sub-4:12 (several)
- Girls Mile: Sub-5:15 (several)
- Boys 800m: Sub-1:58 (several)
- Girls 800m: Sub-2:18 (several)
- Girls 400m: Sub 58 and Sub 59 (several)
- Girls 3200m: Sub-11:00 (several)
- Boys 4x800m: 8:01
- Girls 4×800m: 9:48
A former collegiate runner at UCCS with a 14:47 5K, Luke has tackled everything from the track to ultra-distance trail running — including a backyard 50K up/down Pikes Peak and a win at the 2022 RamParty Trail Race.
Luke holds a Master's in Sports Nutrition and Physiology with a thesis on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). His coaching philosophy centers on developing athletes through discipline, data-driven training, and team culture.
Credentials: RDN • M.S. Sports Nutrition • USATF Level 1 • VDOT Certified • SafeSport Certified
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![A young man wearing a navy blue Adidas sports shirt, a matching cap, and sunglasses, holding a camera, standing outdoors against a clear sky.]()
Daniel Russell
Daniel Russell brings 14 years of coaching experience to Bears Track Club, specializing in sprints, jumps, hurdles, and relays. He currently serves as Head Track Coach at Palmer Ridge High School.
Coaching Highlights:
- USATF Level 2 certified in Sprints, Jumps, and Relays
- Jack Daniels VDOT Certified
- Coached multiple National Qualifiers and All-Americans
- Specializes in coaching jumps, hurdles, and multi-event athletes
Philosophy:
"Character, Class, and Work Ethic. If we can get athletes to care about themselves and others and put in the work, the lessons extend beyond the track into their lives."
Credentials: USATF Level 2 (Sprints/Jumps/Relays) • Jack Daniels VDOT Certified
